Job Description
Job Summary
- The Country Director (CD) will be responsible for establishing and leading the AYGF Kenya office, providing strategic leadership and oversight of all programs and operations in the country.
- The CD will represent AYGF to stakeholders, including government, donors, partners,and the community. S/he will ensure the quality, growth, impact, and sustainability of AYGF’s interventions in Kenya in line with organizational priorities and donor expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall vision and strategic direction for AYGF’s work in Kenya.
- Represent AYGF in country-level partnerships, donor engagements, government relations, and high-level events.
- Lead the development and implementation of the country strategy aligned with AYGF’s regional goals.
- Lead expansion and new programming opportunities in Kenya and the East African region.
- Program Management and Quality Assurance
- Oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects to ensure timely delivery and impact.
- Ensure adherence to technical standards, donor requirements, and internal policies.
- Champion innovation, research, and adaptive learning within country programming.
- Business Development and Fundraising
- Identify new funding opportunities and lead proposal development efforts.
- Build strong relationships with donors and funding partners to secure resources.
- Ensure effective donor reporting and compliance.
- Oversee budgeting, financial management, procurement, and human resources
- Ensure compliance with national laws and internal policies on finance, procurement, and HR.
- Develop and manage country budgets in collaboration with the Finance and HQ team.
- Team Management and Capacity Building
- Recruit, lead, and mentor a high-performing country team.
- Promote a culture of accountability, learning, and staff development.
- Ensure staff well-being, safety, and security in line with duty of care standards.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Qualification should be minimum of MSc. International Development, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Management, or related field.
- Minimum of 12 years’ experience in a senior management role in the NGO/INGO sector,with at least 5 years in a Country Director or equivalent position.
- Strong experience in program strategy, design, implementation, and evaluation.
- Demonstrated success in business development and donor engagement.
- Solid understanding of the political, economic, and social context in Kenya and East Africa.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Proficiency in English; knowledge of Swahili is an asset.
Key Competencies:
- Strategic thinking and visioning
- Excellent stakeholder management
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Financial acumen and risk management
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability
- Results-oriented and ethical leadership.