Chief of Party USAID Kenya Private Sector Development Initiative 30 views

Chief of Party USAID Kenya Private Sector Development Initiative (KPSDI)

About Palladium:
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 3,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Palladium Americas:
Our Americas’ business team has brilliant and passionate colleagues working in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America as well as the Caribbean, fulfilling projects and assignments for clients from institutions, corporations, governments, and foundations based in the Americas. We have offices in Washington, DC, New York City, and Raleigh-Durham, NC.

This Opportunity:
Palladium is seeking a Chief of Party for an anticipated USAID-funded private sector development initiative, which is anticipated to begin in 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Private Sector Development Initiative will focus on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle. The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach. For more information on the potential project, please consult the RFI: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338564 .

The Kenya Private Sector Development Initiative (KPSDI) Chief of Party will provide overall strategic leadership, technical leadership, and oversight to the program, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving program results. This individual must identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments. This individual must act as the key liaison with USAID/Kenya and all other counterparts, implementing partners and stakeholders involved with KPSDI. The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, an ability to cope with multiple interests and challenges, experience in developing countries, and skills to ensure coherence and consistency in the face of urgent deadlines.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide overall responsibility for project management and implementation of project activities
Provide overall leadership to all project areas
Manage project partners and project staff, ensuring that they are fully engaged and participating in program implementation
Serve as the main interface between the project, GoK ministries, United States Government (USG) entities, Palladium senior management, and other relevant stakeholders
Oversee the project budget and finances, including budget projections, project spending, and financial performance reporting
Represent the project at relevant professional meetings, working groups, and seminars
Prepare, contribute to, and provide oversight of analyses, recommendations, briefing notes, white papers, assessments, workplans, and reporting materials for internal and client use. Ensure timely and high-quality submission of deliverables
Lead strategic development and support of programming in collaboration with USAID and key stakeholders
Serve as Palladium’s primary liaison with donor(s), and other partners including civil society, government, and other related programs and projects
Develop and maintain effective partnerships with development partners such as government institutions, private sector, other programs in Kenya, civil society, and media
Communicate and implement an integrated vision among different components and actors
Comply with USAID and Palladium reporting requirements on program impact and implementation
Key Competencies Required:
Extensive international work experience, particularly in Kenya and/or other countries in the region, implementing financial sector or private sector development programs with demonstrated strong management and coordinating skills
Significant management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multifaceted, complex international development programs
Experience with USAID and other USG funding agencies. Additional experience with other international donors preferred
Extensive experience working in the financial sector, comfort with a wide range of financial instruments (debt, equity, blended finance), and agricultural corporates in Kenya
Extensive experience facilitating investments and mobilizing inclusive agricultural finance through blended and supply chain financing mechanisms
Proven track record liaising with investors, financial institutions, SMEs, government, USAID, and other key project stakeholders
Microsoft office suite proficiency and the ability to operate spreadsheet and word-processing programs at a highly proficient level
Proactive problem-solving, decision-making and good judgment skills
Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
Ability to communicate effectively with managers, colleagues, and clients
Professional and mature demeanor and conduct
Kenyan and EAC nationals are encouraged to apply. Prior work experience in Kenya or the region required.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com.

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
Apply now
Share
Save Job