Resident Program Director - Kenya

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI, and demonstrating the core values in their day to day operations.

The Resident Program Director (RPD) is responsible for all programmatic, personnel, outreach and accounting matters in Kenya. In consultation with IRI/Washington, the RPD designs and implements a long-range strategy for IRI programs in Kenya, manages budgets and is responsible for compliance with local laws and /regulations governing current funding.

Position Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations or related field.


• Five-seven years’ professional experience in democratic governance and politics, preferably working directly with political parties, civil society organizations/NGOs and/or legislative bodies and officials. Work with legislative bodies at the national or subnational level is highly preferred.


• Working knowledge of the politics, economics, history and culture of Kenya and the region.


• Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills.


• Demonstrated management experience including ability to motivate and manage staff.


• Demonstrated experience working with USG funded projects and familiarity with USG regulations and processes.


• Demonstrated financial management experience in developing and administering program budgets.


• Ability to prepare, present and negotiate complex and sensitive agreements and/or project proposals with bilateral/multi-lateral agencies and other donor communities.


• Ability to communicate skills and experience to others as a trainer, advisor or technical consultant; sensitivity to working in advisory role with local organizations.


• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively meet program goals.


• Willingness to travel within the country of assignment a significant amount throughout the year.


• Willingness to live and work in a challenging environment.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on political and related developments in Kenya and neighboring countries to provide regional and country analysis.


• Serves as the official senior IRI representative in Kenya, developing credibility with and maintaining good relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. and foreign diplomats and donor agencies, host-country government representatives, and program partners.


• Participates in the substantive design of new programs and contributes to the development of new program ideas.


• Oversees the implementation of all program activities oversees ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives.


• Establishes, maintains, and develops productive working relationship with relevant stakeholders, consultants, field and DC staff.


• Oversees all operations related to the IRI field presence, and ensures IRI is in compliance with local laws regarding IRI’s legal status in the country and employment of local staff.


• Supervises local field staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development and evaluation process for these staff. Sets specific goals and provides ongoing performance feedback.


• Mentors local staff in program development, finance, work plan development and presentation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, business development and knowledge management in their country of assignment.


• Maintains an understanding of donor and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and oversight.


• Understands a grant’s substantive, financial and compliance requirements.


• Oversees the implementation of all program activities in the country ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives, reporting weekly to DC.


• Monitors and approve field office budgets and expenses, in collaboration with DC program staff and the Regional Project Accountant, to ensure that expenditures remain within budget allocations.


• Monitors, analyzes and reports to DC staff on political and economic developments, and media responses.


• Ensures adherence to monitoring and evaluation plans, including the monitoring of programs and evaluation/analysis of program results.


• Provides information and contributes to sections of quarterly, semi-annual, final and other relevant reports for funders.


• Anticipates potential problems and trouble shoots project problems and offers solutions and actively takes part to lead resolution of them with creative and immediate solutions.


• Leads business development efforts, including identifying and seeking out potential new or additional sources of funding with real-time costs estimates for proposal budgets, and/or the development of new program ideas, coordinating with DC staff.


• Actively supports IRI’s communication strategy including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned, including drafts and updates program summaries and other outreach materials, drafts web stories, tweets, etc.


• Performs other duties as assigned.