The Project Director for the Strengthening Skills Training Ecosystems & Pathways in Kenya (STEP) Project reports to the Kenya Country Director and is responsible for providing high-level vision, technical direction, and overall management of the initiative. This role ensures the project adheres to its expected outcomes, fosters innovation, manages crucial partner relationships, and maintains rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and financial oversight.
Responsibilities and Duties
Vision and Strategy
- Oversee the development of STEP’s strategic documents (Annual Work Plan, Annual Report, Market System Strategies) and communications products.
- Create a culture that balances control/compliance with innovation, embracing risk and dynamic organizational structures.
Technical Innovation
- Drive innovation and adaptation in Market Systems Development (MSD) to TVET systems for youth employment. Refine and adapt tools and techniques of a systems approach to work within STEP’s context.
- Ensure that innovation and learning is shared across WUSC’s programming and in-country stakeholders.
- Provide strategic direction to the program’s monitoring and results measurement (MERL) agenda to ensure it delivers real time intelligence to the team and other stakeholders.
- Develop specific strategies for cross-cutting themes (capacity building, gender equality, private sector engagement, environmental sustainability) for the initiative.
Leadership and Culture
- Take the lead in developing a team culture that promotes teamwork, critical enquiry and creativity, which brings together different skills to generate innovative development solutions.
- Provide strategic oversight of STEP’s learning and capacity building agenda.
- Identify current and future talent requirements, competencies, risks and opportunities to ensure that the STEP attracts the caliber of staff required to fulfill its objectives.
- Work with colleagues and partners to ensure the effective mobilization, orientation and coaching of volunteers and technical advisors.
Partner Relations and Communications
- Establish and maintain effective relationships between key project partners in Kenya and internally.
- Establish a strong working relationship with the Donor, including planning, capacity building and information sharing.
- Develop robust relationships with project stakeholders, including relevant governments, private sector actors, consultants and civil society organizations.
- Organize and manage governance structures/committees.
- Represent WUSC among stakeholders, ensuring that the STEP project can provide value to local actors and make a positive impact within the digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Technical Direction & Project Management
- Provide technical and managerial direction and guidance to the initiative, in line with the project’s expected outcomes.
- Oversee day-to-day coordination and delivery of project activities in conjunction with staff, technical advisors, volunteers and partners.
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Stay apprised of developments in key markets of interest to the project and develop systems for monitoring changes and adaptations in these markets over time.
- Regularly monitor progress towards results, ensuring appropriate course correction and iterative management.
- Work with team members to produce regular reports to key stakeholders, including the donor agency.
- Maintain regular communication with WUSC colleagues in Canada and with key overseas partners to ensure appropriate support.
Human Resources Management
- Manage the project team in Kenya.
- Supervise, guide and evaluate the work of project staff and consultants.
Financial Oversight
- Work closely with the Finance team to establish and oversee a financial management system for the project.
- In conjunction with the finance and project teams, develop and monitor the project budget and ensure regular reporting to the donor.
Donor Liaison & Coordination
- Convene Project Steering and Advisory Committees at regular intervals.
- Coordinate regularly with other development actors to ensure harmonization and synergy with similar initiatives.
- Represent the Project in official communication and fora.
Qualifications and Competencies
Education
- A university degree in international development, business administration, finance or other relevant area.
- Specialized training in entrepreneurship support, financial inclusion, gender and/or the digital economy would be an advantage.
Experience and Competencies
- A minimum of ten years of progressively more responsible assignments related to management of development initiatives.
- Knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship ecosystem support, forced displacement, and/or TVET. Previous experience with the market systems development approach strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in managing diverse teams and building a culture of curiosity and learning.
- Knowledge of Results Based Management (RBM) and environmental and gender policies and reporting requirements preferred.
- Proven technical, financial, administrative and organizational skills.
