Senior Associate- Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Resilience Management

Job description

About Busara Since 2014, Busara has evolved from a small behavioral science lab in Nairobi into a boutique research and advisory organization. Our diverse team of over 130 staff from 15+ countries has engaged in diverse projects across more than 50 countries in sectors like agriculture, health, governance and inclusive finance. While headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, we have expanded our footprint with offices now in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Latin America. Role Purpose Busara's FaRM team applies behavioral science to some of the most complex challenges in food systems, smallholder agriculture, and climate resilience across the Global South. As a Senior Associate, you will work closely with the Engagement Director to lead the delivery of rigorous research and advisory projects for donors, governments, NGOs, and private sector clients working on food security, climate adaptation, and agricultural market systems. You are a skilled researcher and project executor, someone who can take a well-scoped engagement and drive it forward with rigor, initiative, and attention to detail. You bring deep qualitative research expertise, genuine sector knowledge, and the organizational ability to keep complex, multi-method projects on track. You translate behavioral evidence into actionable recommendations, backed by the credibility that comes from real field experience and methodological depth. You are comfortable representing Busara's work in client settings and holding your own in a room with a senior government official or seasoned development economist while knowing when to loop in senior leadership. This is not a role for generalists. We are looking for someone who has spent meaningful time in the field and understands the lived realities of smallholder farmers and agri-food value chains. In this role, you will take ownership of project deliverables and client relationships, directly manage project staff, and coordinate effectively across Busara's internal teams to ensure engagements are executed to the highest standard. Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities: Senior Associates will work closely with Busara offices and directly with academic researchers and advisory clients to perform a variety of tasks, including, but not limited to: ### Client & Advisory Leadership - Own the client relationship across the full engagement lifecycle — from scoping and contracting through delivery and dissemination. - Lead senior-level conversations with donors, implementing partners, ministries, and private sector clients; anticipate needs, navigate complexity, and manage expectations proactively. - Translate client problems into well-defined research and advisory briefs; push back constructively when questions are ill-formed or scope is misaligned. - Develop proposals, concept notes, and pitch decks; contribute to business development within the food systems and climate resilience space. - Represent Busara at conferences, technical working groups, and client convenings — presenting findings with clarity and confidence to non-specialist and expert audiences alike. ### Qualitative Research & Technical Execution - Design and lead qualitative research components — including in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), ethnographic observation, and participatory methods — with rigor and cultural sensitivity. - Synthesize qualitative evidence into coherent, actionable narratives; identify behavioral drivers and barriers embedded in complex social and institutional contexts. - Apply behavioral science frameworks (e.g., COM-B, dual process theory, social norms models) to agricultural and climate adaptation challenges. - Oversee mixed-methods research design, ensuring qualitative and quantitative workstreams are well-integrated and mutually reinforcing. - Maintain quality control across all research outputs — guides, transcripts, codebooks, analysis memos, and final reports. ### Project & People Management - Own project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and staffing plans; escalate risks early and manage scope proactively. - Directly manage and mentor Analysts and Project Leads embedded on your engagements; build their research and advisory skills through active coaching. - Coordinate across Busara's Data, Programming, and Operations teams to ensure smooth execution of field and remote research activities. - Contribute to onboarding and knowledge management so institutional learning is captured and usable. ### Organizational Contribution - Contribute to FaRM team strategy and knowledge development — including internal research, sector thought pieces, and methodology innovation. - Participate in hiring, onboarding, and performance management of junior team members. - Champion a culture of intellectual rigor, constructive feedback, and psychological safety within your project teams. ### Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required - 5–8 years of experience in research, advisory, or program design roles with a meaningful focus on food systems, agriculture, or climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa or comparable contexts. - Deep expertise in qualitative research methods — IDIs, FGDs, thematic analysis, and synthesis with strong fieldwork experience in low-resource settings. - Demonstrated ability to manage senior client and partner relationships with confidence, clarity, and professional maturity. - Proven track record leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects from inception to delivery. - Strong analytical and synthesis skills, you can turn messy qualitative data into a crisp, defensible argument. - Excellent written and verbal communication in English; able to write for both technical and non-technical audiences. - Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Social Sciences, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, Public Policy, or related). Strongly Preferred - Master's degree in a relevant field. - Experience applying behavioral science formally or informally to agricultural extension, climate adaptation, or food value chains. - Familiarity with quantitative methods and data analysis tools (Stata, R, or Python); comfort interpreting quantitative findings even if not the primary analyst. - Experience with experimental or quasi-experimental designs (RCTs, difference-in-differences, etc.) as a research lead or collaborator. - Existing networks within the East or West African food systems or climate finance ecosystem.