Current Vacancies at The Health Support Organisation (THESO)

• The ideal candidate will have strong implementation oversight experience and an enthusiastic and proactive approach to building a program portfolio.
• Team empowerment and capacity strengthening background with strong communication and presentation skills are required. Experience in coordination and managing various stakeholders locally, regionally, and globally is also necessary for this position.

What you will do

The role of the Program Manager (PM) position is to be responsible for technical supervision, strategic direction, implementation, and quality assurance as well as monitoring of THESO program activities in Kenya and South Sudan, as well as relevant staff mentoring and capacity development under the leadership of the program Director.

• The PM is expected to follow THESO’s standards, procedures, and guidelines for project governance applicable to the projects. S/he is also responsible for the overall planning and coordination of all interventions, directly as an integrated approach across THESO areas of focus. S/he will lead the efforts to scale up THESO’s operations effectively address the immediate needs arising and ensure timely and quality provision of required support.

In this role, you will:

• Develop program, technical SOPs / Guidelines, and Macro Logframes.
• Develop the Core Competency, including by identifying trends, technical standards, and donor priorities, as well as by leading and/or co-leading donor, diplomatic, developmental, and humanitarian stakeholders field visits and meetings.
• Lead the development of sound and evidence-based program project proposals and budgets for new projects/extensions of projects in conjunction with the relevant teams.
• Responsible for providing technical and implementation support and guidance to field-based program staff in implementing THESO project(s)
• Overall management of project staff, providing systematic training build capacity of technical staff and transfer key skills.
• Coordinate and manage program project/s implementation (activities, budget, and project documentation) in line with proposals, strategies, and donor requirements.
• Closely coordinate with all contractual commitments and cross-thematic areas (including digital approach and environmental considerations) to maximize integrated responses.
• Ensure that key learnings are extracted from contractual commitments implementation and incorporate them in all thematic areas of contractual commitments and staff development processes.
• Contribute to fundraising, develop and revise funding proposals, budgets, and donor reports.
• Ensure compliance with contractual commitments across the program contractual commitments, THESO policies, program tools, handbooks, guidelines, and procedures to achieve high technical quality and synergies in project implementation.
• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities, stakeholders, and donors and represent THESO in relevant forums/clusters/working groups.
• Contribute to the implementation of Safe and Inclusive Programming Minimum Standards across your area of work while promoting the rights of IDPs/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy.

What you will bring

• Minimum 10 years of experience within a humanitarian/recovery context.
• Minimum 7 years of program expertise (as Specialist/Technical Adviser and/or Program/Project Manager).

Specific experience, knowledge, and expertise in:

• market analysis, cash-based interventions, and market-based programs.
• working in complex political contexts.
• program start-up and expansion experience and experience leading needs assessment, project monitoring and evaluation activities, and program development.
• working in remote management contexts is desirable.
• knowledge of the Middle East Region and Palestine context specifically.
• key technical standards (SPHERE, HAP, IASC, safe and inclusive programming, gender mainstreaming, IHL, humanitarian principles, etc.) with the ability to rate into programming.
• Advanced computer skills, especially in MS Office; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Understanding of and commitment to:

• working collaboratively with technical and operational colleagues within a matrix structure, including capacity strengthening.
• integrated programming and/or coordinating multiple sectors/CCs.

Master’s degree in public health or related fields of study (would be advantageous).

Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

• Valid driver’s license.

go to method of application »

• The Health Support Organisation (THESO) is seeking an Interim Country Director based in Nairobi - Kenya. This exciting and challenging position will be for two years to start, with an extension possibility.

Duties and responsibilities:

• The primary responsibility of the Interim Country Director (ICD) is to provide leadership and strategic direction for THESO's development and humanitarian programs in Kenya.

Areas of Responsibility:

Strategic Direction:

• Lead the design and management of the Country strategy in line with the overall THESO strategy and relevant to the local context;
• Raise the profile of THESO in Kenya through networking with bilateral donors, multilateral donors, UN agencies, foundations, philanthropists, etc in-country;
• Assess and respond to changing external environment;
• Facilitate alignment of the country program with THESO’s Regional and global policies;
• Be involved with the national board of directors (where legally required);
• Produce a detailed annual business operating plan that program outputs can be measured against;
• Be responsible for THESO’s country strategy implementation, which is based on THESO's Global Strategy
• Be responsible for THESO’s country office’s overall security in Kenya
• Lead THESO’s program work and guarantee its efficient implementation
• Lead people: Lead the Senior Management Team in Kenya. Create an open and inspiring working culture
• Lead innovations: Identify and lead innovation opportunities in order to have maximum impact
• Lead financial growth of the country program to reach out to as many people in need as possible
• Be responsible for compliance of the office with set THESO standards. Be responsible for implementing THESO’s complaint mechanism according to the rules and procedures of THESO
• Ensure effective external and internal communication: Ability to deliver messages that inspire good teamwork. Ability to communicate concisely and persuasively.
• Lead financial management of the country office according to the applicable statutory requirements as well as ensure that policies and guidelines by THESO are followed
• Act in line with THESO’s vision, values, and quality & accountability standards

Legal Compliance:

• Ensure legal compliance in all areas: health and safety, labour laws, taxes, insurance, and other local requirements;
• Organisation’s policy and procedure compliance;
• Responsible for ensuring all program areas are following the organization’s policies and procedures in accordance with THESO’s published documents, such as minimum standards, field manuals, etc.;

Financial and Resource Management:

• Be accountable for budget, resources, and assets, ensuring financial controls and cost-effectiveness in accordance with the organisation's mission and values;
• Develop and manage the country's operating budget, including major capital expenditures;
• Oversee and ensure compliance with local policies and ethical guidelines and comply with guidelines on procurements, security, and other functions;
• Ensure planning process to enable the country to use available resources in the best way to carry out agreed-upon country strategies;
• Promote country funding needs and opportunities to the operations office;

Staff Management:

• Effectively lead the team within the performance management framework and coach staff/managers;
• Ensure methods of operation and working behaviors are in line with the organisation’s values and policies and are in legal compliance;
• Recruit staff in accordance with local requirements and THESO’s procedures;

Security and Risk Management:

• Be fully accountable at the country level for emergency and risk management, develop a plan, and ensure staff awareness and compliance;

Corporate Leadership:

• Act as a guardian of THESO’s brand in the country;
• Ensure staff are continuously engaged and aligned with the organisation’s global mission, strategy, values, strategic direction, and country plan;
• Work with peers across the organisation to share knowledge, skills, resources, and networks;

Oversee program and development and grant management:

• Provide strategic leadership and accountability.

Competence and Personal Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a senior leadership role, with special emphasis on program management, with a strong focus on developmental work
• Preferably ICD has leadership experience either from Kenya or from a nearby location in the region
• The strong asset is if the candidate has already existing networks and relationships with humanitarian and development players in the country, as well as local NGO partners, civil society, and business sector
• Understanding of nexus programming and localisation
• Experience in THESO thematic areas: Health, Education, Nutrition, WASH & Food Security & Livelihoods
• Experience in leading self-implemented, partner-implemented, and consortium operations
• Results-oriented and effective decision-maker
• Cultural sensitivity, diplomatic, positive, and constructive approach.
• Preferably previous experience in working with USAID, FCDO, EU, and other donors
• Excellent writing and speaking skills in English, and other languages are an asset