Director of Government Relations at Shamiri Institute

About the role:

As the Director of Government Relations, you will work hand-in-hand with the CEO and Chief of Staff, leading our government engagement efforts. You will play a pivotal role in developing and executing strategies aimed at establishing collaborative partnerships with governmental bodies and influencing mental health policymaking.

How you will make a difference:

Your work as the Director of Government Relations will contribute significantly to Shamiri's mission. You will secure agreements with the Ministries of Education and Health, propelling us towards our goal of reaching every public high school in the country. You will help position Shamiri as the leading organization in Kenya's mental health space by engaging the government in our work and influencing mental health policies. Overall, your role will be instrumental in ensuring Shamiri can deliver high-quality services to more schools and touch the lives of more youths.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key government officials, ministries, agencies, and relevant committees to ensure Shamiri’s work is a priority for the national mental health agenda.
• Leverage relationships to secure a Memorandum of Understanding between Shamiri and the Ministry of Education, extending our reach and impact across every public high school in Kenya.
• Develop and implement comprehensive government engagement strategies to influence mental health-related policies, legislation, and regulations at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Monitor and analyze proposed legislative and regulatory changes that impact mental health services, and provide timely recommendations and responses to protect and advance Shamiri's objectives.
• Identify opportunities within government education and health budgets to secure financial support for Shamiri's programs.
• Work with the communications team to develop campaigns and initiatives that raise public awareness about mental health issues, targeting government-orientated audiences.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure alignment between advocacy efforts, programmatic activities, and Shamiri's overall goals.
• Maintain accurate records of government interactions, policy developments, and advocacy efforts, providing regular reports to the leadership team.

Who we're looking for:

• The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in government relations, with extensive existing relationships with government officials at relevant departments, and an exceptional ability to cultivate new relationships with other government stakeholders.
• The main objective is to help Shamiri sign agreements with relevant stakeholders to extend our footprint to all 47 counties of Kenya, with the ultimate ambition of working in every public school in the country
• Please apply through our online application portal.
• Please note that you will be requested to upload your resume and cover letter in addition to completing a skills assessment.