Vacancy title:
Program Manager

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Business Management and Administration, Category: Management]

Jobs at:
TechnoServe Kenya

Deadline of this Job:
Monday, June 30 2025

Duty Station:
Kenya | Nairobi | Kenya

Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, June 19 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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JOB DETAILS:

TechnoServe seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead implementation of the donor-funded Essential Oils and Leather Value Chain Program. The Program Manager will provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership to ensure the program achieves its goals. The role includes managing a multidisciplinary team, working closely with lead firms and other stakeholders, and ensuring accountability for program results and reporting to internal and external partners.

Program Overview

TechnoServe plans to implement an 18-month program aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kenya’s essential oils and leather value chains. The initiative focuses on improving product quality, increasing market access, strengthening value-added processing, and building sustainable supply chains that integrate MSMEs into both domestic and international markets.

A central pillar of the program is strategic engagement with anchor firms in each value chain. These firms will serve as accelerators of transformation—driving upstream improvements in quality, catalyzing new buyer linkages, and demonstrating scalable models for inclusive value chain development.

Overall role

The Program Manager will play a central leadership role in delivering TechnoServe’s 18-month initiative to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs in Kenya’s leather and essential oils value chains. Serving as the primary driver of the program’s strategic and operational execution, the Program Manager will provide technical and managerial oversight to ensure high-quality delivery across all workstreams—from stakeholder engagement to results reporting. They will act as a key interface between TechnoServe, and the donor and value chain actors, translating field insights and lead firm diagnostics into actionable strategies that promote quality improvements, strengthen market linkages, and scale inclusive business models. By aligning cross-functional teams, engaging in policy and donor platforms, and fostering learning across ecosystem actors, the Program Manager will ensure the program delivers measurable outcomes in productivity, market access, and financial readiness for MSMEs.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the 18-month value chain development program, from mobilization and inception through technical delivery, learning, and close-out. Ensure alignment with program goals, timelines, and donor requirements.
• Develop and oversee sector-specific strategies for the essential oils and leather sectors, grounded in field insights and value chain diagnostics. These strategies will address core challenges such as input quality, limited certification, fragmented sourcing, and weak market access.
• Manage all aspects of program operations, including work planning, budgeting, compliance, recruitment, procurement, and performance management of a multidisciplinary implementation team.
• Direct technical assistance delivery to MSMEs, focusing on improving production processes, enhancing product quality, supporting certification readiness, and promoting sustainability and inclusion. Tailor interventions to the needs of both larger firms and smaller enterprises.
• Guide the co-creation of inclusive business plans with high-potential enterprises, helping to define commercially viable, inclusive models that integrate suppliers and producers.
• Facilitate robust market linkages by designing and executing buyer engagement strategies, organizing matchmaking events, enabling participation in trade forums, and supporting MSMEs to secure supply or offtake agreements with new buyers.
• Strengthen financial readiness and business planning, helping MSMEs develop fundable growth strategies, access appropriate financing solutions, and build investment confidence among lenders and partners.
• Engage with ecosystem actors and sector stakeholders to unlock systemic constraints in infrastructure, certification, policy, and market access. Support collective solutions such as shared processing facilities, cooperative models, and sector-wide training initiatives.
• Represent the program externally, sharing lessons, insights, and results in sector dialogues, donor forums, and industry events. Maintain strong communication and alignment with stakeholders to drive visibility and strategic influence.

 Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration, Agricultural Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience managing market systems or value chain development programs.
• Proven success working with large enterprises /lead firms in agribusiness or manufacturing value chains.
• Familiarity with certification processes (e.g. LWG, Ecocert, KEBS) and export standards.
• Experience with donor-funded programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in MSME development, particularly in agriculture, leather, or natural products sectors.
• Experience with business strategy / consulting, program management, private sector experience.
• Experience supporting inclusive employment models for women and youth.

Required Languages

• Fluency in English; Swahili proficiency is an asset.

Travel Requirements

• Willingness to travel frequently to field sites across Kenya.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of value chain development and inclusive business models.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and lead high-performing teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manage a diverse technical and operational team including value chain leads, MEL, training, and administrative staff.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 84

Level of Education: bachelor degree

Job application procedure

Interested and qualified? Go to TechnoServe Kenya on recruiting.ultipro.com to apply

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