Job vacancy Kenya Country Lead

In 2019, our client a promient player in the Not For Profit sector, initiated a six-year project aimed at enhancing a collaborative innovation ecosystem. The project focuses on building strategic partnerships among innovation stakeholders to facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration. This initiative contributes to strengthening local innovation and business environments, ultimately supporting long-term goals of inclusive growth and job creation.

Kenya Country Lead Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead the country team effectively in managing the country-level delivery plan targeting new opportunities and high impact for the project.
• Work actively as part of a dedicated team to develop a coherent project strategy and objectives and take the delivery responsibility in against defined work plans, intervention mechanisms, and outcomes.
• Direct delivery of the interventions in line with the agreed Country Level Work Plans.
• Identify and lead the high integrity and effective country-level stakeholder engagement and relationships, including with government teams, public sector agencies, businesses, funders, investors, and other innovation stakeholders.
• Ensure efficient forward planning and budgeting of all activities to be undertaken and the timely identification of issues that are delaying or could delay project implementation and develop solutions to address bottlenecks.
• Provide timely country-level quarterly and annual work plans and budgets to the organisation's Management Team.
• Co-develop and implement effective communication and growth plans.
• Travel regularly to engage with key stakeholders and partners.
• Track implementation of the project logical framework outputs related to activities to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.

Kenya Country Lead Requirements of the Role

Experience

• Degree qualified or equivalent in engineering, science, business, or policy, with a strong ability in written and verbal communication skills in English and local languages.
• Demonstrable experience in leading a diverse team in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder program environment across different sectors and international cultures.
• In-depth understanding of various innovation landscapes, ideally cross-sectorial, with direct experience in innovation commercialization, policy implementation, business growth, and/or international development.
• Experience and aptitude in building effective engagements and maintaining trusted partnerships with business and public sector stakeholders at all levels, with a good professional profile and network.
• Ideally a Project Management qualification, with direct experience in the delivery of major national or international programs.
• Experience in implementing and leading international donor-funded programs desired.

Skills

• A highly motivated, self-starting, and results-oriented individual with a strong desire to deliver socioeconomic impacts through equitable partnerships, innovation collaboration, and social inclusion.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to effectively lead and motivate a team working in a complex, inclusive, and challenging environment, including the need to effectively balance short and long-term priorities.
• An effective and inclusive interpersonal communicator experienced in engaging and building relationships at all levels in English and local languages.
• Ability to operate autonomously and effectively as a team leader and equally as a contributing team member when required.
• Highly numerate and analytical, with the ability to think and plan strategically.
• Able to manage a team and external relationships effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to undertake regular domestic and international travel.
• High level of IT literacy and organizational skills.