Country Director – Kenya

About the role

Sightsavers is seeking a Country Director to lead its Kenya portfolio, ensuring programmes are strategically aligned, evidence-informed, financially responsible and responsive to national priorities. The post-holder works through partnerships with government institutions, civil society organisations, donors, academic institutions, private-sector actors, communities and organisations of persons with disabilities. The role is based in Nairobi, Kenya, on a two-year fixed-term contract, with up to 10 weeks of in-country travel per year.

Key responsibilities

• Lead country strategy and annual planning.
• Oversee complex, multi-sector programme delivery, monitoring, evaluation, impact and learning.
• Direct financial stewardship, governance, audit and risk.
• Develop institutional funding and strategic partnerships.
• Lead high-level advocacy and maintain accountability to partners, communities, donors and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure safeguarding, anti-fraud, data protection, ethics, gender equity and disability rights are integrated across programmes and operations.

Required profile

• Significant senior leadership experience in an international NGO, development agency, donor-funded programme or comparable organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex, multi-sector programmes, substantial budgets and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading a country programme or substantial portfolio, accountable for strategy, budgets and delivery across several functions, with authority to prioritise resources, address delivery risks and agree corrective action, and accountability to a Regional Director, executive team or board.
• Relevant Master's degree or equivalent experience, and understanding of safeguarding, risk management and compliance frameworks.
• Desirable: experience in disability inclusion, eye health, public health, education, social protection or economic empowerment, knowledge of Kenyan government and policy processes, and cross-sector experience.

Required skills

• Strong programme, financial, resource, governance and risk management capability.
• Partnership development, senior stakeholder engagement, advocacy and institutional donor grant management.
• Understanding of monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment and learning.
• Excellent strategic, analytical, problem-solving and English communication skills.

The role is highly varied and involved; the listed requirements are not exhaustive. Applications are made through the Sightsavers careers portal.