Director of Programming

ABOUT US

Working in 54 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, with a total annual budget of approximately Euros1 billion, Plan International's stated Global Strategic Goal is to reach 200 million girls, particularly those living in fragile contexts, fighting injustice or facing crisis, with high-quality programs that deliver long-lasting benefits. Plan International Kenya (PIK), operational since 1982, focuses on long-term development. Collaborating closely with local communities and governments, PIK implements programs to enhance the well-being of children in areas such as Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Tana River, Turkana, and Marsabit.

ROLE PURPOSE

The
Director of Programs
shall provide strategic leadership and oversight to the program portfolio, ensuring the design, implementation and evaluation of high-quality, gender-transformative programs that advance children's rights and equality for girls in line with the Country Strategy. The position leads the program team and steers all programmatic functions—including technical leadership, influencing and advocacy, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, partnerships, sponsorship, youth engagement and business development support—to ensure excellence, accountability and impact. The role holder oversees program planning, delivery, risk management and budget execution in coordination with functional, technical, Program and Project leads, and ensures the integration of safeguarding standards and organizational policies across all interventions. As a member of the Country Management Team, the role contributes to development of the country strategic plan, strategic decision-making, strengthens program quality and operational effectiveness, and upholds Plan International's values, standards and commitments to ending child poverty and achieving equality for girls.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Program strategy Development (20%)

• Provides leadership in strategy formulation, implementation planning, execution, and monitoring to ensure alignment with global Plan international guidance, regional strategy, country context, priorities and requirements of donors and other Plan International frameworks
• Develop and review technically sound sector approaches and strategies that will enable the Plan Kenya to respond to humanitarian emergency and sustainable development needs
• Develop the Country Strategy Programmes in line with the global procedures and the core components
• Develop and implement a clear plan to strengthen programme quality
• Oversee the development of communication, awareness-raising and resource mobilisation strategies and plans
• Develop, implement and monitor to the highest quality standards PIK's programme implementation budgets.
• Develop an effective and efficient sponsorship and program alignment strategy including new sponsorship products
• Implement global gender and inclusion policies according to a well-articulated strategy adapted to local realities.
• Establish clear disaster risk reduction, mitigation and response strategies at the national level
• Ensure that information flow with other countries, GH and NO meets operational needs

Programme Implementation (20%)

• Lead the annual operational planning and oversee the implementation and monitoring of programmes
• Ensure that all projects are designed, planned and implemented as per Country Strategy
• Manage a team of functional leads
• Develop high performance measurement criteria for project and programmes
• Support Plan International's program implementation partners
• Promote program quality and effectiveness, support knowledge management and learning
• Lead the implementation of standards related to the Child Protection Policy
• Maintain horizontal working links with other functional heads/leads
• Coordinate knowledge sharing processes and initiatives between projects on quality implementation
• Support the implementation of sponsorship commitments

New Business Development and Resource Mobilization (10%)

• In collaboration with the Business Development Manager, ensure relevant resource mobilization strategies and plans are in place
• Based on Portfolio and Pipeline Analysis, review and position for opportunities
• In consultation with the Country Director and National Offices, ensure technical engagement with donors to pre-position and prepare for opportunities
• Ensure relevant program staff provide technical inputs and coordinate with the BDU
• Oversee the development of high-quality proposals and concept notes
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning frameworks, and clear alignment to donor requirements.
• Lead ideation and concept development aligned to the Country Strategy and program priorities

Knowledge Management and MERL (10%)

• Establish and promote an effective knowledge management system/approach for learning, sharing, scaling up and innovation
• Develop Monitoring and evaluation plans and framework
• Monitor and review programme and projects report and develop appropriate strategies
• Develop and implement an intra- and inter- project control mechanisms to build synergies
• Annually review progress toward achieving Country Strategy, make determination whether or not PIK is on track to achieve CSP objectives and target, identify challenges and make recommendation accordingly.

Influencing and Advocacy (10%)

• Design/review/update and implement an influencing/advocacy strategy with an integrated approach in collaboration with staff and partners
• Lead Functions and thematic specialists to identify advocacy issues
• Conduct in-depth power and policy analysis of country structures, systems and networks to identify opportunities for change in national law, policy, budget and behaviour
• Ensure that programmes and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) are closely linked
• Ensure that Plan International CO projects implement effective and measurable advocacy activities
• Ensure Plan International is represented in relevant networks for programme expansion and advocacy opportunities at national and other levels
• Track and report on progress in influencing and its contribution to change, including to donors as appropriate.
• Develop an appropriate dissemination plan for the Country Strategy and programmes

Build and monitor partnerships (5%)

• Ensure that partnership strategy is developed in line with Building Better Partnership principles
• Provide leadership in identifying and forming strategic partnerships and engaging with donors, international and national NGOs, governments and other potential partners
• Develop strategic partnerships and engage with organisations, networks, policy contacts and other key stakeholders
• Ensure that implementing partner organisations are supported to develop an appropriate organisational culture, systems and procedures

Donor relations (10%)

• Ensure the funding strategy is aligned and responsive to the country strategy and support the development and maintenance of positive relationships with National organizations and donors.
• Develop a strategy and proposals for scaling up the programme and identifying implementing partners
• Lead strategic engagement with current and prospective donors
• Cultivate and maintain strong donor relationships, ensuring regular communication
• Review and validate program reports and donor submissions
• Lead donor stewardship efforts, including donor field visits, briefings, learning events, and visibility activities
• Ensure strong compliance with donor regulations
• In conjunction with the Country Director, represent the organization in donor coordination forums, sector working groups, and bilateral meetings

Staff Management and Development (5%)

• Record and recognize performances of direct report
• Identify and address professional development in conjunction with P&C
• Provide coaching, mentoring and advice to direct reports as required.
• Assist P&C in arranging appropriate staff development events.

Safeguarding (5%)

• Ensure that Plan International's global policy for Safeguarding and PII policy for Preventing Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse; and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International's Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in development studies, social sciences, business administration or related field, or equivalent experience
• 12 Years' Experience with 5 Years in strategic leadership
• Cultural understanding and proven significant experience of exercising leadership functions with increasing responsibility in an international environment related to development or with diverse populations, cultures, and social or economic contexts.
• A strong track record on resource mobilization.
• A track record of development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management and delivering business planning, financial management, improvement programs in line with organizational objectives
• Effective working with and through partners (Government, Local NGO, INGO, private entities, etc.) and proven networking and negotiation skills with governmental and non-governmental actors
• Proven understanding of "child rights" and "gender in development" concepts and the promotion of girls' rights in the context of relevant International Conventions
• Experience and understanding of the concepts of sustainable community development, nexus programming, climate change adaptation and participatory approaches and practices in development interventions.
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management