INSO Country Director - Kenya

This is a high profile, dynamic and multi-faceted post, and a key node in the humanitarian architecture of Kenya. INSO helps the community of humanitarian workers in Kenya deliver humanitarian aid by gathering information and presenting the best advice to those who need it most by enabling its members and those of the wider humanitarian community to better understand the environment in which they operate, and INSO directly assists humanitarians to operate successfully, to extend reach and impact and in providing sustainable life-saving aid in complex and occasionally dangerous circumstances.

The successful applicant will be a leader and a listener, an effective communicator, an eagle-eyed analyst, a team player and a people person, with appropriate experience and expertise, and a proven commitment to humanitarian principles and the aid community.

This post requires demonstrable motivation to improve the humanitarian coordination system in one of the most important humanitarian hub in the world today. The development of informative, unbiased networks to maintain a status of a recognised ‘country expert’ and provision of the highest level of strategic analysis, advice and information to NGO beneficiaries is the essential modus operandi.

The Director of the INSO Kenya team will uphold INSO’s mandate and humanitarian principles, while providing outstanding, high-level and transparent representation and liaison to all parties.

Further responsibilities include:

• Coordination of all staff and resources in the delivery of INSO services.


• Recruitment and professional development of all INSO employees.


• Quality, relevance and value of INSO’s services, making changes when necessary.


• Programme management, including annual funding strategy, budget management and contractual compliance.


• Compliance with INSO’s global policy in operational and administrative areas.

Mandatory requirements:

• Exemplary command of the English language (written and spoken).


• Masters level education or equivalent in a relevant field (please specify).


• Minimum of two (2) full years in NGO senior management level anywhere.


• Minimum of five (5) years in post conflict/emergency environments in the humanitarian sector.


• Humanitarian donor/grant management experience & policy knowledge.


• Acceptance and strong understanding of humanitarian principles


• Solid and up to date understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.


• Outgoing and confident personality.


• Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.

The following are not necessary requirements, but will give applicants an advantage over others. Please describe any relevant experience in your cover letter.

Preferred characteristics:

• Minimum of two (2) recent years of experience in Kenya, and demonstrable advanced knowledge with the historical and current social, political, security, of the country


• Previous experience as a Country Director


• Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role


• Experience in a highly visible inter-agency role.


• Deep understanding of NGO risk management dynamics.


• Detailed understanding of INSO mandate & services.


• Existing (relevant) local information networks and contacts.