STEP Project Manager (NGO) – Contract, Nairobi

About the role

The Strengthen Skills Training Ecosystems & Pathways (STEP) project in Kenya is a seven-year initiative led by WUSC supporting economic development and youth employment, with the goal of improving economic well-being for displaced and host-community youth. The STEP Project Manager acts as Field Implementation Lead, reporting to the STEP Project Director and bridging strategy with camp-level realities. The role is based in Nairobi and covers a 2-year contract.

Key responsibilities

• Turn the approved Annual Work Plan into quarterly execution plans across Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Dadaab, and build commercial links with private firms, aggregators, off-takers, BPO agencies and financial service providers.
• Enforce the rule that market demand must precede skills training, validate employer vacancies and buyer contracts, and oversee the Traction-Based Capital Sequencing Model.
• Supervise Economic Inclusion and Livelihood Officers in Kakuma and Dadaab and the Operations Officer in Nairobi, and coach them toward systemic market facilitation.
• Chair the monthly field-level Project Coordination Committee meetings and guide local partners (RLOs, WROs, OPDs, HCOs/CBOs) in line with GAC Results-Based Management, fiduciary rules and GESI-ECC safeguarding frameworks.
• Integrate GESI, ECC and safeguarding into field activities, including a minimum of 60% young women participants, and enforce NEMA environmental screening and OHS audits.
• Support the Project Director in preparing agendas for the annual Project Steering Committee and bi-annual advisory committees, and ensure compliance with GAC cost guidelines and dual-signature authorization above KES 100,000.
• Track performance indicators disaggregated by sex, age, disability and displacement status, measuring success by transition-to-income, net monthly earnings and 12-month business survival.
• Assist the Department of Refugee Services with IDs, KRA PINs and Class M work permits, and help move youth from informal work to formal, protected labour.

Required profile

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, International Development, Commerce, Agribusiness or a closely related field; a Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of relevant experience is also considered.
• 7 to 10 years of corporate management and private enterprise development experience.
• 5+ years executing Market Systems Development (MSD) and AIMS programs.