Program Manager, Affirming Rights at Natural Justice

What we’re looking for
Natural Justice seeks a full-time program manager to implement and further develop the work of the Affirming Rights program in Kenya. Working under the guidance of the Hub Director, the Program Manager will use strategic advocacy, secure partnership development for movement building and lobbying, support community legal empowerment approaches, and develop key participatory action research documents on community, public and trust land and other environmental decision-making processes, laws and policies. The successful candidate will be based in Nairobi, with frequent local travel and occasional regional and international travel, and will be expected to begin work as soon as possible.

Key Roles and Responsibilities – Program Manager, Affirming Rights
Strategic planning, project development and work planning

• Work with the Hub Director and Natural Justice’s Director of Programs to develop the organization’s overall program strategy
• Under the guidance of the Hub Director, develop and supervise the implementation of the Affirming Rights program of work in Kenya, including its projects, deliverables, and annual plans, ensuring their alignment with Natural Justice’s overall program strategy

Technical Advice

• Provide technical and legal advice to partners, affected communities and other relevant stakeholders
• Provide comments and training on laws, policies and processes that impact communities’ rights and access to land and the environment
• Respond to inquiries of partners and relevant stakeholders
• Support litigation of relevant cases
• Deliver presentations, and organize and conduct workshops/meetings

Policy and Legal Reform

• Identify and engage with key policy issues and key collaborators
• Provide comments and make submissions on relevant law and policy
• Develop and implement a strategic advocacy policy for Affirming Rights

Legal Empowerment

• With the other Hub Program Managers, oversee the paralegal projects and provide direct advice and assistance
• Develop and deliver community training on laws and legal empowerment methodologies
• Develop, improve and implement legal empowerment approaches

Research and MEAL

• With the research team, develop the program’s research, monitoring, evaluation and learning tools
• Guide the research team to conduct relevant desktop and field research
• Write collaborative research reports, concept documents, academic papers, and organizational reports.
• Share research findings with stakeholders and at relevant national and international fora
• Work with Natural Justice’s Affirming Rights team to lead strategy planning and progress meetings, and facilitate updates and learnings from across the region

Partnerships, Networks and Communication

• Identify, build and maintain networks and/or partnerships with relevant stakeholders from government, civil society groups, community-based organizations, the private sector and academia
• Support the development of partnership documents (MOUs, etc.) where relevant
• In coordination with the communications team, write articles, comments, statements, articles, blogs and reports relevant to the program for public distribution, including on the Natural Justice website, social media, legal media, etc
• Contribute to the communications and campaign strategies and outputs of the Hub

Finance and Administration

• Manage the financial, administrative and procurement processes of the projects within the program
• Manage individual budgets from funders and provide financial guidance to junior staff.

Oversight, Fundraising and Reporting

• Provide oversight and support to the Hub’s program team, fellows, CELOs, and paralegals concerning program activities and deliverables
• Assist the Hub Director and Director of Programs to identify funding sources, prepare preparing grant applications, and develop and manage relationships with funders
• Submit updates and reports on projects and programs to the Hub Director
• Participate in regular program meetings of the Hub and Natural Justice

Selection Criteria
Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor of Laws degree with at least five years of demonstrated work expertise in environmental law, including natural resource and/or land law, and administrative law
• A post-graduate degree in law, political science or other relevant social science discipline is desirable
• Understanding of and proficiency in regional legal systems and institutional arrangements.
• Experience in conducting fieldwork and working with marginalized communities
• Experience communicating complex legal issues in an accessible way to communities
• Experience relating research or project experiences to policy advocacy
• Experience conducting primary and/or desktop research and preparing clear and analytical reports (with proof of published work)
• Experience writing applications and reporting to donors
• Program management experience, including budgeting, project planning, contract drafting, monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in managing and supervising teams
• An understanding of and experience in the socio-political environment and civil society work in the region
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili
• Citizen or permanent resident of Kenya or other EAC country

Personal Profile:

• Demonstrated experience advocating for environmental and/or social justice
• Highly motivated, pro-active individual able to work under minimal supervision
• Ability to prioritize, act on initiative and meet deadlines
• Ability to think critically and problem solve
• Reliability and attention to detail
• Ability to travel frequently
• Ability to work with the team and to develop and maintain good relationships with community-based or other grassroots groups and partners
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.