Country Director - Kenya at Clinton Health Access Initiative in Nairobi, Kenya

    Clinton Health Access Initiative logo

    Country Director - Kenya

    Posted

    1 week ago

    Apply by

    25 Aug

    Full Time
    On Site
    Senior
    Healthcare, Medical & Pharmaceutical
    Management & Business Development

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    Job Description

    CHAI is seeking an exceptional, entrepreneurial leader to serve as Country Director for CHAI Kenya. The Country Director holds overall responsibility for CHAI's strategy, operations, and programmatic impact in Kenya and serves as CHAI's most senior representative in-country. This individual will build and sustain trusted relationships with national and county government, donors, and partners, while leading a high-performing, multi-program team through a complex and dynamic operating environment.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Lead CHAI Kenya's team of about 55 people and a multi-program portfolio to consistently deliver transformational impact within Kenya's health system, including through health system strengthening and integrated models of care.
    • Elevate CHAI's role as a trusted partner and adviser to the Kenya Ministry of Health, relevant stakeholders, and safeguard CHAI's reputation as a highly capable organization whose primary agenda is to support government priorities.
    • Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders across national and county government, international agencies, NGOs, the private sector, and donors.
    • Maintain strong bidirectional communication with CHAI regional and global leadership to ensure CHAI's full capabilities are leveraged on the ground.
    • Lead program design and expansion, including new program development in partnership with government, and guide each program toward scale and sustainable impact.
    • Ensure rigorous design, execution, and monitoring and evaluation across the country portfolio, so program results meet or exceed commitments to donors.
    • Represent CHAI externally with donors, technical partners, and at national and international fora.
    • Build and lead CHAI Kenya's leadership team, and strengthen office processes, tools, and systems across the employee lifecycle — hiring, onboarding, learning, performance management, and career progression — to foster a culture of impact, curiosity, and inclusion.
    • Establish and grow relationships with current and prospective donors to CHAI Kenya, and support fundraising to sustain and expand the program.
    • Ensure strong financial management, accountability, and legal and regulatory compliance across the country program.
    • Foster cross-pollination of ideas with other CHAI country directors and contribute to regional strategy for Eastern Africa.
    • Given CHAI's lean staffing model, take on direct programmatic work where needed to support the country team.
    • Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by CHAI regional leadership.

    Required Qualifications

    • Advanced degree in public health, business, or a related field, plus 15+ years of progressive experience in strategic program management, preferably in global health or international development; with a strong focus on strengthening health systems.
    • 5+ years in a senior leadership and supervisory role, with a demonstrated ability to recruit, manage, evaluate, and develop staff, and to foster a diverse, results-oriented team.
    • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex organizational and government structures.
    • Demonstrated success leading multi-team, integrated program strategies that achieve measurable health impact.
    • Strong command of global health and health systems strengthening programs relevant to Kenya's portfolio, including infectious diseases HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, non-communicable diseases including cervical cancer, and cross-cutting systems work such as health financing, digital health, health workforce, and assistive technology.
    • Proven ability to navigate complex government processes with multiple stakeholders, and to negotiate and build consensus in a diplomatic, collaborative manner.
    • Experience in a leadership role with direct operational and financial responsibility and accountability.
    • Track record overseeing diverse program portfolios and delivering impact at scale.
    • Strong understanding of fundraising strategy, with demonstrated success cultivating and managing donor relationships.
    • Extensive experience managing technical teams to drive programmatic impact against ambitious goals.
    • Experience managing budgets and guiding program leads on budget management.
    • Experience working with decentralized or devolved government structures; familiarity with Kenya's devolved health system is an advantage.
    • Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English written and verbal, with a proven ability to build trusted relationships across cross-functional teams, senior

    Job Details

    Job Function

    Management & Business Development

    Minimum Experience

    15 years

    Education Level

    Master’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Public Health

    Field of Study

    Public Health

    Languages

    English

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Send your application to the Clinton Health Access Initiative via their career portal. Visit the application link provided on this page to submit your application.

    Lead with Impact: What CHAI Kenya's Country Director Role Demands

    This is a senior leadership role that requires a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and deep stakeholder engagement. Hiring managers will probe your ability to navigate complex government structures, manage diverse programs, and drive measurable health outcomes.

    1. Showcase Your Systems Strengthening Expertise: Highlight specific examples where you've strengthened health systems, such as improving supply chains, financing models, or workforce training. Quantify the impact where possible, like reduced disease burden or increased service coverage.

    2. Demonstrate Stakeholder Diplomacy: Prepare stories that show you building consensus among government officials, donors, and NGOs. Emphasize your ability to align diverse interests toward a common goal, especially in a devolved system like Kenya's.

    3. Prove Your Fundraising Track Record: Be ready to discuss how you've cultivated donor relationships and secured funding. Mention specific grants or partnerships you've won, and how you've managed donor reporting and compliance.

    4. Highlight Your Leadership of Multi-Program Teams: Describe your experience leading teams of 50+ people across different programs. Focus on how you've fostered a culture of impact, curiosity, and inclusion, and how you've developed your leadership team.

    5. Prepare for Financial and Operational Oversight Questions: Expect questions on budget management, financial accountability, and regulatory compliance. Have examples of how you've ensured fiscal responsibility and navigated legal requirements in complex environments.

    6. Align with CHAI's Mission and Values: Research CHAI's work in Kenya and globally. Be ready to articulate how your experience aligns with their mission to support government priorities and improve health outcomes, especially in areas like HIV, malaria, and maternal health.

    7. Show Your Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Be prepared to discuss how you've navigated complex organizational and government structures. Use examples where you've analyzed data to inform strategy or solved systemic challenges.

    8. Communicate Your Vision for Kenya's Health System: Think about the future of health in Kenya and how you'd contribute. Share your ideas on integrating care, leveraging digital health, and addressing non-communicable diseases, showing you're a forward-thinking leader.

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    Tags

    Project and Program Management
    Healthcare / Medical
    MyJobMag
    Country
    Director