Signature Program Technical Lead- Kenya

Programme & Policy

Overview

Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of the P4C signature program.

You have:

• Minimum of ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in the development sector.
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience of program and project management in leading market systems development, value chain development, and implementation of large and complex development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience engaging senior government officials, donors, private sector actors, research institutions, and development partners.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and strengthening organizational capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in business development and access to finance initiatives in the agricultural sector
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes and proposal development for bilateral and multilateral donors

Description

Heifer International is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

The Organization

The Organization Since 1944, Heifer International has supported more than 36 million Small Holder Farmer (SHF) families globally lift themselves out of hunger and poverty while caring for the earth in partnership with the communities we serve including Youth & Women. Heifer International is now accelerating its strategic approaches to closing the Sustainable Living Income (SLI) gap for 10 million additional SHF households globally by 2030 using the Sustainable Locally Led Development (SLLD) approach.In Kenya, we aim to reach 625,000 smallholder farmers, including women and youth against Heifer Africa's target of 6.745 million. Heifer does this through the Sustainable locally led development approach.

Function

The Signature Program Technical Lead – oversees the strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of the country office P4C signature program under which the signature projects are anchored. This role involves designing and developing projects that deliver on the signature program, analyzing and interpreting impact data, and advancing market systems and value chain development. The incumbent will also advocate for improved access to innovative financing for smallholder farmers, engage in business development including proposal writing, and collaborate with strategic partners in co-designing projects.

The primary responsibility of this role is to lead and uphold high standards of quality for the signature program while directing Heifer’s response from strategy through to implementation. This includes overseeing performance and all aspects of the program’s execution, ensuring compliance with obligations and outcomes as outlined in signed agreements. Additionally, the role focuses on building capacity and enhancing capabilities for signature programming within the country office.This role encompasses development, management and implementation of the program’s work plans, resource mobilization, people management, donor reporting, and drive towards sustainability that achieves scale, and permanent impact through long-term partnership.

The Signature Program Technical Lead reports to the Country Director and is part of the senior management team; will work collaboratively with Heifer Country, Regional and Global teams, government agencies, international partners, private sector and local communities to ensure the success and sustainability of signature initiatives. Accountability is key for this role, and the Signature Program Technical Lead will have a strong track record of upholding accountability and transparency in the delivery of programs with the best interests of the smallholder farmers at the core of it.

Essential Character Traits

Heifer International Kenya is looking for a self-motivated, value- and result-oriented individual of high integrity and accountability to fill the position of the Signature Program Technical Lead.

Responsibilities & Deliverables

Signature Program Leadership (30%)

• Provide strategic leadership and guidance to the signature program team to effectively implement programs and projects across the country.
• Build and maintain an efficient, cohesive team while ensuring effective coordination and strong relationships with the country, regional, and global offices, as well as partners, government, private sector stakeholders, donors, and beneficiaries.
• Lead the technical design, co-design, and implementation of market systems and value chain development programs and projects, including initiatives that improve smallholder farmers’ access to innovative finance, relevant technology, and premium markets.
• Lead the development of high-quality project documents, proposals, and reports that meet donor requirements and clearly reflect Heifer’s signature program priorities, experience, and lessons learned.
• Develop and adopt standardized approaches, practices, tools and measurements in co-design and capacity strengthening of the country signature program.
• Provide technical support and capacity building to program staff and partners on best practices relating to market systems, value chain development, technology and innovative programs and projects.
• Support in review and conducting of economic analytics to ensure that Heifer Kenya Signature Program interventions are appropriately designed and benefitting correctly targeted participants and creating the desired impact, permeance and presence with participants and stakeholders.

