Job description

About BOMA Project

BOMA is working to lift 3 million people out of extreme poverty by 2027. BOMA’s mission is to provide the people and governments of Africa’s drylands with economic inclusion programs that increase resilience to multiple crises. Founded 15 years ago to eliminate extreme poverty among pastoralist women in Kenya, BOMA has since transformed the lives of more than 350,000 women, youth and refugees in East Africa. BOMA stands out for its focus on last mile populations of the drylands of Africa, who are most at risk to shocks from climate change and COVID-19, tech savvy and data driven approach, impressive graduation rate and 99% local structure based in Africa.

Find out more about BOMA by visiting their website.

About the program 

BOMA Project is currently seeking qualified candidates for Program Director position for the newly awarded Livelihoods and Inclusion for Transformation (LIFT) Northern Kenya project. The Livelihoods and Inclusion for Transformation (LIFT) Northern Kenya project will implement a climate crisis-adapted “green” version of The BOMA Project’s proven poverty graduation model, the Rural Entrepreneur Access Project (REAP) to provide market-based pull by facilitating more competitive, profitable Green Enterprises for women, youth, and refugees within the forest ecosystems in Marsabit, Samburu and Turkana counties and in Kakuma and Kalobeyei Refugee Settlements over a period of 3 years. BOMA will be the Lead partner of the project and will collaborate with Danish Church Aid (DCA) and Smart Regional Consultants (SRC) in implementing the project.

About the role

The LIFT Program Director will be responsible for driving performance, support the implementation of the project to achieve programmatic excellence, delivery of results with sound financial management, and contractual compliance. S/he will lead the team to deliver timely project implementation, monitor project activities,  and ensure quality. This position will be based in the BOMA’s office in Nairobi, Kenya,  with frequent travel to Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced project manager with prior experience working with large bilateral donors. S/he is effective at project planning and management, managing employees, and relationships with partners and stakeholders in challenging environments and is passionate about women’s, youth, and refugee’s economic empowerment.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Design and Implementation: 

• Lead the development, implementation, and scaling of the new program.
• Spearhead the periodic review of the program operations plans, management plans, budgets, work plans, and activity schedules. 
• Ensure that program implementation maintains high quality and is aligned with BOMA’s mission, vision, and strategic plan and is also in line with existing Kenya laws, guidelines, protocols, policies, and funder’s compliance/requirements. 
• Oversee budgets and financial accounting as well as manage effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with BOMA and donor policies/procedures. 
• Ensure that BOMA delivers on all its contractual program obligations, ensuring that program delivery hits all targets, and comes in on budget and on time.
• Oversee the creation of well written and comprehensive reports, submitted on time to partners and donors.

Team Management: 

• Manage the program staff, supporting effective human resource management for the program. 
• Build a culture of accountability, transparency, performance, trust, and collaboration at BOMA. 
• Coach and mentor the team - inclusive of technical leads for Graduation, Training and Capacity Development, Refugee Livelihoods, Program and Operations, and Systems Operations.
• Seek ways to ensure effective management and communication systems enhance the work performance of all staff. 

Partnership Management: 

• Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors by ensuring effective and efficient performance for all aspects of service contracts and partner grants.
• Establish and maintain close working relationships with the community, both national and county governments, partners, and non-government stakeholders to support program activities. 
• Provide overall coordination for the program and ensure operational harmony with relevant stakeholder partners in the public and private sector.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning: 

• Support the MERL team to ensure high-level results are captured and disseminated to stakeholders.  
• Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation, quality data collection and analysis systems are in place, adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency across programs. 

Does this sound like you?

• BA/S or equivalent in social science, management, international development or other relevant fields. 
• 7-10 years of relevant development experience, including at least 3 years in a senior program/project management position. 
• Previous experience working managing programs in Africa, preferably in the Kenyan Arid Lands. 
• Strong government relations experience including scaling programs in collaboration with Government and donor partners.
• Experience managing programs in the relevant technical area(s) including, Climate Resilience, Market Systems, Graduation Approach, Refugee Livelihoods, and Natural Resource Management.
• Experience managing large and highly restricted budgets as well as driving highly accurate and precise reporting on the same. 
• Proven track record in program design, proposal writing and development, and donor relations.
• Experience supervising international and national staff, starting up programs, and working in difficult environments.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meets deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively with team members. 
• History of working effectively with county government, NGO partners, and collaborating with other actors, including the private sector. 
• Solid knowledge of and experience with security protocols is essential. 
• Fluency in written and oral English is required.  

Persons of all gender, race, sex, orientation, age, and identity are encouraged to apply. If you have any questions concerning the role you can write to Sarah Ndegwa at sarah@shortlist.net and cc Shivani Nair on shivani@shortlist.net.