Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Flexi-Personnel

JOB PURPOSE:

• The COO will provide strategic and operational leadership for LSTM Kenya’s rapidly growing, multi-site health research portfolio, ensuring effective delivery aligned with LSTM’s global mission and with LSTM Kenya’s partnerships with KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, and others in Kenya. The role carries overarching responsibility for operational excellence, financial sustainability, risk management, and organisational performance across the Kisumu and Nairobi offices.
• The COO will translate the research strategy into efficient, compliant, and resilient operations; harmonise systems and culture across both offices; nurture new and existing partnerships; and ensure LSTM Kenya is well positioned as a trusted partner in global health research.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic leadership: -

• Deliver the strategic vision and plan for LSTM’s research in Kenya, working closely with Research Group Leaders.
• Lead continuous improvement across research programme operations, infrastructure, and support services.
• Drive operational excellence across field, lab and community-based activities.
• Represent LSTM Kenya externally, strengthening relationships with funders, government agencies, regulators, academic partners, and strategic suppliers.
• Develop, monitor and report on operational, regulatory, economic and geopolitical KPI’s, covering financial sustainability, operational efficiency, resilience, compliance and staff engagement.
• Undertake horizon scanning on operational, regulatory, economic, and geopolitical developments relevant to Kenya operations.

Operational oversight: -

• Provide executive oversight of all operational, administrative, and support functions across LSTM Kenya.
• Ensure robust logistics, procurement, and supply chain systems that comply with Kenyan law, donor requirements, and LSTM group policies.
• Lead the development, review, and implementation of Kenya-specific policies and SOPs aligned with LSTM group frameworks (e.g. Financial Regulations, Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, Anti-Bribery.
• Act as Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) for LSTM Kenya, ensuring effective information governance and data protection.
• Provide assurance to the Board on operational, financial, safeguarding, and security risks.
• Oversee and maintain the LSTM Kenya risk register, including development of a risk appetite statement and proactive mitigation strategies.
• Lead crisis management, incident response, and business continuity planning; represent Kenya in relevant LSTM global preparedness forums.

Financial Management: -

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the finance function, ensuring strong financial controls, accurate reporting, and effective budgeting.
• Lead the annual financial reporting and external audit process.
• Oversee procurement and contract management in line with Kenyan law, donor rules, and LSTM UK regulations.
• Support long-term financial sustainability through income diversification, cost control, and efficient resource allocation.
• Optimise use of staff, facilities, and equipment to maximise value for money while maintaining research quality.
• Work with LSTM UK to agree research overheads and oversee delivery of services under the LSTM Kenya–LSTM UK Service Level Agreement.

People Leadership & Organisational Culture

• Line-manage the senior management team, currently the Head of Programmes, Senior Accountant, and HR/Compliance Officer.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture across all sites.
• Oversee performance management, staff wellbeing, talent development, and succession planning.
• Partner with LSTM UK on major HR initiatives, policy development, and organisational change programmes.
• Act as a role model for LSTM values, ethical leadership, and accountability.

Governance & Compliance: -

• Ensure LSTM Kenya meets all duty-of-care obligations, including health, safety and security.
• Ensure systems are in place for reporting, investigating, and learning from incidents and near misses.

General Responsibilities: -

• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the role.
• Act in a manner that safeguards children and at-risk adults, including LSTM staff and students, in accordance with safeguarding policies reporting any concerns using the LSTM reporting system.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND CAREER EXPERIENCE:

• A Master’s degree in business administration or in a similar field or equivalent work experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in an operational role within a research institute, NGO in the health sector, or global health organisation (for example, COO, Country Director, Programme Director).
• Certified Accounting professional e.g., CA, ACCA, CIMA would be an added advantage.
• Significant experience working with Board of Directors.
• Experience of managing large, health research programmes.
• Strategic partnership experience and direct engagement with country health authorities, national institutes and international partners.
• Demonstratable experience of leading multi-site, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong track record in talent development, leadership coaching, and organisational strengthening.
• Experience operating in complex, resource-constrained environments.
• Experience of managing large donor-funded grant portfolios.
• Experience in global health, infectious disease, or vector-borne disease programs would be an added advantage.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Ability to uphold the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion as aligned to the organization’s mission and values.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into delivery.
• Excellent financial, operational, and risk management capability.
• Proven judgement and decision-making in high-uncertainty environments.
• Strong understanding of duty of care, safeguarding, and compliance.
• Highly developed interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with integrity.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive leadership

