Country Director at Child Fund International

About This Role

• The Country Director, Kenya is responsible for strategic leadership and oversight of ChildFund operations in the Kenya Country Office (CO), including strategy development and implementation, business development and resource mobilization, external engagement, advocacy and communications, partnership portfolio management, program delivery, sponsorship stewardship, administration and support, enterprise risk management, disaster risk reduction, and safety and security.
• The Country Director is expected to play an important role in the COs’ ability to operate with increased self-sufficiency and competitiveness while maximizing social impact and becoming a recognized player in the local contexts. The Country Director fosters strong relationships with local partners and identifies innovative approaches to deliver social impact. The Country Director also leads an organizational culture where key sustainable development principles are proactively applied and ChildFund core values and operational principles are practiced with a high degree of employee engagement; establishes appropriate systems; maintains good working relationships with local partners, government officials, and donors; and ensures all staff and representatives are fully aware of and adhere to ChildFund policies and commitments about Safeguarding.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide oversight to develop and maintain a healthy, growing operational portfolio. Engage in and manage program quality and monitoring and learning, ensuring a healthy mix and portfolio management of strong local partners, grant acquisition and management (pre/post-award), and local fundraising.
• Provide leadership and management for the implementation of Programs, Program Models and Delivery Mechanisms, leading team members and partners toward adoption, integration, and learning around key areas including child safeguarding standards, monitoring and evaluation, disaster risks reduction, transformative gender, diversity and inclusion, and safety and security.
• Oversee the recruitment and orientation of staff and provide ongoing talent management supervision, leadership, and guidance.
• Supervise, guide and mentor staff to achieve performance metrics and core outcomes and oversee the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective senior leadership team.
• Advance ChildFund’s reputation, position, and brand as a strong reputable child development organization, a leader in children’s issues, and a credible reference point on issues related to children’s development with government authorities, other INGOs, donors, the media, or other stakeholders.
• Actively pursue business development and local fundraising for the CO through grants, corporations, and individual donors by pre-positioning, advocating, networking, etc. among key influencers important to children’s rights.
• Provide oversight to develop and maintain a healthy, growing operational portfolio. Engage in and manage program quality and monitoring and learning, ensuring a healthy mix and portfolio management of strong local partners, grant acquisition and management (pre/post-award), and local fundraising.
• Provide leadership and management for the implementation of Programs, Program Models and Delivery Mechanisms, leading team members and partners toward adoption, integration, and learning around key areas including child safeguarding standards, monitoring and evaluation, disaster risks reduction, transformative gender, diversity and inclusion, and safety and security.
• Oversee the recruitment and orientation of staff and provide ongoing talent management supervision, leadership, and guidance.
• Supervise, guide and mentor staff to achieve performance metrics and core outcomes and oversee the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective senior leadership team.
• Advance ChildFund’s reputation, position, and brand as a strong reputable child development organization, a leader in children’s issues, and a credible reference point on issues related to children’s development with government authorities, other INGOs, donors, the media, or other stakeholders.
• Actively pursue business development and local fundraising for the CO through grants, corporations, and individual donors by pre-positioning, advocating, networking, etc. among key influencers important to children’s rights.
• Manage financial, human, and physical resource allocation and maintain quality standards; collaborate with Global Shared Services to facilitate effective and efficient delivery of financial, human resources, and information technology services to the COs.
• Ensure that adequate internal controls are in place to protect COs’ financial and non-monetary assets and that they are used in accordance with donor terms and conditions.
• Lead teams to develop learning and knowledge products that enable COs’ learning and sharing and seek and leverage existing knowledge products to increase effectiveness of CO teams.
• Ensure that an effective disaster emergency response and preparedness plan is in place and updated regularly.
• Ensure the overall enterprise risks of the country operations are addressed, revised, and managed proficiently. Implement standards, policies, and procedures to protect personnel, programs, and property. Lead a culture of safety and security risk management. Monitor security trends for appropriate action. Allocate adequate budgets for safe program implementation and cost recovery. Uphold duty of care, implementing measures to promote physical and mental health. Work closely with the global security team to achieve standards and a coordinated response to incidents.
• Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks; acquire relevant knowledge and skills to enable you to understand the safeguarding policy and procedures; promote strong safeguarding practices; perform your duty and responsibility to safeguard, report violations, and promote appropriate behavior; and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the organization’s policies and values.
• Take all appropriate corrective actions, including disciplinary, legal, or other actions in response to any violation of the Safeguarding Policy, follow up on any findings of a violation, and review the applicable policies, procedures, and protocols to identify and address any gaps or weaknesses.

Required Competencies

• Fluency in English with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the child protection and child-focused programming landscape and cultural context in Kenya and the East Africa region generally.
• Strong visioning and strategic planning skills.
• Demonstrated excellent inclusive leadership skills, including fostering teamwork, developing and motivating teams, change management, and conflict resolution.
• Demonstrated high-level interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, including the ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally with senior leadership.
• Results-oriented and effective under pressure.
• Innovative, entrepreneurial mindset.
• Excellent relationship-building and networking skills, with the ability to manage coalitions, attract local and international resources, and build strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in child-focused programming, sponsorship, program and project management, and budget and resource management.
• Effective and demonstrated change management skills, with the ability to proactively lead and champion innovation and organizational change.

Required Experience and Education

• University degree in a relevant field is required; a master’s degree in a relevant field is strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in management or senior management positions in the development sector.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of institutional grants and individual donors.
• Experience in emergency programs and/or community development programs.
• Demonstrated track record of successful business development in international development.