Policy LINK Kenya, Country Lead at DAI Kenya - Development Alternatives, Inc.

General Position Objectives

1. Lead technical implementation and program management of all Policy LINK activities in Kenya, working closely with relevant technical teams and partners
2. Maintain strong, positive stakeholder and client relationships that advance technical engagement and implementation in a coordinated and coherent manner.
3. Provide consistent and responsive communication with USAID/Kenya
4. Develop and nurture an effective, well-functioning Kenya Program team, primed to deliver at the highest level.
5. Ensure full integration of and accountability to Policy LINK global functional areas of operations, communications, M&E within Policy LINK

The position will continually reinforce Policy LINK’s agreed-upon core purpose and principles, and ensure strategic design, implementation and ongoing decision-making is rooted in the purpose and principles. S/he will contribute to a learning environment in which personal and team growth is supported, with a shared understanding that the “team” always comes before the “individual.”

Specific Roles and Responsibilities

The Kenya Country Lead will be responsible for the following anticipated tasks, though others may be added as appropriate:

Work with the USAID Kenya Mission, national and county governments, non-state actors including the private sector and other counterparts to conceptualize and design approaches and activities in support of Mission objectives as captured in the Program’s activity description and concept notes; specifically:

• Lead and participate in the design of new activity concepts and descriptions together with relevant teams
• Lead implementation of technical activities according to Policy LINK’s established Activity Management Systems and Tools
• Develop and track updated activity implementation trackers with detailed information on the status of activities.
• In coordination with the Regional Director, maintain continuous interface and hold regular meetings with USAID/Kenya to collaboratively design and create interventions as well as take the lead on reporting and reviewing program progress.
• Provide overall supervision to the Policy LINK Kenya country team, including program staff, collaborators, and consultants; specifically:
• Coordinate regular internal team meetings and debriefs to set targets, review progress, leverage lessons, and ensure successful implementation of program activities.
  Ensure effective management of consultants and service providers to produce high quality deliverables.
• Ensure overall proper documentation, monitoring, and reporting of the status and performance of the Kenya Program implementation, including setting targets, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning.
• Ensure the program communication is of high quality, appropriate, regular, and efficient
• Ensure that accurate budgeting for Kenya Program activities, and as needed, link with relevant finance staff on budgets, procurement, and operational support
• Lead the design and development of an annual workplan for the Program, including updated annual targets aligned with the workplan and budget.
• Coordinate with global MEL Manager to design and develop a MEL plan for the Kenya Program
• Ensure that the Program is consistently utilizing and learning from Policy LINK’s global practice areas and working closely with Practice teams
• The Kenya Country Lead may be called upon to support Policy LINK’s broader program management activities and may also be part of other relevant activity teams within Policy LINK

Qualifications Education:

• Minimum Master’s degree required in agricultural or development economics, management, economics, social sciences, or other related field of study.

Experience:

• Experience supporting fast-paced, global USAID programs operating across multiple countries is preferred.
• Knowledge of agriculture policy, and institutional frameworks and ability to carry out critical analysis of policy issues; experience working with national and County governments and non-state actors preferable.
• Familiarity, networks and expertise on Kenya’s institutions, processes, and systems especially in Agriculture.
• Ten (10) years of progressive/ leadership experience in program management, international/ economic development.
• Proven experience in agricultural public and private sector capacity building activities.
• Strong strategic thinking and organizational skills with ability to work in a complex, rapidly changing environment and respond to changing donor and partner demands.
• A good understanding of donor-funded compliance requirements, with prior experience reviewing and approving procurement actions and financial transactions.

Skills:

• Strong skills in monitoring and evaluation program activities as the candidate will be expected to actively ensure progress against indicators and objectives.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to tailor communication for donors, stakeholders, and partners (including public, private and government counterparts) at a high level.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, conflict and ethical management skills.
• Computer literate in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software
• (Microsoft).
• Fluent Swahili and English language skills preferred.
• Strong leadership, program management and coordination skills with ability to mentor and build strong cross-functional and cross-organization teams, and to design and rollout program activities.