Country Director, Kenya

Title: Country Director, Kenya
Location and Work Authorization: Nairobi, Kenya, with current and ongoing work authorization.
Salary: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate's skills, experience, and the local labor market in Kenya.
Position: Full-time
Posted on: November 10, 2026
Closing date: December 4, 2026 at 5 pm EAT. (Applications may be reviewed as they are submitted)
About the Role
PxD is seeking a Country Director to lead its Kenya program. Reporting to the Director of Programs, Africa, you will lead a cross-cutting team of staff working across PxD’s programs, all focused on Kenya. You will oversee PxD’s Kenya portfolio, budget and government partnerships, working closely with Program Leads, the Research Professional Group, the Operations team, and PxD’s CFO and wider finance team.
This leadership role suits someone with a strong track record of managing programs and teams, excellent people management skills, and the ability to communicate with clarity and confidence. You will understand and have worked with RCTs and rigorous research methods, and be equally comfortable setting strategy and engaging with operational detail.
Responsibilities
These will evolve as the role develops. The key initial areas are below.
Strategy & Program Leadership:
Set the strategic direction for PxD in Kenya, in line with organizational strategy, and contribute to and execute PxD’s research and program vision
Direct the implementation of existing projects and the design of new services, with input from the wider PxD team
Oversee all Kenya projects and scoping studies, including implementation plans and monitoring
Own the country budget
Support the development and use of research methods, monitoring and evaluation tools, and program management systems
Work with research affiliates to keep programs grounded in evidence and contributing to PxD’s learning
Team Leadership & Operations:
Lead the Kenya team: set priorities across projects, run regular team meetings, and foster a culture aligned with PxD’s values
Supervise and develop direct reports and build overall team capacity
Oversee in-country finance personnel, working with the CFO and finance team to ensure sound financial management
Oversee and support the Program Management Unit (PMU), working with the PMU Lead, to ensure its work fits Kenya program priorities and government partnerships
Work with the Operations team and local legal counsel to ensure compliance with Kenyan law and local policies
Act as the link between the wider PxD team and the Kenya team, ensuring compliance with PxD policies and supporting reporting to internal and external stakeholders
Partnerships & Fundraising:
Lead PxD’s outreach to and relationships with county and national governments
Build and manage relationships with technology providers, agribusinesses and other private businesses, development organizations, NGOs, service providers, implementation partners and donors
Oversee business development, fundraising and donor management, and lead the development of mid- and long-term financial sustainability for PxD Kenya
Support policy dissemination and partnership development in other African countries, as needed
Organizational Contribution:
Contribute to organizational strategy and leadership, fundraising and development, communications, events, and institutional learning
Take on other work as directed by the CEO and/or Africa Regional Director to help PxD Kenya grow and succeed
What You’ll Bring:
Qualifications and experience:
Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, or a closely related field
10+ years of experience leading large programs, including managing managers or senior staff
Experience living and working in Kenya
Strategic leadership experience, with the ability to translate organizational strategy into country-level plans
Experience owning a country or program budget and overseeing finance staff, working with a central finance team
Experience with project planning, risk management, and monitoring and evaluation tools and program management systems
Track record in fundraising and business development, including managing donors and large grants and building mid- to long-term financial sustainability
Leadership and people management:
A demonstrated ability to retain top talent, build staff capacity, and address performance issues promptly
Experience fostering a values-led team culture and working effectively with a wider team based outside Kenya
Partnerships and stakeholder engagement:
A strong track record of building and managing relationships with government partners, private sector and technology partners, and other stakeholders, and of getting things done within complex bureaucracies
Ability to coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams, donors, government agencies, and researchers at all levels
Familiarity with Kenya’s legal and regulatory environment, and experience working with legal counsel to ensure compliance
Research and evidence:
Familiarity with RCTs and rigorous research methods, and the ability to translate evidence into practical program decisions
Skills and working style:
A clear, confident communicator with strong written and spoken English and advanced presentation skills
Comfort working in a fast-paced, resource-constrained nonprofit or social-impact setting, managing multiple projects to tight timelines
Ability to travel within Kenya and internationally
Desirable:
Experience developin

Skills
Business Development, Risk Management

Experience
10+ yrs

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No