Regional Manager at Wasafiri Consulting

About the Role

The people of Wasafiri are brought together for their adventurous spirit, understanding of complex problems and track record of delivering change. We share a relentless optimism for Africa’s future, a hunger to move from dialogue to action, and a desire for excellence.

We are in search of a brilliant and professional Regional Manager who will head our African programmes and operations. In summary, the Regional Manager will help us grow our business, ensure the highest standards of delivery, and manage our Nairobi-based team. Along with operational management responsibilities, we anticipate this person to be able to contribute to the development of new business and support the management of projects.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

1.     Deepening relationships with our partners and clients - Representing Wasafiri in formal and informal forums and gatherings, forging new networks and strengthening existing relationships.

2.     Supporting the development of new business – Identifying new opportunities for Wasafiri’s to grow its contributions in Africa, supporting efforts to generate new business, develop proposals and positioning Wasafiri as a world-class partner.

3.     Contributing to the strategic development of Wasafiri Africa – Shaping Wasafiri Africa’s vision and strategic direction, and overseeing the execution of the business plan required to achieve it.

OPERATIONAL & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

4.     Providing operational oversight for all our East Africa projects – Working with Project Managers and Project Team Leaders to ensure the highest standards of delivery. Where required, helping initiate and set up new projects, establish project teams and project management processes.

5.     Coaching and mentoring Wasafiri Project Managers & Team Leaders – Providing coaching, mentoring and operational support to key project personnel to support high quality project and team management across our portfolio of projects.

6.     Managing risk – Ownership for Wasafiri Africa’s risk management framework and processes, ensuring its ongoing review, development and implementation across the portfolio of work.

7.     Recruiting, developing and managing our local consultants – Identifying, recruiting and developing a network of professional consultants, and building a vibrant professional community that they are excited to be a part of.

8.     Overseeing delivery systems – Overseeing the development and implementation of high quality operational systems and processes to support the effective, scalable and efficient delivery of Wasafiri projects.

9.     Managing budgets – Working with Project Managers to oversee project budgets to ensure efficient and robust project financial management. Ensuring the rigorous management of Wasafiri Africa’s operational budget.

10.   Managing our Nairobi-based team – Providing oversight, guidance, direction, coaching, support and management of Wasafiri staff based in Kenya.

Who we are looking for

ESSENTIAL PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Outstanding project and programme management experience - A proven track record of managing projects, programmes and/or organisation (NGO, public or private sector) in Africa working directly with clients, leading small teams and delivering high quality results. Experience in managing a portfolio of projects concurrently.
• Excellent team and people management – Proven experience in coaching, mentoring, developing and managing staff and consultants. Excellent in managing client networks and relationships.
• A deep understanding of the development sector - Including knowledge of and experience working with institutional donors, public sector organisations and/or the private sector across a range of development issues.
• Excellent relationship and communication skills – Along with outstanding relationship management skills, the role requires excellent written, oral and presentational skills as a pre-requisite.
• Commercial acumen - An ability to develop and manage complex budgets and balance the competing demands of high quality delivery with resource management.
• A commitment to delivering change in Africa - A track record of high quality delivery of results in complex contexts. 

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• A background in conflict-affected and fragile environments - Experience and comfort working within countries, regions or areas affected by conflict, insecurity, violence or instability.                                         
• Technical experience in conflict, extremism or security related fields - Our work in extremism, stabilisation, community security is growing. Ideally the candidate will have a degree of technical experience in related fields and be able to contribute to the development of our work in this area.
• Commercial consulting experience - Experience working within or with a commercial consultancy based organisation.
• Living and working in East Africa – Ideally with the right to live and work in Kenya.

STYLE AND APPROACH

• Excited to be in an entrepreneurial, start up environment - This means a willingness to be flexible in the role, do what it takes to get the job done; comfortable negotiating with senior clients, and willing to, when needed, get stuck in with basic tasks.
• Able to provide leadership to autonomous motivated consultants and staff - Wasafiri has a culture that values collaboration, relationships and high quality delivery. As a manager and leader you will bring a collaborative style, willing to be challenged by anyone in the organisation, able to provide coaching and hold both those you manage and those that manage you to account. You will be comfortable in an environment not driven by hierarchy.
• Focused on client needs - You will be comfortable working direct with clients across all levels of seniority, curious to understand their issues and willing to challenge them to help create the best possible solutions. You will be an ambassador for Wasafiri able to represent the organisations in different forums and with a wide variety of organisations.
• A curiosity about Wasafiri’s Complexity-based practice and a willingness to invest in and be a champion of Wasafiri’s complexity aware approach to delivering change- including providing thought leadership and practice support to the Wasafiri team and consultants with whom you work

FURTHER INFORMATION

Location

The role is full-time based in Nairobi. Wasafiri also has offices in Kigali, Rwanda and Brighton, UK. Some regional travel may be required.

Compensation & Benefits

The position comes with an attractive compensation package based on skills and experience. Further details available for second round applicants.Permanent position, with 3-month trial period and then annual review process to ensure performance and remuneration is acceptable to both parties.

Recruitment Process

Submission: To apply for the post, please send your CV and covering letter demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role to Wasafiri’s Commercial & People Director Kate Simpson  kate@wasafiriconsulting.com Please include references, although these will only be contacted with permission. Feel free to get in touch if you require more information about the role.

Closing date for applications: 1 December we will be reviewing applications as they arrive and will appoint once a suitable candidate is identified, early applications prefered. Late applications may be considered.