East Africa Regional Director at IDinsight

About the role

The East Africa Regional Director (EARD) will be supported by the Head of Africa and IDinsight’s CEO, to assume critical responsibility for driving large pieces of IDinsight’s work and strategy in East Africa. The EARD will be backed by high quality research teams, an excellent operations team that ensures a well-functioning organization, and a communications team to help amplify the Director’s voice within policy circles.

The role holder will be provided significant autonomy to leverage IDinsight as a platform to drive social impact (in consonance with IDinsight’s mission and strategy), while also being held accountable to clear goals that they will set for themselves in consultation with the Head of Africa and other leaders at IDinsight.

This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and will likely include a good amount of domestic and international travel (up to 30%) to fulfill the responsibilities mentioned below.

Career Development

Career and skill development are a priority for all IDinsight employees. Their entrepreneurial culture allows for the role to be tailored to individual passions, goals and preferences. IDinsight is also committed to facilitating work-life flexibility to maximize professional satisfaction and sustainability. 

The EARD will also be provided with bi-annual performance reviews (including feedback from peers and direct reports) to help them continuously grow and learn as professionals.

This role is a Partner track position.

Key Responsibilities:

Each Director role at IDinsight is unique and tailored to specific individuals’ strengths. However, at a high level, the EARD role will include the following:

• Develop and lead high-impact opportunities: Building on their experience, expertise, and networks, the East Africa Regional Director will help conceptualize, secure, fundraise, and execute impactful initiatives that use data and evidence to drive change. All initiatives should be in line with IDinsight’s mission and strategy but can take various forms, ranging from direct client-service engagements to amplify their partners’ impact, to contributing to public knowledge products aimed at infusing data and evidence into important social sector debates.
• Lead, mentor and guide project teams: Project leadership will involve; liaising with senior clients regularly, ensuring the highest standards of research quality and ethics, overseeing and mentoring teams (usually 3-5 Managers, with 10-15 members in total), ensuring a safe and enabling atmosphere for colleagues, and keeping within project budgets. Most importantly, the EARD is expected to set and drive their projects toward achieving social impact.
• Be a thought leader, a trusted advisor, and an advocate for data-driven reforms: In addition to leading projects, the EARD will be expected to apply their considerable experience, expertise, and skills to shape evidence-informed action within one or multiple sectors, regions, or specializations. This includes; writing in leading newspapers and journals, speaking at important conferences, harnessing relationships and networks within the impact community to develop trusted advisory positions with senior leaders, and participating in consultative councils within governments, foundations, and/or non-profits.
• Contribute to IDinsight strategy: The EARD will be responsible for working closely with Africa and global leadership teams to craft, refine and execute on achieving IDinsight’s strategy in East Africa.
• Support organizational development: The EARD will also be involved in contributing to global and regional operations such as recruitment, onboarding and performance reviews. They will be expected to support IDinsight to remain an impact-first, values-based, and nimble organization even as they grow.
• Exemplify IDinsight’s mission and values: The EARD is the face of IDinsight both externally and internally and will be expected to always and unambiguously exemplify IDinsight’s mission and values.

Does this sound like you?

• 10+ years’ experience using data and evidence to improve social impact, ideally in East Africa, with an advanced degree (Master’s or Doctoral) preferably in public policy, economics, public administration, business, or public health.
• Deep passion for development and social impact, and strong alignment with IDinsight’s vision and mission.
• Track record of building strong stakeholder and client relationships, especially with governments, foundations, and nonprofits in East Africa.
• Proven background of impactful thought leadership and advocacy around important social and/or technical issues.
• Fluency in the role of data and evidence tools – such as impact evaluations, representative surveys, monitoring systems, and/or machine learning – to create insights and impact.
• Ability to be an inspiring leader in a dynamic, multicultural, and values-based environment;
• Attitude to thrive in an entrepreneurial setting, and able to adapt to dynamic growth and change
• Eagerness to be a lifelong learner with keen intellectual curiosity and a sense of humor
• Willingness to travel as needed and to work with remote colleagues
• Excitement to work across multiple development sectors.

Persons of all gender, race, sex, orientation, age, and identity are encouraged to apply.