Project Director at Strathmore Business School

JOB PURPOSE:

The Project Director will provide overall strategic leadership and management oversight for the project funded by the Embassy of Ireland to Kenya. As the principal resource mobilizer and architect of this initiative, the Project Director will ensure effective coordination among government agencies, research institutions, private sector actors, and development partners while maintaining accountability to the donor and achieving project objectives.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Management

• Provide overall strategic direction and leadership for project implementation across seven target counties (Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, and Nyandarua).
• Ensure project alignment with Kenya's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), ASTGS 2019-2029, and CAADP Kampala Declaration (2025).
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Embassy of Ireland to Kenya and other key stakeholders.
• Lead the project team in achieving targets for productivity enhancement, cooperative strengthening, and regional trade facilitation.

Stakeholder Coordination & Partnership Management

• Coordinate multi-stakeholder collaboration with County Governments, KALRO (Dairy
• Research Institute), KEPHIS, KEBS, ILRI, TradeMark Africa, KAM, KNCCI, and NCPK.
• Facilitate partnerships with input suppliers, business associations, and regional trade organizations.
• Represent the project in high-level forums, policy dialogues, and international conferences.
• Manage relationships with implementing partners and sub-contractors.

Donor Relations & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with all contractual obligations under the Embassy of Ireland grant agreement.
• Oversee timely submission of interim and final reports.
• Maintain transparency and accountability in all project activities and financial
• management.
• Respond to donor queries and facilitate monitoring visits from the Contracting Authority.

Resource Mobilization & Financial Oversight

• Oversee overall budget management and ensure prudent use of project funds
• Identify and pursue opportunities for project expansion and additional resource mobilization
• Ensure compliance with the cost ceilings and all DPER Circular 13/2014 requirements
• Monitor currency exchange fluctuations and manage financial risks

Technical Quality Assurance

• Ensure technical quality of all deliverables including baseline assessments, training programs, and value chain interventions.
• Oversee establishment of traceability mechanisms and quality assurance systems across target value chains.
• Ensure gender and youth mainstreaming (40% women, 30% youth participation) across all activities.
• Champion climate-smart agricultural practices and circular economy approaches.

Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor the Project Manager, Project Coordinator, and Administrative Associate.
• Foster a collaborative, results-oriented team culture.
• Ensure capacity building and professional development of project staff.
• Conduct regular team meetings and performance reviews.

Risk Management & Adaptive Management

• Identify, assess, and manage project risks including climate variability, market volatility, and stakeholder coordination challenges.
• Implement adaptive management strategies based on monitoring data and field realities.
• Ensure project resilience through proactive problem-solving and course correction.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:
The post holder will be required to have and demonstrate evidence of the following qualifications, attributes, and skills:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in development projects.
• Proven track record in resource mobilization and securing donor funding.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded projects, preferably Irish Aid, USAID, or similar bilateral programs.
• Strong understanding of Kenyan agricultural value chains, particularly dairy, animal feed, and cooperative systems.
• Experience working with county governments and national agencies in Kenya.
• Excellent knowledge of donor compliance requirements and financial management.
• Proven ability to build and manage multi-stakeholder partnerships.