Director of Program at Plan International

The Director of Program shall provide strategic leadership and oversight to the program portfolio, ensuring the design, implementation and evaluation of high-quality, gender-transformative programs that advance children’s rights and equality for girls in line with the Country Strategy. The position leads the program team and steers all programmatic functions—including technical leadership, influencing and advocacy, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, partnerships, sponsorship, youth engagement and business development support—to ensure excellence, accountability and impact. The role holder oversees program planning, delivery, risk management and budget execution in coordination with functional, technical, Program and Project leads, and ensures the integration of safeguarding standards and organizational policies across all interventions. As a member of the Country Management Team, the role contributes to development of the country strategic plan, strategic decision-making, strengthens program quality and operational effectiveness, and upholds Plan International’s values, standards and commitments to ending child poverty and achieving equality for girls.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Program strategy Development (20%)

• Provides leadership in strategy formulation, implementation planning, execution, and monitoring to ensure alignment with global Plan international guidance, regional strategy, country context, priorities and requirements of donors and other Plan International frameworks
• Develop and review technically sound sector approaches and strategies that will enable the Plan Kenya to respond to humanitarian emergency and sustainable development needs of the operational areas of Plan International.
• Develop the Country Strategy Programmes in line with the global procedures and the core components and requirements within Plan’s thematic areas
• Develop and implement a clear plan to strengthen programme quality in all areas to a high standard.
• Oversee the development of communication, awareness-raising and resource mobilisation strategies and plans and support progress as appropriate
• Develop, implement and monitor to the highest quality standards PIK’s programme implementation budgets.
• Develop an effective and efficient sponsorship and program alignment strategy including new sponsorship products
• Appropriately implement global gender and inclusion policies according to a well-articulated strategy adapted to local realities.
• Establish clear disaster risk reduction, mitigation and response strategies at the national level and integrate them into long-term programmes where appropriate.
• Ensure that information flow with other countries, GH and NO meets operational needs and promotes cooperation, teamwork and mission planning

Programme Implementation (20%)

• Lead the annual operational planning and oversee the implementation and monitoring of programmes towards achieving the objectives of the country strategy
• Ensure that all projects are designed, planned and implemented as per Country Strategy but also in alignment with the Project Management manual and Project management best practice
• Manage a team of functional leads and support them in all steps of the program and project cycles ensuring support is provided to teams in the field as required.
• Develop high performance measurement criteria for project and programmes in line with the PM manual and the Programme and Influence Quality Policy (PIQP)
• Support Plan International's program implementation partners and ensure they receive project management technical support and are trained in accordance with their capacity building plans.
• Promote program quality and effectiveness, support knowledge management and learning through robust monitoring and evaluation
• Lead the implementation of standards related to the Child Protection Policy and fulfill Plan's Child Protection Policy at all times to ensure children are protected from all forms of abuse.
• Maintain horizontal working links with other functional heads/leads
• Coordinate knowledge sharing processes and initiatives between projects on quality implementation aspects by supporting the use of synergy initiatives and pooling of resources and skills.
• Support the implementation of sponsorship commitments

New Business Development and Resource Mobilization (10%)

• In collaboration with the Business Development Manager, ensure relevant resource mobilization strategies and plans are in place to support the delivery of the CS.
• Based on Portfolio and Pipeline Analysis, review and position for opportunities that will drive the CSP.
• In consultation with the Country Director and National Offices, ensure technical engagement with donors to pre-position and prepare for opportunities, and engage in strategic positioning work directly as appropriate.
• Ensure relevant program staff provide technical inputs and coordinate with the BDU to develop high quality concept notes, proposals, capacity statements etc. to meet the Country Program grant acquisition targets.
• Oversee the development of high-quality proposals and concept notes, providing strategic guidance to ensure technical soundness, gender-transformative approaches, strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning frameworks, and clear alignment to donor requirements.
• Lead ideation and concept development aligned to the Country Strategy and program priorities, generating high-quality program and project ideas that inform and strengthen the business development team’s funding opportunities and pipeline.

Knowledge Management and MERL (10%)

• Establish and promote an effective knowledge management system/approach for learning, sharing, scaling up and innovation.
• Develop Monitoring and evaluation plans and framework to support the implementation of the Country Strategy and the programmes’ quality.

