Country Director, Kenya

About the role

Precision Development (PxD) is seeking a Country Director to lead its Kenya program in Nairobi. Reporting to the Director of Programs, Africa, you will lead a cross-cutting team and oversee the Kenya portfolio, budget and government partnerships, working closely with Program Leads, the Research Professional Group, the Operations team and the finance team. The role suits someone with a strong track record of managing programs and teams, who understands RCTs and rigorous research methods and can set strategy while engaging with operational detail.

Key responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for PxD in Kenya and direct the implementation of existing projects and the design of new services
• Oversee Kenya projects and scoping studies, including implementation plans and monitoring; own the country budget
• Support research methods, monitoring and evaluation tools and program management systems, and work with research affiliates to ground programs in evidence
• Lead the Kenya team, supervise and develop direct reports, and oversee in-country finance personnel
• Oversee the Program Management Unit and work with the Operations team and local legal counsel on compliance with Kenyan law
• Build relationships with county and national governments, private businesses, NGOs, donors and other partners, and lead fundraising and donor management
• Contribute to organizational strategy, fundraising, communications and institutional learning, and take on other work as directed by the CEO and/or Africa Regional Director

Required profile

• Master's degree in economics, agricultural economics, public policy or a closely related field
• 10+ years of experience leading large programs, including managing managers or senior staff
• Experience living and working in Kenya
• Experience owning a country or program budget and overseeing finance staff, and a track record in fundraising and business development
• Demonstrated ability to retain talent, build capacity and foster a values-led team culture
• Strong track record building relationships with government, private sector and other stakeholders

Required skills

• Project planning, risk management, monitoring and evaluation tools and program management systems
• Familiarity with RCTs and rigorous research methods
• Clear, confident communication in English, with advanced presentation skills
• Ability to travel within Kenya and internationally

Desirable: experience developing research projects, preferably quantitative; experience with public sector enterprises and NGOs in Kenya; knowledge of agricultural economics. Applications include a CV, cover letter and brief answers to screening questions, reviewed on a rolling basis until the closing date.