Country Director, Kenya
- Hybrid
- Full Time
About the role
Title: Country Director, Kenya
Location and Work Authorization: Nairobi, Kenya, with current and ongoing work authorization.
Salary: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate's skills, experience, and the local labor market in Kenya.
Position: Full-time
Posted on: November 10, 2026
Closing date: December 4, 2026 at 5 pm EAT. (Applications may be reviewed as they are submitted)
About the Role
PxD is seeking a Country Director to lead its Kenya program. Reporting to the Director of Programs, Africa, you will lead a cross-cutting team of staff working across PxD’s programs, all focused on Kenya. You will oversee PxD’s Kenya portfolio, budget and government partnerships, working closely with Program Leads, the Research Professional Group, the Operations team, and PxD’s CFO and wider finance team.
This leadership role suits someone with a strong track record of managing programs and teams, excellent people management skills, and the ability to communicate with clarity and confidence. You will understand and have worked with RCTs and rigorous research methods, and be equally comfortable setting strategy and engaging with operational detail.
Responsibilities
These will evolve as the role develops. The key initial areas are below.
Strategy & Program Leadership:
- Set the strategic direction for PxD in Kenya, in line with organizational strategy, and contribute to and execute PxD’s research and program vision
- Direct the implementation of existing projects and the design of new services, with input from the wider PxD team
- Oversee all Kenya projects and scoping studies, including implementation plans and monitoring
- Own the country budget
- Support the development and use of research methods, monitoring and evaluation tools, and program management systems
- Work with research affiliates to keep programs grounded in evidence and contributing to PxD’s learning
Team Leadership & Operations:
- Lead the Kenya team: set priorities across projects, run regular team meetings, and foster a culture aligned with PxD’s values
- Supervise and develop direct reports and build overall team capacity
- Oversee in-country finance personnel, working with the CFO and finance team to ensure sound financial management
- Oversee and support the Program Management Unit (PMU), working with the PMU Lead, to ensure its work fits Kenya program priorities and government partnerships
- Work with the Operations team and local legal counsel to ensure compliance with Kenyan law and local policies
- Act as the link between the wider PxD team and the Kenya team, ensuring compliance with PxD policies and supporting reporting to internal and external stakeholders
Partnerships & Fundraising:
- Lead PxD’s outreach to and relationships with county and national governments
- Build and manage relationships with technology providers, agribusinesses and other private businesses, development organizations, NGOs, service providers, implementation partners and donors
- Oversee business development, fundraising and donor management, and lead the development of mid- and long-term financial sustainability for PxD Kenya
- Support policy dissemination and partnership development in other African countries, as needed
Organizational Contribution:
- Contribute to organizational strategy and leadership, fundraising and development, communications, events, and institutional learning
- Take on other work as directed by the CEO and/or Africa Regional Director to help PxD Kenya grow and succeed
What You’ll Bring:
Qualifications and experience:
- Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, or a closely related field
- 10+ years of experience leading large programs, including managing managers or senior staff
- Experience living and working in Kenya
- Strategic leadership experience, with the ability to translate organizational strategy into country-level plans
- Experience owning a country or program budget and overseeing finance staff, working with a central finance team
- Experience with project planning, risk management, and monitoring and evaluation tools and program management systems
- Track record in fundraising and business development, including managing donors and large grants and building mid- to long-term financial sustainability
Leadership and people management:
- A demonstrated ability to retain top talent, build staff capacity, and address performance issues promptly
- Experience fostering a values-led team culture and working effectively with a wider team based outside Kenya
Partnerships and stakeholder engagement:
- A strong track record of building and managing relationships with government partners, private sector and technology partners, and other stakeholders, and of getting things done within complex bureaucracies
- Ability to coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams, donors, government agencies, and researchers at all levels
- Familiarity with Kenya’s legal and regulatory environment, and experience working with legal counsel to ensure compliance
Research and evidence:
- Familiarity with RCTs and rigorous research methods, and the ability to translate evidence into practical program decisions
Skills and working style:
- A clear, confident communicator with strong written and spoken English and advanced presentation skills
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, resource-constrained nonprofit or social-impact setting, managing multiple projects to tight timelines
- Ability to travel within Kenya and internationally
Desirable:
- Experience developing research projects, preferably quantitative
- Experience working with public sector enterprises and NGOs in Kenya
- Knowledge of agricultural economics
About Precision Development (PxD):
PxD is a rapidly scaling global nonprofit working with governments across Africa and Asia to close the last-mile gap in smallholder farming. We deliver evidence-based information and tools - from timely farming and weather guidance to climate-resilient inputs - that millions of farmers use to improve their lives. In the last 12 months alone, we reached over 60 million farmers at a cost of just $0.47 per farmer per year, with our flagship program in India delivering a benefit-cost ratio of 12:1–19:1.
Operating in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond, the majority of our team is based in our program countries, working directly alongside government partners and farming communities toward our goal of improving the lives of 100 million farmers by 2030.
How To Apply:
To apply, please visit the PxD website and complete the online application form, including your CV, cover letter, and brief responses to the screening questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline to apply is November 30, 2026 at 5p.m EAT.
In line with our values, we evaluate candidates on merit alone, without regard to gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disability, caste, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We offer flexible working arrangements to support your wellbeing. Personal data provided is used for recruitment purposes only.