Land Tenure Specialist

Job Description

Position Title: Land Tenure Specialist

Status: Regular, Full Time, Part Time

Location: Seattle, Washington

Classification: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime Pay)

Date: June 2015

Job Summary: Within a context of developing countries around the world and Africa in particular, the Land Tenure Specialist provides policy, analytical and implementation expertise on rural land tenure security, access to land, women’s land rights, land rights formalization, land markets, land administration (land titling and registration, cadastral services), land management, resolution of land disputes and related fields, such as food security, agricultural productivity, corporate services and partnerships, and natural resource management. The Land Tenure Specialist conducts analyses (both from the desk and in the field), and both prepares and presents analytical reviews, research and briefing papers, advisory memos on land tenure policy and law, training modules, presentations, and other products. Priority will be given to professionals with experience in and a commitment to women’s land rights. In a complementary manner, the Land Tenure Specialist manages related assignments, projects, and tasks, and also contributes to the pursuit of private donor funding, fee-for-service opportunities, and public sector grants.

Reporting and relationships: The Land Tenure Specialist will report to a Program Director.

Availability: The Land Tenure Specialist will be expected to work a standard workweek of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position requires significant international travel of 80 - 100 days per year.

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs research, analysis, and synthesis of topics and issues related to Landesa’s work in Africa and other regions as assigned.
• Undertakes and, at times, supervises fieldwork (rapid rural appraisal, key informant interviews, public meetings, workshops, surveys) to gather information about current land tenure conditions and the prospects for reform.
• Makes law, policy, program and project recommendations that are practical, useful, and realistic, given country realities and resources.
• Contributes to the development of plans for implementation of selected recommendations, including ensuring gender considerations are addressed.
• Collects progress and performance data, assesses progress and results, carries out or monitors evaluations/assessments of activities as needed, identifies problem areas, and takes corrective steps as needed to achieve program and project objectives.
• Engages with corporations to improve corporate policies and practices around farmland investments; and coordinates with corporations as allies in improving government policies, laws, and regulations where those improvements strengthen pro-poor, pro-women land rights.
• Manages projects in conformance with Landesa procedures on budgeting, human resource allocation and work planning, cost monitoring and control, monitoring travel schedules, and product preparation and delivery.
• Collaborates with foreign government officials, other counterpart country nationals, and international aid agencies, and corporations in the work.
• Manages relations and collaborates with donors, fee-for-service clients and public sector grantors. Prepares and reviews reports for these funders on a regular basis.
• Contributes to the expansion and/or development of the Landesa Africa programs and projects.
• Contributes to internal learning objectives by sharing research methods and findings with other Landesa staff, including making presentations.
• Prepares and delivers public education and awareness presentations consistent with Landesa’s educational strategic objectives.
• Assists the Advocacy & Engagement and Partnership departments in preparing and presenting funding, educational and communication material.
• Performs other management and administrative tasks as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A deep commitment to the mission of a better, safer future for the world’s poorest people through secure access to land.

• Research, analysis, synthesis, reasoning, and writing abilities that have been developed to a level that permits the Land Tenure Specialist to work independently and take leadership on Landesa projects. Skills in quantitative analysis are highly beneficial.
• Familiarity with legal, economic, sociological, agricultural, political, institutional, geographic, and anthropological concepts and information to an extent sufficient to permit the Land Tenure Specialist to participate in and manage Landesa projects. Candidates with deep knowledge of customary land tenure systems, smallholder and large-scale agriculture, and related issues in Africa will receive special consideration.
• Ability to develop concrete work plans and manage tasks, teams, people, funds, products, and other elements so that work is performed according to agreed budgets, schedules, delivery requirements, and staffing plans.
• Ability to manage documents and correspondence, track and report on project labor, and carry out other administrative tasks efficiently, routinely, and in conformance to Landesa standards and procedures.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of people at all levels, including those from host country governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other counterparts, clients, donors, and grantors. Ability to demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity, tact, and poise. Ability to lead and work collaboratively as a member of teams, regardless of role within team, including consensus building, communications, and leadership skills.
• Exceptional ability to communicate in writing and orally in English. Ability to work in French or Portuguese is preferred. Ability to make and use distinctions as to types, frequency, tenor, and levels of communications, depending upon the circumstances and audience.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Suite of products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other software.
• Commitment to Landesa’s core values of impact, respect, collaboration, dedication, and learning.

Education and Experience:

• A graduate or professional degree in law, agricultural economics, economics, sociology, geography, anthropology or related field is required.
• A minimum of three years of professional work experience in a relevant field is required.
• Experience in conducting policy research and in the design and implementation of development projects, including projects involving land issues, is highly beneficial.
• Prior work experience in Africa is highly beneficial.
• Prior work experience with USAID, the World Bank or other multi/bi-lateral donor is highly beneficial.

Work Environment and Working Conditions for Travelers to Developing Countries: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards which are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work. The employee may be required to travel overseas and domestically. When traveling overseas in a developing country, the employee may be exposed to: physical hazards (illnesses, noise, extreme temperatures, wet or humid climates, etc.) road hazards (unfinished/dirt roads, potholes, traffic-related accidents, etc.), and atmospheric conditions (odors, dust, fumes, smog, etc.).

Additional Comments: The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

To Apply: Qualified candidates may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to jobs@landesa.org, with the title “LTS-D” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Authorization to work in the US is required. Landesa is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Organization

Grounded in the knowledge that having legal rights to land is a foundation for prosperity and opportunity, Landesa partners with foreign governments, local organizations, and donors to ensure that the world’s poorest families have secure rights over the land they till. For more than 40 years, our global non-profit organization has worked around the world championing the causes of equitable access to land and secure land rights. We are proud of a work environment that values mission first, collaborative and constructive. These core values are the driving force of our success and are inherent in our organizational culture. Landesa’s talented and dedicated staff enjoy competitive compensation packages which include educational and development opportuni­ties as well as the ultimate bonus of contributing to some of the most important policy reform and program implementa­tion taking place in global development today.