Mercy Corps Country Director – Kenya: Requirements, Responsibilities and Application
Mercy Corps is recruiting a Country Director – Kenya based in Nairobi. This is a full-time senior leadership position open to Kenyan nationals, with responsibility for overseeing programs, operations, partnerships and strategic growth across the country. The position is listed at Kenya Level 10.
About Mercy Corps Kenya
Mercy Corps has worked in Kenya since 2009 and has developed programs addressing poverty, conflict, governance, resilience, youth employment and market systems. Its Kenya portfolio includes humanitarian, development and peacebuilding interventions, with particular attention to vulnerable communities, youth, women and marginalized groups.
The organization is currently transitioning to Prosper Global, with Mercy Corps and Prosper Global names potentially appearing together during the administrative transition. The organization states that its teams, programs and commitments continue during the transition.
Country Director Job Responsibilities
The Country Director will provide overall leadership for Mercy Corps’ Kenya portfolio and help position the organization for strategic growth and regional influence. The role includes developing and implementing the country strategy, annual planning, partnership building and resource mobilization.
The successful candidate will work with donors, government, development partners, communities and private-sector organizations to develop programs aligned with community priorities. The role also involves collaboration with regional teams across East Africa and opportunities to contribute to programming in the wider Horn of Africa.
Leadership responsibilities include recruiting, managing and developing teams while promoting accountability, inclusion, learning and innovation. The Country Director will also oversee program quality, monitoring and evaluation, research and organizational learning.
Another major part of the position is external representation. The Country Director will engage donors, government institutions, UN bodies, think tanks, private-sector organizations and other partners, while representing Mercy Corps in relevant regional coordination platforms.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field, while a master’s degree is preferred. The position requires at least 10 years of experience in international relief and development programs, including experience managing large and complex development programs.
Candidates should also have at least seven years of senior-level leadership, capacity-building and field management experience. Experience managing multicultural teams across multiple offices is required, together with strong representation, negotiation, communication and organizational skills.
The role also requires demonstrated experience securing funding from different donors and working effectively with governments, private-sector organizations, INGOs, NGOs and other stakeholders. Experience with financial and grants management, including grants from donors such as USAID and FCDO, is required.
Applicants should have excellent written and spoken English and experience working in complex or insecure environments. The position also requires the ability to respond appropriately to emergency and disaster situations.
Location and Travel
The Country Director will be based in Nairobi, Kenya. The position requires approximately 35% travel by road and air to field offices, including locations that may present security challenges.
How to Apply
This is a national position and is open to Kenyan nationals. Interested candidates can review the full vacancy requirements and submit their application through the official application portal.
Job Title: Country Director – Kenya
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Job Type: Full-time
Eligibility: Kenyan nationals
Salary Level: Kenya Level 10
