Jobs Kenya

Department
Program Delivery (PDEL) – Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.
Position Overview
The Country Director coordinates, manages and increases visibility and funding for Country office programs. S/he prominently positions the organization as a leader in the field of peace-building, governance, conflict resolution and mitigation as well as engagement with private sector and the cost-effective implementation of a diverse portfolio of donor-funded programs. The Country Director works closely with in-country and head office staff to conceptualize and plan program development activities, diversify funding resources, and build on country and international best practices. The Country Director also provides strategic leadership and managerial oversight of the administrative, programmatic, technical, financial and operational aspects of the portfolio including technical leadership; team management and mentoring; donor, government and partner liaison; new business development; and oversight of programmatic and financial management and reporting. S/he ensures that systems are in place and being properly implemented, ensuring that all activities and programs are in alignment with set policies and guidelines. The Country Director oversees the proper stewardship of resources as well as the well-being and safety of in-country staff. S/he ensures that program objectives are met, all activities are responsive to the needs of the host country and donors, and the program continues to advance and play a key role in contributing to the development environment.
The Country Director reports to the Africa Regional Director and directly supervises a senior management team of program, financial, and operational leads.
Key Responsibilities
Program Management

Oversee country office programming to ensure the effective and efficient delivery and implementation of projects and are in line with the organization and donors’ standards for program quality.
Supervise project leads charged with the day-to-day execution of the program
Undertake the timely deployment of financial and human resources for program success and attainment of desired results/indicators. Ensure that all project deliverables are met in a high quality, cost effective and timely fashion.
Ensure that proper program monitoring and evaluation systems are in place.
Promote a learning environment within the country office that facilitates two-way learning with various stakeholders. Facilitate and/or participate in learning communities and task forces.
Document and disseminate methodologies and results that can inform the wider organizational community (such as evaluation documents, consultant reports, workshop reports, etc.). Share and promote these resources through a variety of means (including e-mail, brown bags, the Intranet, etc.).
Make periodic visits to field sites, to monitor the status of projects.
Liaise directly with donors to ensure continued alignment and responsiveness.

Strategic Planning

Lead the preparation and implementation of a high-quality country-office strategic plan appropriate for the local and regional context, complementary to government & donor development plans, and in line with the organization’s overall vision and mission. Develop the plan in an inclusive and participatory process.
Ensure that the organization continues to develop and strengthen programs based on strategic analysis of the local country and regional context.
Ensure understanding of strategic plan and approaches by all staff and key stakeholders.
Coordinate in-country marketing and promotion of the organization. Ensure strategic growth for the organization in line with strategic plan and/or theory of change.

Networking, Alliance Building, and Collaboration

Ensure strong cooperation and collaboration with partners, donors, government, and other key stakeholders as a base for building/maintaining/expanding a sustainable country and regional program
Coordinate and collaborate with head office and the organization’s regional staff, particularly in the Horn of Africa.
Contribute strategically, through participation, in relevant, existing forums in building a vibrant civil society sector and influencing policy.
Maintain and expand senior external relations with government, private sector community, civil society, and international stakeholders.
Represent country office operations to the organization’s head office.
Assure smooth flow of information from head office to staff and vice versa.

Business Development

Generate financially viable program pipeline in line with the organization’s strategy and assist in identifying and securing funding for those programs.
Involve relevant country office and head office programs, grants, management and other staff in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities
Provide in-country leadership as well as collaborate with head office in pursuing new business opportunities and partnerships with bilateral donors, multilateral donors, foundations, private sector, and others

Finance, Administration, Grants and IT

Provide oversight for all administrative and financial operations to support the programs.
Consistently monitor the country office’s financial position and ensure the best use of available resources. This includes overseeing the development and review of country office annual budget and project budgets, oversight of financial transactions and reports, and maximizing cost recovery from restricted grants.
Maintain up to date understanding and adherence to the organization’s policies and procedures amongst all country office staff.
Ensure adequate internal controls are in place to protect the country office’s financial and non-monetary assets and to ensure the resources are used in accordance with donor terms and conditions. Review and follow-up on internal and external audit recommendations.
Ensure the country office operations are conducted in accordance with all statutory and tax requirements.
Oversee an efficient, transparent, and collaborative grant making process under the program; assure timely and high-quality monitoring of and reporting by sub grantees.
In coordination with head office, negotiate contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and their modifications or extensions
Oversee the work of the implementing partners and monitor for compliance with sub agreements or subcontracts.

Human Resources

In cooperation with human resources department, oversee the management and development of country office human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled and productive workforce and promote an organizational culture where the organization’s values are practiced.
Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and oversee the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective senior leadership team. Ensure timely and quality inputs by staff and consultants.
Ensure strong human resource strategies and systems are in place and are properly implemented in areas such as recruitment, staff development, and performance management.
Ensure appropriate workplace policies to ensure fairness and equity are developed and used (e.g. policies related to HIV/AIDS, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, etc.)
In cooperation with human resources department, oversee the establishment and regular review of compensation package to ensure competitiveness.
Actively promote staff wellness by monitoring country office organizational health and taking corrective actions as needed.
Ensure the proper implementation of the organization’s performance management system for direct reports. This can include: proactively addressing performance issues through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching and identifying necessary staff development for direct reports.
Oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior staff.
Support continued growth of local staff through strategic, deliberate internal capacity building
Ensure levels of authority and responsibility are clearly defined, understood and followed within the country office.
Invest in consistent team building to increase cohesion between staff in all geographic areas of the country.
Lead the management of Security and Safety Administration by developing and updating a staff and asset security plan in line with the local context and in alignment with head office security guidance; keeping key staff abreast of any security issues, as they arise.

Basic Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in international development or related field required;
Minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience leading governance, peacebuilding, conflict, and mitigation programming in the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia and Kenya.
Strong understanding of the cultural, social, economic and political context within Kenya and the region, and how to best position country office programs and operations in such context.
Experience managing large scale donor funded project(s); demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with managing donor policies, rules, regulations, and procedures, especially USAID and the European Union; ability to lead pivoting of program activities and reshaping results frameworks to align with evolving donor strategies
Ability to establish, nurture and maintain key relationships with high level government officials and donor organizations and critical opinion leaders i.e., Kenya and Somali NGOs, Chief Justice office, local authorities etc.
Demonstrated experience of working with private sector and development and nurturing private sector partnerships.
Proven experience leading new business efforts that led to successful awards.
Experience in personnel management in large and complex teams.
Experience working with local partners, sub-granting and procurement processes;
Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning;
Fluent English language skills, both written and spoken;
Willingness to travel within Kenya as well as to/within Somalia and Ethiopia

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in international development or related field
Additional experience in development programming in strategic impact areas such as health, natural resource governance, livelihoods is advantageous.
Experience with engagement and working with Regional Economic Communities such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.