Project Director at Strathmore University

JOB PURPOSE:

• Lead the strategic delivery and growth of the Financial Inclusion Fund - SBDC Pilot Programme, driving impactful support for high-potential entrepreneurs across Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, and Mombasa counties while building a scalable model for national expansion across Kenya. 

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the successful implementation and scale-up of the SBDC Pilot Programme across Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, and Mombasa counties.  
• Manage high-level relationships with the Financial Inclusion Fund, Livelihood Impact Fund  (LIF), government stakeholders, development partners, and other key institutional partners.  
• Oversee programme execution, ensuring timely delivery of milestones, quality outputs, budget  accountability, and compliance with donor and institutional requirements.  
• Supervise and support the Project Manager and wider programme team, fostering a high performance and impact-driven culture.  
• Lead programme monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptive decision-making to strengthen  evidence generation and inform national scale-up.  
• Ensure the quality and integrity of programme deliverables, reports, communications, and  stakeholder engagement activities.  
• Represent the programme in high-level forums, policy engagements, and strategic  partnerships, positioning the SBDC model as a leading MSME development approach in  Kenya.  
• Drive resource mobilisation and strategic growth opportunities to sustain and expand the  programme beyond the pilot phase.  
• Identify and manage strategic, operational, and financial risks to ensure effective programme  delivery and long-term impact. 

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

• 15+ years of senior leadership experience managing large, complex development or donor funded programmes. 
• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Public Administration,  or Economic Development. 
• Strong experience (7+ years) in building and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships across  government, donors, private sector, and civil society. 
• Proven expertise in programme leadership, including financial management, contract  oversight, and team management. 
• Experience in donor-funded programme compliance, reporting, and results-based  management. 
• Willingness to travel as required for programme delivery and stakeholder engagement.