• Monitor and review programme and projects reports and develop appropriate strategies to ensure the achievement of project/programme objectives
• Develop and implement an intra- and inter- project control mechanisms to build synergies and minimise the risk of duplication and waste of resources.
• Annually review progress toward achieving Country Strategy, make determination whether or not PIK is on track to achieve CSP objectives and target, identify challenges and make recommendation accordingly.

Influencing and Advocacy (10%)

• Design/review/update and implement an influencing/advocacy strategy with an integrated approach in collaboration with staff and partners
• Lead Functions and thematic specialists to identify advocacy issues and take them to the national level
• Conduct in-depth power and policy analysis of country structures, systems and networks to identify opportunities for change in national law, policy, budget and behaviour that will achieve the strategic goals and objectives set by the country office.
• Ensure that programmes and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) are closely linked to ensure that advocacy and policy approaches are evidence-based.
• Ensure that Plan International CO projects implement effective and measurable advocacy activities that deliver results for girls and, where possible, contribute to Country office’s global advocacy agenda and a global movement for girls and gender equality.
• Ensure Plan International is represented in relevant networks for programme expansion and advocacy opportunities at national and other levels,
• Track and report on progress in influencing and its contribution to change, including to donors as appropriate.
• Develop an appropriate dissemination plan for the Country Strategy and programmes to build knowledge, understanding and credibility of the work of Plan International among key stakeholders

Build and monitor partnerships (10%)

Ensure that partnership strategy is developed in line with Building Better Partnership principles

• Provide leadership in identifying and forming strategic partnerships and engaging with donors, international and national NGOs, governments and other potential partners.
• Develop strategic partnerships and engage with organisations, networks, policy contacts and other key stakeholders to further plan the implementation of the country strategy.
• Ensure that implementing partner organisations are supported to develop an appropriate organisational culture, systems and procedures

Donor relations (10%)

• Ensure the funding strategy is aligned and responsive to the country strategy and support the development and maintenance of positive relationships with National organizations and donors.
• Develop a strategy and proposals for scaling up the programme and identifying implementing partners
• Lead strategic engagement with current and prospective donors, positioning the organisation as a trusted partner and ensuring alignment of priorities with the Country Strategy and global programme frameworks.
• Cultivate and maintain strong donor relationships, ensuring regular communication, responsiveness to donor inquiries, and proactive sharing of programme results, innovations, and impact stories.
• Review and validate program reports and donor submissions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong narrative presentation of progress, learning and impact.
• Lead donor stewardship efforts, including donor field visits, briefings, learning events, and visibility activities, ensuring excellent coordination and representation.
• Ensure strong compliance with donor regulations, working with Finance, Grants, MERL and Program/Project leads to minimize risks and uphold contractual obligations.
• In conjunction with the Country Director, represent the organization in donor coordination forums, sector working groups, and bilateral meetings, positioning the Country Office as a leader in gender equality and child rights programming.

Staff Management and Development (5%)

• Record and recognize performances of direct report
• Identify and address professional development in conjunction with P&C
• Provide coaching, mentoring and advice to direct reports as required.
• Assist P&C in arranging appropriate staff development events.

Safeguarding (5%)

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policy for Safeguarding and PII policy for Preventing Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse; and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications/ experience essential: 

• Master’s Degree in development studies, social sciences, business administration or related field, or equivalent experience
• 12 Years’ Experience with 5 Years in strategic leadership
• Cultural understanding and proven significant experience of exercising leadership functions with increasing responsibility in an international environment related to development or with diverse populations, cultures, and social or economic contexts.
• A strong track record on resource mobilization.
• A track record of development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management and delivering business planning, financial management, improvement programs in line with organizational objectives
• Effective working with and through partners (Government, Local NGO, INGO, private entities, etc.) and proven networking and negotiation skills with governmental and non-governmental actors
• Proven understanding of “child rights” and “gender in development” concepts and the promotion of girls’ rights in the context of relevant International Conventions (Convention of the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Eradication of Discrimination against Women) and the Global Goals (SDGs).
• Experience and understanding of the concepts of sustainable community development, nexus programming, climate change adaptation and participatory approaches and practices in development interventions.
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management