Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer

Job Description

Job summary
The Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer (CSPO) provides strategic leadership in corporate planning,
organisational transformation, partnerships, and investment mobilisation to ensure the company’s sustained
growth and competitiveness. The role is responsible for formulating, implementing, and monitoring the
Company’s strategic plan; leading business intelligence and innovation initiatives; and cultivating partnerships
with investors, governments, industry bodies, development partners, and research institutions. As a member of
the Executive Leadership Team, the CSPO ensures alignment between strategic objectives and operational
delivery, driving modernisation, sustainability, and strategic collaborations that strengthen the Company’s
position in regional and global textile and apparel markets.
Key roles and responsibilities
• Corporate Strategy & Business Planning
– Lead the formulation, implementation, and periodic review of the Company’s corporate strategy,
ensuring alignment with the Board’s vision and national industrial priorities.
– Translate strategic goals into annual and medium-term business plans with measurable targets.
– Develop frameworks for performance tracking, reporting, and evaluation across departments.
– Provide strategic analysis, forecasting, and scenario modelling to support executive decision-making.
– Identify emerging industry trends, competitive shifts, and policy developments that may impact business
strategy.
– Coordinate strategic retreats and planning sessions across divisions to ensure organisational alignment.
• Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
– Liaise with government ministries and agencies (e.g., Ministry of Industrialization, Agriculture, Treasury,
Trade, KEBS, EPZA, KAM) to align company strategy with national textile and industrialization agendas.
– Represent the Company in policy dialogues, public–private partnerships (PPPs), and trade forums,
advocating for an enabling environment for textile manufacturing and export growth.
– Facilitate inter-agency collaboration to streamline regulatory approvals, incentives, and infrastructure
support for the company and its partners.
– Strengthen engagement with county governments in cotton-growing regions to promote raw material
supply development and backward linkages.
– Lead government relations for industrial policy, tariffs, subsidies, and trade facilitation, ensuring the
Company’s interests are well represented.
• Business Development & Investment Mobilisation
– Champion the development of the cotton-to-clothing value chain, including partnerships with ginners,
spinners, weavers, designers, and garment exporters.
– Initiate and coordinate value chain integration projects, including out-grower schemes, contract farming,
and supplier development programs.
– Work with development partners and financial institutions to mobilise blended finance, grants, or
concessional funding for infrastructure, sustainability, and R&D initiatives.
– Develop industrial park, cluster, or value chain models in line with national textile sector revitalization
policies.
– Engage with export councils and trade missions to position the company as a national champion in the
textile and apparel space.
• Research & Innovation
– Commission and publish sectoral and policy research on textile competitiveness, sustainability, and
market access.
– Provide evidence-based insights to government and industry bodies to influence policy formulation,
standards, and incentive schemes.
– Monitor global trade agreements, tariff structures, and textile policy shifts (e.g., AGOA, AfCFTA, WTO
Textile & Apparel provisions) for strategic positioning.
– Collaborate with academia and R&D institutions to enhance local cotton productivity, fibre quality, and
technological innovation.
– Lead or co-chair multi-stakeholder platforms focused on textile innovation, value chain upgrading, and
sustainability.
• Performance Management & Institutional Strengthening
– Lead the implementation of the corporate performance management framework (KPI tracking,
scorecards, dashboards).
– Collaborate with HR and Finance to align departmental goals, budgets, and performance outcomes.
– Evaluate organisational structures and recommend adjustments to improve agility and delivery.
– Support policy development, risk analysis, and change management initiatives.
– Produce quarterly and annual strategy performance reports for the Chief Executive Officer and Board.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance
– Ensure all partnerships, MOUs, and collaborations comply with procurement, competition, and trade
laws.
– Mitigate risks arising from political, regulatory, or trade shifts through proactive engagement with
relevant authorities.
– Support the development of sustainability reporting and ESG compliance frameworks linked to national
and global commitments.
• Leadership & People Development
– Lead, mentor, and develop the Strategy & Partnerships team, ensuring technical capacity and
accountability.
– Foster cross-functional collaboration with Finance, Operations, Commercial, and Technical Services.
– Build staff capability in project management, strategic thinking, and partnership management.
– Champion organisational culture transformation towards innovation, results, and sustainability.
• Advocacy & Public Affairs
– Develop and implement a public affairs and advocacy strategy to position the Company as a thought
leader in the textile sector.
– Cultivate relationships with key opinion leaders, policymakers, and industry associations to shape the
national textile narrative.
– Prepare policy briefs, stakeholder updates, and representation materials for government, donors, and
media engagements.
– Serve as Company Spokesperson in trade, investment, and industrial policy engagements.
• Compliance with Vistari’s Corporate Systems
– Apply the highest standards of internal controls and risk management practices and behaviours and
embed a positive risk and control culture.
– Demonstrate prudence, sound judgement, and appropriate and timely escalations in management of all
types of risk (including fraud risk) applicable to the role.
– Promote and adhere to Vistari’s core values and ensure compliance with organisational policies and
procedures.
– Maintain zero tolerance to bribery, fraud, and corruption, and ensure the immediate reporting of any
corruption or suspect behaviour that threatens Vistari’s reputation.
– Adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures and immediately report any safeguarding concerns.
– Any other related responsibilities that may be assigned by the Line Manager from time to time.