Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world-where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. We focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. With an annual portfolio of $80 million and 400 staff worldwide, we work with partner...

Responsibilities or duties

Program Leadership and Strategic Oversight

• Provide overall leadership for the design, implementation, and management of all components of the Freedom 250 Tech and Innovation Exchange, ensuring full alignment with U.S. government priorities and Embassy guidance.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison with the U.S. Embassy Nairobi (Public Diplomacy Section) for implementation coordination, approvals, and adaptive management under the cooperative agreement.
• Develop, manage, and routinely track the integrated program work plan, timelines, and deliverables across the full 36‑month period of performance; flag risks and propose course corrections to IREX leadership as needed.

Academic, Private Sector, and Partner Engagement

• Identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships with U.S. universities and Kenyan institutions to deliver semester-long academic placements and advance priority U.S.–Kenya university linkages.
• Design and implement structured externships, mentorships, and professional engagement opportunities with U.S. companies and innovation ecosystem partners operating in Kenya.
• Engage U.S. Embassy counterparts, private-sector associations, and ecosystem partners to ensure the program delivers tangible pro‑American and pro‑commercial outcomes.

Recruitment, Selection, and Participant Experience

• Oversee recruitment, outreach, application management, and participant support processes for Kenyan undergraduate students, in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy, which retains strict oversight of participant selection.
• Ensure transparent, merit-based recruitment and selection processes aligned with Embassy priorities and Freedom 250 branding and messaging.
• Lead implementation of participant orientation, pre-departure preparation, re‑entry activities, and structured post‑program engagement in Kenya.

Operations, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Oversee day-to-day program operations, logistics, and coordination with U.S. and Kenyan partners.
• Manage day-to-day compliance implementation for the award, including U.S. Department of State requirements (e.g., J‑1/DS‑2019 processes where applicable), branding and communications guidance, 2 CFR 200 financial compliance, and all award-specific terms and conditions.
• Lead participant safeguarding, duty of care, and emergency response planning, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy.
• Manage program budgets, pipelines, and cost controls; prepare forecasts and justifications and ensure expenditures and procurements follow IREX systems and donor requirements.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Lead development and implementation of the program’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP), including theory of change, indicators, data collection methods, and learning loops.
• Draft and submit timely, high-quality narrative and financial reports to the U.S. Embassy and internal stakeholders, coordinating inputs from finance, operations, partners, and headquarters as required.

Team Leadership and Representation

• Supervise, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary program team based in Kenya and in coordination with U.S.-based staff.
• Represent the program in technical and coordination settings with academic and private-sector partners and other implementers; elevate sensitive or high-level engagement needs to the Regional/Country Director.
• Contribute technical and strategic inputs to proposal development, learning agendas, and future U.S.–Kenya exchange or innovation initiatives, as needed.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Experience needed

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

• Provide overall leadership for the design, implementation, and management of all components of the Freedom 250 Tech and Innovation Exchange, ensuring full alignment with U.S. government priorities and Embassy guidance.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison with the U.S. Embassy Nairobi (Public Diplomacy Section) for implementation coordination, approvals, and adaptive management under the cooperative agreement.
• Develop, manage, and routinely track the integrated program work plan, timelines, and deliverables across the full 36‑month period of performance; flag risks and propose course corrections to IREX leadership as needed.
• Identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships with U.S. universities and Kenyan institutions to deliver semester-long academic placements and advance priority U.S.–Kenya university linkages.
• Design and implement structured externships, mentorships, and professional engagement opportunities with U.S. companies and innovation ecosystem partners operating in Kenya.
• Engage U.S. Embassy counterparts, private-sector associations, and ecosystem partners to ensure the program delivers tangible pro‑American and pro‑commercial outcomes.
• Oversee recruitment, outreach, application management, and participant support processes for Kenyan undergraduate students, in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy, which retains strict oversight of participant selection.
• Ensure transparent, merit-based recruitment and selection processes aligned with Embassy priorities and Freedom 250 branding and messaging.
• Lead implementation of participant orientation, pre-departure preparation, re‑entry activities, and structured post‑program engagement in Kenya.
• Oversee day-to-day program operations, logistics, and coordination with U.S. and Kenyan partners.
• Manage day-to-day compliance implementation for the award, including U.S. Department of State requirements (e.g., J‑1/DS‑2019 processes where applicable), branding and communications guidance, 2 CFR 200 financial compliance, and all award-specific terms and conditions.
• Lead participant safeguarding, duty of care, and emergency response planning, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy.
• Manage program budgets, pipelines, and cost controls; prepare forecasts and justifications and ensure expenditures and procurements follow IREX systems and donor requirements.
• Lead development and implementation of the program’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP), including theory of change, indicators, data collection methods, and learning loops.
• Draft and submit timely, high-quality narrative and financial reports to the U.S. Embassy and internal stakeholders, coordinating inputs from finance, operations, partners, and headquarters as required.
• Supervise, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary program team based in Kenya and in coordination with U.S.-based staff.
• Represent the program in technical and coordination settings with academic and private-sector partners and other implementers; elevate sensitive or high-level engagement needs to the Regional/Country Director.
• Contribute technical and strategic inputs to proposal development, learning agendas, and future U.S.–Kenya exchange or innovation initiatives, as needed.