USAID-Funded Kenya Yes Youth Can! Western Province Program Director Job in Kakamega, Kenya

Position Title: Program Director, Yes Youth Can! Western province (KYYC-W)
 

Location: Kakamega, Kenya
 

Reports To: Group Vice President, Empowerment and Civic Engagement Unit, Winrock International

Position Summary: The Program Director (PD) is responsible for the overall management and implementation of the USAID-funded Kenya Yes Youth Can! Western Province (KYYC-W). KYYC-W is designed to empower and engage Kenyan youth for greater voice and to improve their socioeconomic status.

The main goal of the project is to strengthen the capabilities of youth organizations in the Western to be agents of positive change in their communities. 

The three objectives to achieve this goal are:

1. Support youth to achieve a greater voice in national and local affairs.
2. Increase youth productivity, employment opportunities and income.
3. Increase young women’s access to social, political and economic activities.

The KYYC-W project supports the principles of youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed.

To fully engage youth, the current project phase is focused on grants to county bunge forums (CBFs) and implementing a Revolving Loan/Investment fund to support county savings and credit cooperative organizations (SACCOs). 

The PD will be responsible for overall leadership, communication with USAID and counterparts, and implementation of the program. 

S/He will establish and maintain systems for program operations and ensure that all cooperative agreement deadlines are met and targets achieved.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage all program activities, including direction and supervision of overall program implementation, recruitment and supervision of technical and administration staff and consultants; timely preparation and submission of all financial and narrative reports; preparation of work and strategic plans; and signing of contracts, grants and legal documents (with prior Home Office approval).
• Experienced in working with young people as a mentor, coach and trainer and in knowing how to empower young people while requiring responsibility and accountability.
• Manage all program expenses and properties, including maintenance of internal control procedures to ensure that expenses are reasonable, allowable and necessary and that program properties and premises are used for program activities.
• Oversee organizational development of youth-led organizations and enterprises.
• Oversee a grants program to young people, including grant approval and financial and report monitoring of grantee beneficiaries.
• Oversee and provide technical direction; lead development of program strategies and set priorities; and ensure sustainable approaches and implementation.
• Facilitate networking and linkages among program partners, including Government of Kenya partners, local NGOs and grassroots organizations, businesses and individuals; identify and nurture synergies with other U.S. Government-funded programs; coordinate with USAID as designated by Winrock’s Home Office.
• Maintain open and regular communication between Kenya office and U.S. Home Office team.
• Establish and manage monitoring and evaluation systems for the program,
• Represent Winrock in meetings and conferences, and maintain good relations with program stakeholders.
• Identify program related funding opportunities and work with Winrock to develop, submit and follow up on proposals to donor institutions.
• Complete other tasks as assigned by Winrock. 

Qualifications:        

• Successful candidates will have strong management skills as well as salient experience implementing complex and integrated programs in youth and economic development in East Africa; experience in Kenya is highly desirable.  
• Significant USAID project management experience and leadership are highly desired.

Education:

• Master’s degree in education, business, public policy or related field. 
• Supplemental training in income generation/entrepreneurship, monitoring and evaluation, HIV/AIDS or gender preferred.

Work Experience:

• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible experience working in youth development, micro-enterprise or education donor-funded development programs. 
• Management of USAID programs and budgets required. 
• Demonstrated technical expertise in at least one of the following areas: youth development, grants management, civic participation, vocational education/training, micro-enterprise and microfinance, public-private sector partnerships, employment and job creation.

Skills:

• Strong skills in personnel and financial management, writing, monitoring and evaluation required.

Other:

• English fluency required

Applications:

If qualified and interested in this position, please send current CV and cover letter to kcastello@winrock.org no later than July 18th 2014.  

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.