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JOB PURPOSE:

• The COO will provide strategic and operational leadership for LSTM Kenya’s rapidly growing, multi-site health research portfolio, ensuring effective delivery aligned with LSTM’s global mission and with LSTM Kenya’s partnerships with KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, and others in Kenya. The role carries overarching responsibility for operational excellence, financial sustainability, risk management, and organisational performance across the Kisumu and Nairobi offices.
• The COO will translate the research strategy into efficient, compliant, and resilient operations; harmonise systems and culture across both offices; nurture new and existing partnerships; and ensure LSTM Kenya is well positioned as a trusted partner in global health research.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic leadership: -

• Deliver the strategic vision and plan for LSTM’s research in Kenya, working closely with Research Group Leaders.
• Lead continuous improvement across research programme operations, infrastructure, and support services.
• Drive operational excellence across field, lab and community-based activities.
• Represent LSTM Kenya externally, strengthening relationships with funders, government agencies, regulators, academic partners, and strategic suppliers.
• Develop, monitor and report on operational, regulatory, economic and geopolitical KPI’s, covering financial sustainability, operational efficiency, resilience, compliance and staff engagement.
• Undertake horizon scanning on operational, regulatory, economic, and geopolitical developments relevant to Kenya operations.

Operational oversight: -

• Provide executive oversight of all operational, administrative, and support functions across LSTM Kenya.
• Ensure robust logistics, procurement, and supply chain systems that comply with Kenyan law, donor requirements, and LSTM group policies.
• Lead the development, review, and implementation of Kenya-specific policies and SOPs aligned with LSTM group frameworks (e.g. Financial Regulations, Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, Anti-Bribery.
• Act as Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) for LSTM Kenya, ensuring effective information governance and data protection.
• Provide assurance to the Board on operational, financial, safeguarding, and security risks.
• Oversee and maintain the LSTM Kenya risk register, including development of a risk appetite statement and proactive mitigation strategies.
• Lead crisis management, incident response, and business continuity planning; represent Kenya in relevant LSTM global preparedness forums.

Financial Management: -

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the finance function, ensuring strong financial controls, accurate reporting, and effective budgeting.
• Lead the annual financial reporting and external audit process.
• Oversee procurement and contract management in line with Kenyan law, donor rules, and LSTM UK regulations.
• Support long-term financial sustainability through income diversification, cost control, and efficient resource allocation.
• Optimise use of staff, facilities, and equipment to maximise value for money while maintaining research quality.
• Work with LSTM UK to agree research overheads and oversee delivery of services under the LSTM Kenya–LSTM UK Service Level Agreement.

People Leadership & Organisational Culture

• Line-manage the senior management team, currently the Head of Programmes, Senior Accountant, and HR/Compliance Officer.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture across all sites.
• Oversee performance management, staff wellbeing, talent development, and succession planning.
• Partner with LSTM UK on major HR initiatives, policy development, and organisational change programmes.
• Act as a role model for LSTM values, ethical leadership, and accountability.

Governance & Compliance: -

• Ensure LSTM Kenya meets all duty-of-care obligations, including health, safety and security.
• Ensure systems are in place for reporting, investigating, and learning from incidents and near misses.

General Responsibilities: -

• Any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the role.
• Act in a manner that safeguards children and at-risk adults, including LSTM staff and students, in accordance with safeguarding policies reporting any concerns using the LSTM reporting system.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND CAREER EXPERIENCE:

• A Master’s degree in business administration or in a similar field or equivalent work experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience in an operational role within a research institute, NGO in the health sector, or global health organisation (for example, COO, Country Director, Programme Director).
• Certified Accounting professional e.g., CA, ACCA, CIMA would be an added advantage.
• Significant experience working with Board of Directors.
• Experience of managing large, health research programmes.
• Strategic partnership experience and direct engagement with country health authorities, national institutes and international partners.
• Demonstratable experience of leading multi-site, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong track record in talent development, leadership coaching, and organisational strengthening.
• Experience operating in complex, resource-constrained environments.
• Experience of managing large donor-funded grant portfolios.
• Experience in global health, infectious disease, or vector-borne disease programs would be an added advantage.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Ability to uphold the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion as aligned to the organization’s mission and values.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into delivery.
• Excellent financial, operational, and risk management capability.
• Proven judgement and decision-making in high-uncertainty environments.
• Strong understanding of duty of care, safeguarding, and compliance.
• Highly developed interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with integrity.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive leadership