Country Director - Kenya

Position Type : Full-time.

Reports to : Regional Director of Programs

Location: Nairobi, Kenya, with regular travel to field sites and periodic regional and international travel.

Organization Overview

Village Enterprise’s mission is to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship, innovation, and collective action. By empowering women, refugees, and youth to launch small businesses and savings groups, our cost-effective model provides dignified and sustainable pathways for individuals to lift themselves and their families out of extreme poverty for good. To date, Village Enterprise has trained 396,872 first-time entrepreneurs, 80% of whom are women, and supported the launch of 120,609 businesses and 9,309 Business Savings Groups (BSGs). These efforts have positively impacted 2,478,065 lives across Africa.

With operations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, and partnerships in other sub-Saharan African countries, Village Enterprise continues to expand its reach. As we scale our impact, our aim remains ambitious yet achievable: to lift 20 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035.

Project Overview

Village Enterprise Kenya is a leading economic inclusion organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty through entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and access to markets. Since launching operations in Kenya, Village Enterprise has partnered with national and county governments, development partners, research institutions, and the private sector to equip households living in extreme poverty with the skills, assets, and support needed to build sustainable livelihoods and achieve long-term self-reliance.

The Country Programme plays a pivotal role in advancing Village Enterprise's strategy of partnering with governments to strengthen national and county government systems for the delivery and scale-up of economic inclusion programmes, while continuing to generate evidence, foster innovation, and deliver high-quality implementation where appropriate. Through close collaboration with ministries within the Government of Kenya, county governments, multilateral and bilateral donors, foundations, and private sector actors, the Kenya programme is helping shape the future of economic inclusion in Kenya and across the region.

The Kenya Country Programme is one of Village Enterprise's largest and most strategic portfolios, implementing a diverse range of initiatives across humanitarian and development contexts. The portfolio includes direct implementation, technical assistance to government, innovation and digital programming, rigorous research, and systems strengthening. Key areas of work include ultra-poverty graduation, livelihoods, financial inclusion, food security, nutrition-sensitive programming, refugee economic inclusion, climate resilience, women's economic empowerment, digital solutions for scale, and strengthening access to markets.

Village Enterprise Kenya is a leading economic inclusion organisation dedicated to ending extreme poverty through entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and access to markets. Working in partnership with national and county governments, development partners, research institutions, and the private sector, Village Enterprise equips households living in extreme poverty with the skills, assets, and support they need to build sustainable livelihoods and achieve long-term self-reliance. The Kenya Country Programme is one of Village Enterprise's largest and most strategic portfolios, spanning direct implementation, technical assistance to government, innovation and digital programming, rigorous research, and systems strengthening.

The Country Director provides overall strategic leadership of, and is accountable for, the Village Enterprise Kenya Country Programme. Reporting to the Regional Director of Programs, the role leads across country strategy, programme quality and growth, business development and resource mobilisation, government and strategic partnerships, financial stewardship, operational excellence, risk management, and people leadership. The Country Director ensures that every programme is delivered with excellence, generates measurable impact, and is fully aligned with Village Enterprise's mission, strategy, and policies, while positioning the organisation as a trusted partner in advancing economic inclusion and ending extreme poverty at scale in Kenya.

We are looking for a seasoned country leader who combines strategic vision with operational discipline: a confident external representative who can build partnerships with government and donors, a strong steward of people, budgets, and risk, and a leader who uses evidence and innovation to grow impact and cost-effectiveness. The Country Director leads the Kenya Country Leadership Team and works closely with regional and global functions to deliver the country strategy.

• Master's degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Agriculture, Finance, or a related field; or a Bachelor's degree with at least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• At least 12 years of senior leadership experience in international development, managing complex programmes, multidisciplinary teams, and organizational operations.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, programme delivery, financial and operational management, and organizational leadership.
• Proven success in institutional donor engagement, business development, proposal development, and managing large multi-donor portfolios.
• Strong experience working with government, development partners, private sector, and research institutions to influence policy and strengthen systems.
• Track record of delivering high-impact, compliant programmes while overseeing budgets, grants, contracts, organizational risk, and change management.
• Experience representing organizations at senior levels with donors, government, boards, and other strategic stakeholders.
• Experience in economic inclusion, livelihoods, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, social protection, food security, or related sectors is an added advantage.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of economic inclusion, poverty graduation, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and market-based development approaches.
• Knowledge of Kenya's development landscape, government systems, and policy environment.
• Sound knowledge of programme management, MEL, safeguarding, financial and risk management, and institutional donor compliance.

Skills and Competencies

• Exceptional strategic leadership and organizational management skills.
• Strong business development, partnership building, and resource mobilization capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation, diplomacy, and influencing skills.
• Outstanding financial and commercial acumen with strong decision-making ability.
• Excellent people leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and adaptive management capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Ability to lead through complexity, manage change, and foster innovation and continuous learning.
• Demonstrated commitment to safeguarding, diversity, equity, inclusion, and Village Enterprise's values.

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates who meet the set criteria are invited to send their Cover Letter and CV (Maximum 3 pages) including 3 referees, on the online platform.

Safeguarding Statement

Village Enterprise is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees, volunteers, Visitors, associates (consultants, service providers and suppliers) and partners to uphold this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding policies and code of conduct. Village Enterprise has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, exploitation, or harassment.All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, which may include reference checks with previous employers, verification of qualifications, and criminal record or background screening where required by law.

Affirmative Action

Village Enterprise provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Village Enterprise does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.Village Enterprise will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.Village Enterprise is a corruption, solicitation, and bribery-free organization.

Neither Village Enterprise nor any of its employees or associates’ charges money to job applicants before, during, or after the recruitment process. Please report any malpractice through our safeguarding toll-free hotline 0800724810