Director Food Systems

Global Position

We are excited to be searching for a proactive and pragmatic Director Food System with an interest to join our team, and we hope it’s you!

Your role.

As Director Food Systems you will lead IDH’s global strategy to drive transformation of food systems toward sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. The role ensures that IDH programs generate measurable outcomes in food security, nutrition, farmer livelihoods, and equitable market participation. The Director integrates food system outcomes across IDH’s thematic portfolios (climate, markets, financial innovation, equity) and mobilises partnerships and finance to achieve systemic impact at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and lead IDH’s Food System Outcomes strategy, aligning with organisational priorities and global agendas (e.g., UN Food Systems Summit, SDGs).
• Direct the design and scaling of programs that improve food security, nutrition, and market access while strengthening farmer resilience.
• Establish robust frameworks to track and report on food system outcomes, including productivity, equity, and environmental sustainability.
• Build strong collaborations with governments, agribusinesses, donors, and civil society to align food systems initiatives and mobilise resources.
• Represent IDH at global and regional dialogues to influence food systems agendas and ensure systemic change.
• Embed food system outcomes into IDH’s regional and thematic programs (climate, financial markets, income, equity).
• Resource mobilisation, driving fundraising success for the outcome area in the face of a competitive and changing funding environment.
• Lead, coach, and inspire to deliver excellence, innovation, and measurable impact.

Who you are:

As Director Food Systems, you are a visionary and results-oriented leader with a strong sense of direction and purpose. You bring clarity and strategic focus to the challenge of transforming fragmented and inequitable food systems, operating across diverse geographies to deliver meaningful and lasting impact.

You balance productivity and income goals with broader priorities around nutrition, sustainability, and climate resilience. With sharp tactical insight and strong organisational sensitivity, you navigate the competing interests of governments, corporates, and communities to align stakeholders around a shared agenda for change.

Decisive and collaborative, you promote partnerships that mobilise financing and scale solutions beyond pilot interventions. Lastly, your leadership ensures that transformation efforts deliver equitable benefits, particularly for smallholder farmers, women, and marginalised groups—placing inclusion at the heart of sustainable food systems.

What you bring:

• 12+ years of leadership experience in food systems, agriculture, or livelihoods-focused initiatives.
• Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Agricultural Economics, development, or related field.
• Deep knowledge of market systems, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and climate-smart practices.
• Experience mobilizing finance and managing complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Strong advocacy and policy-influencing experience in global or regional food systems platforms.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and representation skills.
• Experience working across international and multicultural contexts.
• Willingness to travel internationally, about 50%
• Fluency in English, other languages are a plus!

We offer you

A challenging, pivotal role within an impacting, international organisation – and:

• A salary range per month of 6,436 - 8,044, based on job (Hay) level 20 The job level is evaluated based on IDH’s methodology; the successful candidate will be placed within the range depending on relevant work experience. The selection process is conducted, applying STAR interview methodology.
• A full-time (40 hours) 1 year contract (with the intention to extend as this is a permanent position)

Comprehensive Benefits Package for Netherlands (Global packages are updated accordingly) – Relocation support can be provided if needed.

• Vacation: Enjoy 26 paid vacation days annually (based on 100% FTE). Plus, earn 2 extra vacation days if you use your full allowance within the calendar year. Need flexibility? You can buy or sell up to 6 vacation days each year.
• Health Insurance Support: IDH contributes €74.40 net per month towards your health insurance premium, helping you maintain optimal health coverage.
• Robust Pension Scheme: A comprehensive pension scheme with considerable contribution by the employer and 3.5% contribution by the employee, ensuring financial stability during your retirement.
• Commuting support: Provide NS Business Card or full reimbursement of commuting costs. Choose between receiving €0.23 per kilometre or opting for second-class public transport, making your journey to work hassle-free.
• Supportive Work Environment: IDH provides role-specific work supplies (e.g., laptop, phone) alongside flexible working hours and a hybrid work model to suit your needs.
• Work-from-Home Allowance: Receive a monthly work-from-home allowance of €18.59 net, acknowledging the changing work landscape and supporting your remote work setup with a Work-from-Home equipment contribution.
• Health and Wellness: Prioritise your physical well-being with a sports club/health club allowance of €43.40 gross per month, enabling you to invest in your fitness and overall health.
• Cyclis Bike Lease: Lease any bike—electric, sport, or even a bakfiets—for commuting or family use
• Six weeks of remote work annually, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Lunch Allowance €88.58 gross, 100% FTE
• Nutritious Work Environment: Enjoy a range of perks at the Utrecht office, including fresh fruits, organic coffee and tea, promoting a nourishing and supporting work atmosphere and Wellness initiatives giving you access tools to manage stress and prevent burnout

Interested?

• Would you like to apply? Use the Application form to submit your CV and Motivation Letter in English or via this link: https://stichtingidh.careers.hibob.com/jobs/381836d2-1c22-41fd-880e-b30cf42a2f17/apply
• We encourage applicants to respond before 05/11/2025.
• Important note: In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we do not proceed your applications via email/ LinkedIn with attached CVs, and motivational letters. We kindly request that you submit the form as shared above. This process ensures that we can review your application while safeguarding your personal information in accordance with GDPR regulations.
• For more questions about the roles or process, please contact Conrad Willars at [email protected] or Phat Nguyen at [email protected]

Who we are.

IDH seeks to transform markets through collaborative innovation, convening and investment in inclusive and sustainable solutions that enable businesses to create value for people and planet. To achieve this, IDH brings together coalitions of committed stakeholders from across global value chains towards joint visions and program agendas for sustainable trade.

IDH’s international presence extends to multiple regions and landscapes, facilitated by a network of staff including experts who are embedded in key agricultural, manufacturing, apparel and commodity value chains. In 15 years of operation, IDH has mobilized private sector investment and support to test and innovate new business models designed to create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all.

For more information, go to www.idh.org or follow https://www.linkedin.com/company/idh-the-sustainable-trade-initiative/posts/?feedView=all on LinkedIn.

Our commitment to safeguarding

The offer of the role will be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification checks and other safeguarding checks including background checks overseas (where appropriate).

At IDH, we're committed to equal employment opportunity, and we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We strive to be a more equal opportunity workplace every day.