Childfund Work Location Nairobi, Kenya
Childfund Division Global Impact
ChildFund Department Country Management
Job Details
Position title: Director, Project Location: Nairobi, Kenya
ChildFund office: Kenya Manager/Supervisor title: Country Director
Position type: Full-time fixed term Work environment: On-site
About ChildFund
ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that connects children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are. We work directly in 23 countries, with extended reach to more than 60 countries through our global partnership network.
ChildFund’s Values
We aspire for every person in our organization—program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers alike—to feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing your talents and innovations to our inspiring mission.
ChildFund’s Commitment
ChildFund International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal records check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.
About This Role
This is a full-time, fixed-term position located in Nairobi, Kenya. To be eligible, candidates must have current residence and work authorization in Kenya and be able to obtain a U.S. travel visa.
Hiring of this position is subject to award of funding.
ChildFund is conducting a preliminary search for a Project Director to lead a proposed two-year, U.S. Government-funded project designed to protect vulnerable children, expand access to high-quality education technology (EdTech), strengthen digital safety and online protection, promote market-relevant skills development, and strengthen government systems to prevent child labor and online exploitation. The Project Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for the project, managing partnerships, supervising staff, overseeing high-quality implementation, including budget and compliance requirements, and serving as the primary liaison with government counterparts, private-sector partners, civil society organizations, and the donor.
Required Experience And Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as education, social work, international development, or public policy is required; master’s degree preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading donor-funded international development, education, youth engagement, or child protection programs.
- At least 5 years in senior leadership roles managing complex, donor-funded projects, preferably in Kenya.
- Demonstrated experience with US government-funded projects. Experience with US DOL is a plus.
- Experience with government capacity strengthening.
- Experience advancing safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, survivor-centered approaches, ethical data practices, and accountability standards is preferred.
- Experience with digital equity, digital safety, and prevention of online exploitation and abuse of children is preferred.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Project Management
- Provide overall leadership and technical direction for project implementation.
- Oversee achievement of project outcomes, milestones, and performance targets.
- Lead project startup, strategy validation exercises, work planning, implementation, adaptation, and closeout activities.
- Maintain project alignment with national government and donor priorities and requirements.
- Lead adaptive management processes, using monitoring data and stakeholder feedback to improve project effectiveness.
Donor and Stakeholder Engagement
- Serve as principal representative and coordinate closely with the donor.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with government ministries and offices.
- Facilitate collaboration with private-sector technology companies, training providers, employers, and community organizations.
- Represent the project in national, regional, and international forums.
Technical Oversight
- Guide implementation of interventions that:
- Increase access to quality EdTech solutions for children at risk of child labor.
- Support digital literacy and technology-enabled learning.
- Connect youth to apprenticeships, vocational training, and market-relevant employment pathways.
- Strengthen online safety awareness, protocols, and reporting systems.
- Build government capacity to prevent online exploitation and enforce child labor laws.
- Ensure interventions are evidence-based, innovative, and responsive to contextual needs.
Financial and Compliance Management
- Oversee sound management of the project budget.
- Ensure compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and applicable U.S. government requirements.
- Monitor expenditures, forecasts, pipelines, and financial performance.
- Review and approve project budgets, procurements, subawards, and consultant agreements.
- Ensure timely submission of financial, programmatic, and compliance reports.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning
- Provide oversight of project monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems.
- Oversee collection and analysis of high-quality performance data.
- Lead annual reviews of project performance, risk assessments, and learning activities.
- Support development of reports demonstrating project outcomes and impact.
- Promote evidence generation and use of data for decision-making and adaptive management.
Team Leadership
- Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate project staff and consultants.
- Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and accountable team culture.
- Ensure effective coordination between technical, operations, finance, grants, and M&E teams.
- Support staff capacity strengthening and professional development.
Safeguarding
- Identify and mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and programmatic risks.
- Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.
Others
- Travel occasionally to Washington, DC.
Required Competencies
ChildFund’s Leadership Competencies
- Strategic Leadership (applies vision; explores multiple paths; invests time in planning to effectively execute strategy)
- People Leadership (inspires, influences, coaches, and empowers others to be at their best; values individual differences and seeks the inclusion of others)
- Partnership (develops strong networks; works across divisions; creates trusting and productive relationships that contribute to positive outcomes)
- Change Management (adjust thinking and behaviors to remain relevant, resilient, and responsive to internal and external conditions)
- Design Thinking (designs solutions with end user experience in mind; empathizes, defines, ideates, prototypes, and tests) Strong training facilitation, coordination and networking skills.
Other Required Competencies
- Fluency in English;
- Knowledge of child labor, child protection, education, and/or digital safety initiatives and policies in Kenya.
- Demonstrated knowledge of, organizational capacity development, compliance, and responsible partnership management.
- Strong financial stewardship, budget oversight, risk management, and donor compliance skills.
- Ability to build trust, negotiate priorities, manage complexity, and maintain accountability across diverse stakeholders and implementation contexts.
Other Requirements
- Current residence and work authorization in Kenya.
- Eligibility to obtain a U.S. travel visa.