THE OPPORTUNITY
You will lead Plan International Kenya’s humanitarian preparedness, emergency response, and resilience initiatives with a focus on strategic planning, technical expertise, and operational execution. Your role will ensure the organization is fully prepared to mitigate risks, respond effectively to crises, and foster sustainable community resilience. Additionally, you will champion long-term climate adaptation efforts and integrated programming that aligns with the organization’s strategic objectives.
Additionally, you will enhance PICK’s institutional capacity to implement high-quality, gender-transformative interventions in humanitarian contexts; advocate for climate-resilient programming across diverse sectors; spearhead integrated nexus planning and coordination; and secure PICK’s strategic positioning within national, regional, and global coordination frameworks.
You will serve as PICK’s liaison in national humanitarian and disaster risk reduction (DRR) coordination mechanisms, spearhead donor outreach and fundraising initiatives for humanitarian and climate resilience programs, and assist country office leadership in harmonizing response strategies with Plan International’s Global Humanitarian Strategy, Climate Change Adaptation Framework, and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus approach.
Oversee and execute a comprehensive range of duties, including but not limited to strategic planning, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and systems to enhance operational efficiency and ensure adherence to organizational standards. Monitor performance metrics, analyze data trends, and provide actionable insights to senior leadership. Lead and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Serve as a liaison between departments, facilitating seamless communication and alignment toward shared objectives. Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical guidelines while mitigating risks. Prepare and present detailed reports to stakeholders, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and strategic recommendations.
Lead the integration of Plan Kenya’s humanitarian, resilience, and climate strategies in accordance with global best practices, while advancing nexus programming, policy advocacy, and the safeguarding of girls. Coordinate closely with multisectoral stakeholders to foster collaboration and alignment, ensuring robust emergency response capabilities through a trained and prepared team. Maintain stringent oversight of timely analysis, reporting, and accountability mechanisms to uphold operational integrity and impact.
Design and lead the development of humanitarian and resilience initiatives in regions affected by crises, prioritizing interventions that are gender-transformative, climate- and conflict-sensitive, and inclusive. Manage assessments and response strategies, while enhancing disaster risk reduction (DRR), early action mechanisms, and climate-resilient livelihoods. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure high-quality, multisectoral implementation, and champion advocacy efforts for protection, resilience, climate justice, and gender equality.
Direct emergency preparedness planning by conducting thorough risk analyses, developing early warning systems, creating robust contingency plans, and organizing regular simulations; maintain seamless coordination, scalable surge capacity, and timely procurement readiness; offer decisive technical leadership during critical incidents; and continuously track national disaster risk assessments to enhance response effectiveness.
To guarantee alignment with international standards and donor expectations, the role focuses on enhancing accountability through established feedback mechanisms, fostering real-time learning, and systematically documenting best practices. The position involves implementing rigorous monitoring and evaluation frameworks with MERL to accurately assess impact and regularly reviewing strategies to address gaps, challenges, and emerging insights for continuous improvement.
Support fundraising initiatives and cultivate donor engagement by developing strategic approaches, crafting compelling proposals, and fostering key partnerships. Secure grant funding, strengthen external relationships, and serve as PICK’s representative in coordination forums to amplify visibility and expand organizational influence.
Enhance partner capabilities in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and nexus programming through targeted mentorship and rigorous quality assurance, while actively promoting locally led preparedness and response initiatives.
Oversee humanitarian and resilience teams by establishing transparent expectations, while fostering an environment characterized by gender equality, continuous learning, accountability, and excellence. Additionally, prioritize surge capacity preparedness and safeguard staff wellbeing during crisis situations.
Oversee the development, management, and adherence to budgets, financial strategies, and grant compliance requirements for humanitarian and resilience initiatives. Ensure expenditures are accurately tracked and reported in a timely manner in collaboration with the Finance team.
Plan International upholds a comprehensive global framework encompassing Safeguarding and PII policies to prevent sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse, as well as Gender Equality and Inclusion principles and their corresponding Implementation Standards and Guidelines tailored to your specific area of responsibility. Consequently, your role will involve ensuring strict adherence to these policies and actively promoting compliance among staff and associates within your designated scope of responsibility.
You will be entrusted with additional responsibilities as assigned by your supervisor, based on operational requirements.
What we are looking for:
A candidate holding a Master’s Degree in Humanitarian Studies, Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Management, International Development, Public Policy, or an equivalent field is preferred, though consideration will also be given to applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible, relevant experience.
Candidates must possess 8 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian response, resilience-building, disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate programming, or nexus-focused initiatives, with at least five years spent in a senior leadership capacity.
We seek a professional with a proven track record of leading emergency response efforts in high-stakes environments, including droughts, conflict zones, refugee crises, and disease outbreaks.
You must possess a robust technical foundation encompassing the following key areas:
In developing frameworks for climate adaptation and resilience, the role involves crafting strategic approaches to address environmental challenges and bolster system robustness. This includes assessing vulnerabilities, designing mitigation measures, and fostering long-term sustainability initiatives. Key requirements encompass expertise in climate science, proficiency in risk assessment methodologies, and experience in policy development. Responsibilities may entail collaborating with stakeholders, conducting research, and implementing adaptive solutions to enhance community and ecosystem resilience.
Design, implement, and enhance Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives, early warning systems, and proactive early action frameworks to mitigate potential hazards and strengthen community resilience. Analyze risk assessments, monitor hazard indicators, and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely dissemination of alerts and activation of response protocols. Develop training programs, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and contingency plans while fostering collaborative partnerships with governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations to support holistic disaster preparedness and response strategies.
Humanitarian principles and the standards set forth by the Sphere Project and the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) serve as the foundational framework for this role, guiding all aspects of our operations and ensuring accountability, quality, and ethical conduct in every endeavor.
HDP Nexus serves as a central integration platform, facilitating cohesive program management and execution within a streamlined framework. The role demands proficiency in leveraging this system to oversee interconnected initiatives, ensuring seamless coordination between diverse operational components. Candidates must demonstrate expertise in navigating its functionalities, optimizing workflows, and maintaining alignment with strategic objectives to enhance overall efficiency and output.
A candidate with a strong track record in cultivating donor relationships and securing funding will be considered.
You are expected to possess a proven track record of representing organizations within national-level coordination frameworks.
An ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional analytical abilities, adept problem-solving capabilities, outstanding communication skills, and proven negotiation expertise.
Accomplished in leading teams and strengthening collaborative partnerships, with a proven track record of cultivating strategic alliances and enhancing operational capabilities.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
Experience Required
8 - 10 years
