Role Purpose

Plan International Kenya is searching for a Programme Director for an anticipated 5-year USD 27 million programme funded by the LEGO Foundation and Grundfos Foundation. The programme is expected to empower teachers to deliver inclusive, play-based learning in line with Kenya’s Competency Based Curriculum; creating an enabling environment for quality learning inside the schools; and generating rigorous evidence on Teachers Professional Development interventions. The programme will be implemented in refugee- and host-communities of Turkana and Garissa counties, with some significant national components as well.

The Programme Director will be leading the Programme Management Unit (PMU) based in Nairobi, with frequent travel to Turkana and Garissa.

Management scope, reporting lines, key relationships.

• Reports to: Country Director
• Direct reports – 3 Positions 

Key relationships 

Internal

• The Director of programme implementation, Director of Program Strategy, Development and Innovation, DRM Advisor, Head of Business Development, Finance manager, M&ERL team, Supply Chain and Administration, IT, Technical advisors, and other teams supporting the interventions to ensure synergy.

External

• The incumbent will work closely with UNHCR, UNICEF, National Technical Working groups at National level, County level engagement informed by nature of response, local and national stakeholders. The incumbent will also work with the Local Implementing Partners.

Accountabilities and main work activities

Programme Strategy, Development and implementation (50%)

• Responsible for the overall direction, planning, implementation, and management of the programme as well as the achievement of the goals and objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Ensure technical, financial, and administrative activities are carried out according to Plan International’s policies and procedures and consistent with donor regulations.
• Ensure that efficient systems are in place to support all aspects of the program (including grant and subcontracts management, financial, capacity building, performance monitoring and reporting).
• Forster a collaborative, transparent, and high-performing culture within the programme consortium that reflects Plan International’s approach to Building Better Partnerships.
• Manage the Programme Management Unit and its staff in a manner that is open and respectful and reflects Plan International’s approach to feminist leadership.
• Serve as the primary in-country point of contact with the LEGO Foundation and Grundfos Foundation, partner organisations, national government stakeholders, and stakeholders.

Working in Partnership, External engagement and representation (20%) 

• Engage and maintain cordial stakeholder relationships throughout the project cycle for effective project delivery and achievement.
• Represent Plan International in different technical working groups at National and County level.
• Uphold the principles of Building Better Partnerships 
• Participate fully in Technical working groups at National and county level.
• Maintain a high level of external visibility, communication and contact at the county, sub county and ward levels.
• Build and strengthen working relations with local structures (local administration, schools, facilities among others) and ensuring visibility of Plan International where we have interventions
• Ensure the KCO is kept informed on any development in the County, including but not limited to major donor visits, county planning events, county commitments, targeted county meetings and engagement events, security incidences among others within the County

Financial Responsibility (10%)

• Ensure appropriate Financial and Logistical PIK systems/ procedures are adhered to within programming
• Oversee costed plans and budgets as per donor approved work plan and ensure all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling, quality and timelines.
• Provide guidance on budget management for department ensuring appropriate burn-rates are maintained and that solutions to over/under expenditure are applied;

Risk Management (10%)

• Identify and manage project risks
• Promote compliance with Plan Kenya and donor requirements and regulations in project implementation

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures that the project contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted. 

Other duties (5%)

• As assigned by the line manager.

Leadership Competencies

• Courageous in taking a lead, focussed on Plan International's purpose and making the most effective contribution within their own work context.
• Behaves in line with Plan International values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work.
• Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speaks up when they see wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse.
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date.
• Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time.
• Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn.
• Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyse issues and improve things.
• Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.

Qualifications/ experience essential: 

• A Master’s degree or higher in international development, education, public policy, social sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 12 years’ experience managing large and complex grants, managing several partners and/or leading a consortium.
• Recommended 10 years of experience from relevant technical areas such as education, Teacher Professional Development, refugee education, WASH, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, and/or Gender Equality and Inclusion.
• Experience working with or a strong understanding of the education landscape in Kenya, including the Ministry of Education, Kenya Teacher Service Commission, and/or Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
• Experience working within refugee coordination structures, incl. coordination and collaboration with national authorities, UN agencies, and other implementing partners.
• Proven ability to represent an organization at a senior level and to build strong relationships at the local, national, and international levels.
• Experience managing large grants with significant formative and evaluative research components.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, incl. proven track record of fostering a safe, transparent, and collaborative working environment in consortiums.
• Proven ability to lead diverse staff and cross-organizational teams, manage performance, foster a positive working environment, and manage issues sensitively and diplomatically.
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender transformative programming and experience in implementing programs with gender-focused components.
• Fluency in English and excellent oral and written skills required.

Qualifications/ experience desirable: 

• Experience managing projects funded by the LEGO Foundation or Grundfos Foundation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of LEGO Foundation’s approach to Learning Through Play and what it looks like in a Kenyan context.
• Experience responding to rapid onset emergencies in sectors such as WASH, health, and nutrition.
• Knowledge of the geopolitical factors affecting access to and quality of education for refugees and host communities in Kenya, and the political, social, and environmental opportunities for change.
• Fluency in Kiswahili, and excellent oral and written skills.

Languages required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English. Knowledge of local languages is an added advantage.

