WHO WE ARE

At Trees for the Future (TREES), we believe farmers have the power to transform the world. For over 30 years, we’ve been a global leader in agroforestry training, partnering with farming families to build vibrant economies, sustainable food systems, and thriving ecosystems. Through our signature Forest Garden Approach—a proven nature-based solution—farmers restore their land, plant thousands of trees, and grow diverse crops, breaking cycles of climate change and generational poverty. By reclaiming their agency, farmers are creating new possibilities for their families, communities, and the environment. Active in Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda, TREES has planted over 350 million trees to date. Joining our passionate, collaborative team means empowering farmers to lead lasting change for people and the planet.

In Kenya, we are transforming landscapes and livelihoods across the Lake Victoria Watershed Agroforestry Carbon Project in four counties. With over 160 staff working on the ground, we collaborate with more than 20,000 farmers to implement the Forest Garden Approach. This initiative, in partnership with Catona Climate, is under validation and in the process of conducting the first verification, allowing farmers to benefit from carbon financing while restoring their land.

Learn more at trees.org/lvcarbon.

THE ROLE

The Director of Field Programs (DFP) will be responsible for supervising, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of Trees for the Future’s (TREES) Kenya field programs and reporting to the Kenya Country Director based in Kisumu. This position is based in Kisumu but requires extensive travel between the counties of Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, and Siaya. The DFP reports to the Country Director, Kenya.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management

• Oversee implementation of all country field programs, including project management, staff supervision, compliance with donor requirements, effective communication management of resources, and coordination, and ensure timely implementation of field programs.
• Be responsible for the successful implementation and management of a Forest Garden Project approach in achieving carbon offsets, farmer adaptation, and the multiple benefits derived from the Forest Gardens.
• Coordinate the preparation of Country program budgets, present to the Country Director and seek concurrence for approval and advice from the Country Director on resource requirements for programs and resource utilization.
• Manage all field program contractual works and oversee the implementation of consultancies and specialized assignments within the project's scope and in liaison and concurrence with the Country Director.
• Facilitate the identification, planning and mobilization of new TREES projects, including the identification of new strategic locations for expansion.
• Work closely with Country and County Trainers to continue to enhance the capacity of staff and lead farmers and strengthen the existing training program.
• Oversee the management of the programs’ seed banks and Central Fruit Tree Nurseries (CTNs), including Project Managers, correct documentation of seed and fruit seedling needs, and strengthen the seed bank and CTN-to-farmer distribution process.
• Work closely with the MEL team to establish M&E schedules and training frameworks and coordinate all field data collection and MEL reports.
• Communicate and regularly visit projects to ensure project effectiveness, identify farmers' needs and farm requirements, and coordinate preparation of procurement needs for all programs.
• Work with the Director of Operations and the HR team to hire qualified field staff to establish and manage projects as needed, ensure that Project Officers are properly trained on project methodologies, responsibilities, monitoring and evaluation, and expectations.
• Identify procurement needs of the programs and work closely with the senior accountant to ensure procurement of all items related to the field country programs.

Partnership Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with relevant government offices and TREES partners at all levels in accordance with TREES' goals and priorities.
• Attend and participate in relevant meetings, task forces, consortiums, and conferences relevant to TREES’ mission and objectives.

Reporting Responsibilities

• Work with the MEL team to ensure that monitoring data and carbon verification data is being properly collected and submitted to HQ through MEL systems and other relevant channels.
• Collate and review all reporting data to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Submit all programmatic reporting requirements to the Country Director in a timely manner.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Ensure that TREES country program activities, processes, and staff adhere to both local laws and organizational policies.
• Plan and organize workshops, travel, conferences, meetings, and other ad-hoc events, among others.

WHO YOU ARE

• An enthusiastic advocate for TREES’ mission and values. You are passionate about improving livelihoods through agroforestry. You center farmers in every decision, ensuring projects drive real impact for communities and the environment.
• A mission-driven agroforestry professional: You are passionate about prioritizing the needs of small-holder farmers in every decision, ensuring that projects lead to tangible benefits for communities and the environment.
• An operational mastermind. You are skilled in managing large, complex programs and diverse teams across multiple counties within a global NGO, with a strong track record of operational excellence and scaling impact.
• A mission-driven agroforestry professional. You are passionate about prioritizing the needs of farmers, ensuring tangible benefits for communities and the environment.
• A field operations guru. Your expertise in program implementation, field oversight, and supervising supports the day-to-day implementation of the TREES Forest Garden Approach.
• A data-driven leader. You are proficient in monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, skilled at tracking performance indicators, compiling reports, and supporting data collection for adaptive learning.
• A team manager extraordinaire. You are an intentional motivator who builds trust, empowers others, and drives high performance, with deep expertise in achieving transformation through impactful programs.
• A natural relationship builder effective in stakeholder engagement and representation, capable of representing TREES in various forums, building strong relationships with local stakeholders, and ensuring community engagement and support.

REQUIRMENTS

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, environmental science or related area
• A Bachelor’s degree in any of the above courses or a related field
• At least ten (10) years in a full-time relevant position which included:
• • Managing a large team across multiple regions;
  • Project, budget and staff management in agroforestry, agriculture or natural resource management;
  • Interfacing and networking with government, international and local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and community representatives.
• Experience in implementing carbon projects is a plus (not required)

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS

TREES is an International Organization that strives to be the best home for staff wanting to make an impact on the farmers we serve. We believe that the diversity of our staff contributes to excellence. TREES values collaboration and teamwork that fosters increased engagement and innovation for professional growth.

We offer a multicultural, collegial work environment with a competitive salary, comprehensive medical insurance, workers' compensation, and substantial paid time off, including annual leave and sick leave.

APPLY

If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply with 1) a cover letter that explains why TREES’ work excites you and why this role is a fit for you, and 2) your resume by September 12^th, 2025. Ensure both documents are shared as PDF or Word documents. We review applications on a rolling basis.

Trees for the Future is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or other characteristics or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

We embrace and value diverse skill sets and backgrounds. We are a community of leaders who are proud to represent many different nationals, racial, ethnic, socio-economic, religious, gender, and other identities. Our diversity as a community is our strength, driving our ability to be empathetic, visionary, and effective leaders.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.