Program Management, Quality Initiatives and delivery (25%)

• Responsible for overall best standards and practice, partnership principles, processes and tools towards high-quality implementation of signature programs.
• In collaboration with the MEL Manager, develop and implement strategies, standards, tools and best practice in Program Quality that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments.
• Promote a culture for learning and knowledge management across the organization by strengthening systems for capturing, documenting, sharing, and applying lessons learned across programs
• Accountable for ensuring all projects are integrated within the signature program delivery approaches and adhere to Heifer program quality standards. This includes best practices, donor guidelines, fostering needs-driven innovation to improve effectiveness and impact with the purpose of enhancing evidence-based standards and international best practices
• Coach and mentor Program Managers and Coordinators in personal development and execution of workplan activities and operations in response to technical direction and recommend changes as appropriate, to achieve program objectives.
• Identify and manage program risks in each phase of program implementation in a timely manner, to ensure fulfillment of objectives.
• Ensure timely and quality preparation of donor and project narrative reports, periodic Country Program reports and annual business plans, evaluation reports, and any other reports needed/required by the donors, Heifer Regional and Global offices.
• Overall responsibility for compliance with established standards within Heifer and donor program and project guidelines, which encompass transparency, policy adherence, accountability, and effective communication with headquarters, donors, and external stakeholders.

Business Development (25%)

• Identify donor priorities and funding opportunities that align with Heifer’s interventions and lead the development of high-quality proposals and concept notes in response.
• Work collaboratively with the Country Director to effectively manage relationships, negotiations and communication efforts with donors and partners in all phases of project design and implementation; promote appropriate involvement of partners at all stages of the project cycle.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a partnership strategy to ensure that impactful and effective partnerships are identified, built and managed
• Contributes to new program design, ensuring alignment with best practices and learnings from the field.
• Contextualize program information provided by the program teams to inform program design and re-alignment with new business plans.
• Ensure effective designs and models are developed and incorporated in new projects to achieve the required scale and impacts.
• Stay updated on the latest trends, research, and innovations in the Agri Business field to inform program and project strategies and interventions.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, local governments CSO/NGOs, and other stakeholders to ensure collaboration, coordination, and resource mobilization for small holder farmers, women and youth.

Program Budget Management and Monitoring (15%)

• Lead program teams in developing annual budgets and workplans consistent with program documents and donor contracts.
• Provide support to program teams in undertaking the necessary review and updating of the workplans and budgets to respond to any emerging field implementation challenges and program review processes.
• In liaison and collaboration with the Finance department, undertake quarterly budget monitoring and variance analysis with all Program Managers, while reviewing and tracking spending to adhere to annual budgets, financial guidelines, donor requirements, and ensuring value for money.
• Accountable for the Country signature program plan and corrective management actions arising out of budget monitoring reports.
• Overall responsibility for ensuring program related expenses are in line with work plans and financial management procedures.

Strengthening Global Core Operating System (5%)

• Liaise with the Regional Signature Program Technical team and departments at headquarters on behalf of the country program and ensure that Signature Program proposals and concept notes are entered into the HQ tracking systems.
• Support the development of an organizational culture that reflects Heifer’s cornerstones, values, promotes accountability, professional excellence, and inclusion, encourages a culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up teams to deliver outstanding results
• Responsible for compliance with Heifer International policies and procedures and other accountability standards through training, event participation and field visits.
• Responsible for adequate development, implementation, evaluation and systematization of signature programs by the country office.
• Lead reviews of signature program monitoring and evaluation reports generated from the field offices and propose recommendations based on the report.

• Accountable for accurate record and maintenance of the country’s Signature Program files and documents.

  Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in the development sector.

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience of program and project management in leading market systems development, value chain development, and implementation of large and complex development programmes.
• Demonstrated experience engaging senior government officials, donors, private sector actors, research institutions, and development partners.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and strengthening organizational capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in business development and access to finance initiatives in the agricultural sector
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes and proposal development for bilateral and multilateral donors

Technical Skills & Competencies

Market Systems Development, Value Chain Development, Strategic Programme Leadership, Proposal Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Programme Management, Partnership Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Budget Monitoring, Grant Management, Capacity Building, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Data Analysis, Team Leadership, Resource Management, Change Management, Communication, Business Acumen.

Key Behavioural Competencies

• Accountability
• Professional Excellence
• Humility
• Customer Orientation
• Empathy
• Innovation

Deadline for application: - 24th September 2026

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 58 minutes ago - Updated 57 minutes ago - Source: heifer.org