Skills

• Ability to influence power holders about the need for and benefits of addressing needs of women and girls and how they are impacted within refugee settings.
• Excellent relationship building skills – networking, influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to identify, analyze and monitor diverse, relevant external actors to work with and understand the purpose and implications of working with them.
• Experience in capacity building

Behaviors:

• Role model Plan International values and behaviors both internally and externally.
• Engages sensitively with community members on issues of gender equality and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of the local culture and context.
• Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partners
• Apply participatory influencing methodologies both internally and externally
• The ability to build collaborative working relationships
• Communicates effectively at a high level and with a range of appropriate styles for different audiences
• Builds capability through knowledge sharing, networking and coaching

Role Purpose

Plan International Kenya is searching for a Technical Director for an anticipated 5-year USD 27 mil. programme funded by the LEGO Foundation and Grundfos Foundation. The programme is expected to empower teachers to deliver inclusive, play-based learning in line with Kenya’s Competency Based Curriculum; creating an enabling environment for quality learning inside the schools; and generating rigorous evidence on Teachers Professional Development interventions. The programme will be implemented in refugee- and host-communities of Turkana and Garissa counties, with some significant national components as well.

The Technical Director will be responsible for the overall vision and technical quality of the programme, working in close collaboration with consortium technical advisors. The Technical Director will be based within the Programme Management Unit in Nairobi, with frequent travels to Turkana and Garissa,

Accountabilities and main work activities

Programme Strategy, Development and implementation (55%)

• Responsible for the overall technical vision and strategic leadership of the programme.
• Work with the programme’s other directors to identify and respond to projects risks in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensure the programme strategy and activities are responsive to students’, refugee and national teachers’ needs and characteristics, and rooted in global evidence of best practice.
• Facilitate and lead the consortium’s Education Technical Working Group, including managing and overseeing development and/or adaptation of new interventions and education content.
• Ensure links and synergies with the consortium’s other working groups, such as advocacy and WASH.
• Support the development of an ambitious Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning agenda that continuously informs the path of scale.
• Manage the Programme’s technical team and provide mentoring to consortium technical advisors.
• Ensure that all consortium partners’ expertise and capacity are utilised to the best possible extent towards achieving change.
• Represent and engage with education technical stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally as relevant.

Working in Partnership, External engagement and representation (20%) 

• Engage and maintain cordial stakeholder relationships throughout the project cycle for effective project delivery and achievement.
• Represent Plan International in different technical working groups at National and County level.
• Uphold the principles of Building Better Partnerships 
• Participate fully in Technical working groups at National and county level.
• Maintain a high level of external visibility, communication and contact at the county, sub county and ward levels.
• Build and strengthen working relations with local structures (local administration, schools, facilities among others) and ensuring visibility of Plan International where we have interventions
• Ensure the KCO is kept informed on any development in the County, including but not limited to major donor visits, county planning events, county commitments, targeted county meetings and engagement events, security incidences among others within the County

Financial Responsibility (5%)

• Ensure appropriate Financial and Logistical PIK systems/ procedures are adhered to within programming
• Develop quarterly and monthly activity costed plans and budgets as per donor approved work plan and ensure all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling, quality and timelines.
• Overall budget management for department ensuring appropriate burn-rates are maintained and that solutions to over/under expenditure are applied;

Risk Management (10%)

• Identify and manage project risks
• Promote compliance with Plan Kenya and donor requirements and regulations in project implementation

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures that the project contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted. 

Other duties (5%)

• As assigned by the line manager.

Leadership Competencies

• Courageous in taking a lead, focussed on Plan International's purpose and making the most effective contribution within their own work context.
• Behaves in line with Plan International values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work.
• Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speaks up when they see wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse.
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date.
• Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time.
• Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn.
• Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyse issues and improve things.
• Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.

Qualifications/ experience essential: 

• A Master’s degree or preferably higher in international development, education, gender, social sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience providing technical leadership to large and complex primary education/Teacher Professional Development grants with significant SEL or MHPSS components involving multiple stakeholders. Experience should come from both development and refugee contexts.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience implementing Gender Transformative programmes, or at least programmes with a stated vision of contributing towards gender equality.
• Proven experience innovating and scaling education interventions informed by evidence generation, including how to integrate these into national education systems.
• Proven experience with adaptative programme management, and/or crisis modifiers in large programmes.
• Deep knowledge of best and emerging evidence on Learning Through Play or similar teaching methods, Teachers Professional Development, Social Emotional Learning, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in education.
• Experience working with or a strong understanding of the education landscape in Kenya, incl. the Ministry of Education, Kenya Teacher Service Commission, and/or Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
• Experience managing co-creation processes with multiple partners, incl. public authorities.
• Proven ability to represent an organization at a senior level and to build strong relationships at the local, national, and international levels.
• Proven ability to lead diverse staff and cross-organizational teams, manage performance, foster a positive working environment, and manage issues sensitively and diplomatically.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals.
• Experience in leading team, coaching, and mentoring staff and partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, understanding Swahili will be an advantage.

Qualifications/ experience desirable: 

• Experience managing or providing technical leadership to projects funded by the LEGO Foundation.
• Experience from multi-sectoral responses to rapid onset emergencies that include education.
• Experience integrating WASH and health interventions at school level.
• Familiarity of Human-Centred Design principles and processes.

Languages required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English. Knowledge of local languages is an added advantage.

Skills

• Ability to influence power holders about the need for and benefits of addressing needs of women and girls and how they are impacted within refugee settings.
• Excellent relationship building skills – networking, influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to identify, analyze and monitor diverse, relevant external actors to work with and understand the purpose and implications of working with them.
• Experience in capacity building

Behaviors:

• Role model Plan International values and behaviors both internally and externally.
• Engages sensitively with community members on issues of gender equality and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of the local culture and context.
• Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partners
• Apply participatory influencing methodologies both internally and externally
• The ability to build collaborative working relationships
• Communicates effectively at a high level and with a range of appropriate styles for different audiences
• Builds capability through knowledge sharing, networking and coaching.