Position title: Project Director
Location: Kenya or Ethiopia
ChildFund office: Nairobi or Addis Ababa
Manager/Supervisor title: Deputy Regional Director
Position type: Full-time fixed term
Work environment: On-site
The hiring for this full-time, two-year, fixed-term position is conditional on the donor's approval of ChildFund's grant proposal and of its selected candidate for Project Director. The position will be located in Kenya or Ethiopia. To be eligible, candidates must have current residence and work authorization in one of these countries.
About ChildFund
ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 23 countries to connect children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are.
ChildFund's Values
We aspire for every person in our organization—program participants, supporters, staff, and volunteers alike—to feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead while contributing your talents and innovations to our inspiring mission.
ChildFund's Commitment
ChildFund International has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners, and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. ChildFund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. ChildFund expects every staff member, partner, and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organizational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal records check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.
About This Role
ChildFund is conducting a preliminary search for a Project Director to lead a proposed regional initiative focused on eliminating violence against women and girls (VAWG), addressing harmful practices, and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa.
The Project Director will provide strategic, technical, operational, and partnership leadership for ChildFund's project if awarded. The role will oversee results-based planning and delivery; coordination with the donor, African Union and regional bodies, civil society organizations, women's rights organizations, youth-led networks, survivor-led groups, and other stakeholders; compliance with donor requirements; and high-quality reporting, learning, and adaptive management over the expected two-year implementation period. The position will require regional travel and coordination across multiple countries, regional institutions, and partner organizations.
Required Experience and Education
* Bachelor's degree required in a relevant field such as gender studies, public health, social sciences, international development, human rights, law, public policy, program management, or a related discipline; master's degree preferred.
* At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading donor-funded international development, gender equality, protection, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), VAWG prevention and response, women's rights, youth engagement, or civil society strengthening programs.
* At least 5 years in senior leadership roles managing complex, multi-country or regional programs, preferably in Africa.
* Demonstrated experience with UN, EU, AU, or other multilateral donor-funded programs; experience with donor partnership or responsible party mechanisms is an asset.
* Proven experience managing partnerships with civil society organizations, women's rights organizations, youth-led organizations, regional networks, or consortia.
* Experience with grant-making, sub-partner selection, due diligence, capacity strengthening, risk management, and technical assistance to local or regional organizations.
* Demonstrated expertise in results-based management, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, and donor reporting.
* Experience advancing safeguarding, protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, survivor-centered approaches, ethical data practices, and accountability standards.
Primary Responsibilities
* Lead overall strategic, technical, operational, and financial delivery of the program, ensuring alignment with the program results framework, selected component(s), donor requirements, and ChildFund standards.
* Represent ChildFund with the donor, consortium partners, African Union and Regional Economic Community stakeholders, civil society partners, and other regional and national actors.
* Oversee the development and implementation of results-based work plans, budgets, monitoring frameworks, risk registers, learning plans, and donor reporting processes.
* Guide technical strategies related to ending violence against women and girls, harmful practices, SRHR, gender equality, women's rights, youth leadership, survivor-centered services, and inclusive regional advocacy, depending on selected program component(s).
* Lead partner and sub-partner engagement, including transparent selection processes, due diligence, grant or sub-award management, technical assistance, capacity strengthening, performance monitoring, and compliance oversight.
* Ensure strong coordination and communication across ChildFund teams, consortium members, responsible parties, civil society networks, women's rights organizations, youth-led groups, and marginalized communities.
* Promote inclusive and intersectional approaches that meaningfully engage populations facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
* Ensure that safeguarding, PSEA, anti-fraud, protection, data privacy, ethical engagement with survivors, and accountability requirements are integrated into all aspects of project design and implementation.
* Lead adaptive management, knowledge generation, documentation of good practices, learning exchanges, and dissemination of evidence and lessons through regional and continental platforms.
* Manage and mentor project staff and consultants, fostering a collaborative, accountable, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
For complete job description and to apply, visit:
https://weconnectchildfund.my.salesforce-sites.com/careers/fRecruit__ApplyJob?vacancyNo=VN3270
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply via the ChildFund applicant portal: https://weconnectchildfund.my.salesforce-sites.com/careers/fRecruit__ApplyJob?vacancyNo=VN3270
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