Country Lead (Kenya) at Options Consultancy Services Limited

Options Consultancy Services Limited was established in 1992 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marie Stopes International. We are a consultancy organisation providing technical and management expertise in the health and social sectors to governments and international development partners to transform the health of women and children. We provide information, expertise and influence to governments, health workers, NGOs and businesses to catalyse change so that health services can be accessed by the people who need them most.

Background:

Adolescent girls are twice as likely to have an unmet need for contraception compared to women in their twenties, putting them at increased risk of unintended pregnancy. They are also more likely to face age-related stigma and barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services, as well as lack of information and agency, increasing the risk that they delay seeking services. There are still gaps in our knowledge and understanding of effective adolescent health programming, especially at scale, and there are very few sexual and reproductive health services that have been tailored to adolescents. We need to explore new approaches and to implement promising ones, such as engaging the private sector to reach adolescents and providing complementary and coordinated interventions.

Main purpose of job:

The Country Lead is responsible for the delivery of the programme at the country level in Kenya under the overall direction of the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader. The key responsibilities are:

• Delivery of the integrated programme in Kenya, overseeing the coordinated implementation of all workstreams;
• Effective and efficient consortium and contractor management at country level;
• Representation of the programme in relevant national networks and events, whenever relevant to Safire.

The Country Lead will provide leadership, programmatic direction and oversight to the Safire Kenya team; oversee development and implementation of the country consortium workplans and support a coordinated one-team work approach across the consortium partnership. The Country Lead is responsible for ensuring our strategy is cohesively implemented, overseeing quality of country activities underpinned by the highest safeguarding standards, and externally representing the programme as needed.

Requirements:

Expertise should include some of the below areas:

• Strong commitment to human rights, equal opportunities and pro-choice
• Senior Management programme experience, including project cycle management, programme control, planning and budgeting, people management and monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in managing sub-contractors, suppliers, and/or civil society implementing partners
• Experience engaging with a range of stakeholders at a senior level, both nationally and sub-nationally

Benefits:

Options offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave, pension and medical insurance.

Other information:

Options is an equal opportunities employer
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment
We seek people who are pro-choice, energetic and enthusiastic about Options’ vision

Applications from Kenyan nationals are strongly encouraged, as well as candidates with the right to live and work in Kenya (priority will be given to candidates who hail from Sub-Saharan Africa