Programs & Partnerships Manager at This Ability

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Programme Leadership: 

• The Programs & Partnerships Manager provides overall strategic direction for the organization’s programme portfolio, ensuring that all interventions contribute to the achievement of the Strategic Plan and annual organizational priorities. The role promotes innovation, adaptive management and evidence-informed decision-making while ensuring that programmes remain responsive to community needs and emerging opportunities.

The Manager will:

• Lead the development and implementation of annual programme strategies, work plans and operational priorities.
• Ensure programmes are aligned with the Strategic Plan, donor commitments and organizational objectives.
• Identify opportunities for programme growth, innovation and geographic expansion.
• Monitor programme performance and recommend strategic improvements.
• Advise the Managing Trustee on programme priorities, emerging risks and sector trends.
• Foster collaboration across programme portfolios to maximize organizational impact.

Programme Management and Technical Oversight:

•  The Manager is responsible for the technical oversight and quality assurance of all programmes implemented by This Ability Trust. This includes ensuring that programme activities are delivered efficiently, comply with donor requirements and organizational policies, and achieve measurable outcomes for women and girls with disabilities.

The Manager will:

• Provide technical leadership across our flagship program Mama Siri; and platforms such as Skills, Hesabika, Community of Practice initiatives and emerging programmes.
• Oversee programme planning, implementation, monitoring and close-out.
• Ensure programmes are delivered on time, within budget and to agreed quality standards.
• Strengthen programme integration, safeguarding and disability inclusion across all interventions.
• Review programme reports and technical deliverables before submission.
• Support programme teams in resolving implementation challenges and managing programme risks.

Partnerships, Resource Mobilization and External Relations: 

• Building strong institutional partnerships is central to the role. The Manager will develop and maintain collaborative relationships that strengthen organizational visibility, influence and sustainability while creating opportunities for joint programming and resource mobilization.

The Manager will:

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with government institutions, development partners, donors, United Nations agencies, organizations of persons with disabilities, academia and civil society.
• Represent This Ability Trust in technical working groups, national forums and partnership meetings.
• Lead programme resource mobilization strategies in collaboration with the Strategic Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Consultant and identify opportunities for collaboration, innovation and institutional growth.
• Support the development of concept notes, grant proposals and programme designs.
• Contribute technical expertise to donor engagement and resource mobilization efforts.
• Ensure donor relationships are effectively managed throughout the programme lifecycle.

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management: 

• The Programs & Partnerships Manager promotes a culture of learning and accountability by ensuring that programme decisions are informed by reliable data, community feedback and research evidence.

Working closely with the Research, Learning & Impact Consultant, the Manager will:

• Strengthen monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems across all programmes.
• Promote the use of evidence to improve programme design and implementation.
• Oversee the development of disability situation reports, policy briefs, technical publications and knowledge products.
• Ensure programme data is accurate, timely and informs strategic decision-making.
• Support organizational research initiatives and impact evaluations.
• Promote documentation and dissemination of best practices and organizational learning.

Policy, Advocacy and Systems Strengthening:

•  The Manager contributes to the organization’s advocacy agenda by ensuring that programme evidence informs policy dialogue and systems strengthening initiatives.

The Manager will:

• Lead technical engagement with national and county governments on disability-inclusive programming.
• Support policy advocacy related to disability rights, SRHR, safeguarding, health systems and community accountability.
• Promote community-generated evidence as a tool for influencing policy and resource allocation.
• Strengthen relationships with technical working groups and sector coordination platforms.
• Position This Ability Trust as a recognized technical resource on disability inclusion and inclusive development.

Leadership, People Management and Organizational Development:

•  As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Programs & Partnerships Manager is expected to foster a high-performing, collaborative and values-driven organizational culture.

The Manager will:

• Provide leadership, coaching and supervision to programme staff.
• Support annual work planning, performance management and professional development.
• Promote collaboration across departments to improve programme effectiveness.
• Encourage innovation, accountability and continuous learning.
• Model ethical leadership and uphold the organization’s safeguarding, diversity and inclusion commitments.

Working Relationships: 

• ​​​​​​​The Programs & Partnerships Manager reports directly to the Managing Trustee and collaborates closely with the Operations & Performance Manager to ensure that programme priorities are supported by effective organizational systems and resources.
• The role works in partnership with the Finance Team to monitor programme budgets and donor compliance, with technical consultants to strengthen programme quality and organizational learning, and with the Independent Governance Board through the Managing Trustee by providing programme updates and technical information that supports governance oversight.
• Externally, the position serves as a principal representative of This Ability Trust, maintaining productive relationships with donors, government agencies, development partners, research institutions, organizations of persons with disabilities and other strategic stakeholders.

Delegated Authority:

 Within approved organizational policies and delegated authority, the Programs & Partnerships Manager is authorized to:

• Approve programme work plans and implementation schedules.
• Supervise programme staff and provide technical direction.
• Represent the organization in technical and programme-related forums.
• Recommend programme budgets, staffing requirements and partnership opportunities.
• Review and approve technical reports prior to submission to the Managing Trustee.
• Recommend programme improvements, organizational learning initiatives and strategic partnerships.
• Escalate strategic, financial or governance matters requiring executive or Board approval.

Qualifications and Experience: The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Master’s degree in International Development, Public Health, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Disability Studies or a related field.
• A minimum of eight (8) years’ progressively responsible experience managing complex development or humanitarian programmes and at least five (5) years of experience in a senior leadership or management role.
• Professional certification in one or more of the following is highly desirable; Project Management Professional (PMP);  PRINCE2 Practitioner;  Results-Based Management (RBM); Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL); Grant Management or Proposal Development; Safeguarding and Protection; Disability Inclusion, Gender Equality or Inclusive Development.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded programmes and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Proven expertise in disability inclusion, gender equality, SRHR, safeguarding or health systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience in programme design, adaptive programme management, results-based management, Theory of Change development, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management and organizational learning.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical report and proposal writing.
• Sound understanding of Kenya’s NGO operating environment, donor compliance requirements, county government systems, disability rights legislation, safeguarding standards, human rights-based programming and localization principles.