Function

• The Country Director – Kenya shall have deep experience and knowledge of various donors as well as agricultural value chain development. This position requires experience working in a highly competitive donor environment. The Country Director – Kenya is the national-level representative of Heifer International in their respective country. This position will report to the African Regional Senior Vice President.
• New business development is the main function of this position. This position is responsible for building relationships and providing strategic direction to grow a strong portfolio of funding and programs. The Country Director – Kenya will work closely with the Africa Regional team and new business development teams to develop and implement country-specific and cross-regional new business strategies by aligning Heifer’s programmatic priorities with funder priorities.
• This position will serve as Heifer’s chief brand ambassador in the country. The Country Director – Kenya will represent Heifer in strategic forums to ensure Heifer carries strong brand recognition within the country. As a brand ambassador, this position will drive impactful strategic brand communication centered on effective strategies that will increase Heifer’s profile and visibility.
• Ability and willingness to adopt the inverted Organogram, challenging the traditional model of leadership. The successful candidate must be ready to shift the decision-making power to the front-line staff, and to be consistent in doing so.

Essential Character Traits

• Ability to apply a strategic mindset, business insight, and organizational savvy to drive results in complex environments. Ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, instill trust, and demonstrate self-awareness. Ability to build effective teams and to be resourceful. Ability to provide effective leadership and drive team spirit.

Responsibilities & Deliverables

Brand Ambassador  (20%)

• Facilitate the increased visibility of Heifer among the larger public including government officials, corporations, institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other development agencies in the country. Represent Heifer International before all persons and organizations at the country level, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector, donors, and partners.
• Educate others about Heifer’s brand and always promote the brand.
• Thoroughly understand Heifer’s value proposition and tailor messages for individual audiences.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for creativity and innovation.
• Position Heifer as one of the thought leaders on thematic issues (i.e. livestock, agriculture, livelihoods, women, and youth).

Business Development And Strategy (60%)

• Lead the process of strategic visioning for Heifer International at the country level under the Africa Regional priorities.
• Form strategic partnerships that embrace the triple bottom line (social, environmental, and financial).
• Strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships (Public and private) with all program stakeholders’ donors, and supporters.
• In collaboration with the New Business Development Teams, ensure the development and implementation of new business strategies with full landscape analysis.
• Keep abreast of funder priorities in the region.
• Establish solid knowledge of the government’s and donor’s development strategies for the country.
• Contribute to the proposal process to ensure adequate information is provided to build winning proposals.
• In partnership with signature program leaders work to identify and deploy capital investments across the signature programs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships among partner organizations and expand strategic networks and partnerships at local, country, and international levels.
• Drive the development of Heifer Kenya’s strategic framework on Access to Finance.
• Provide technical and strategic support to broaden access to agribusiness finance in Heifer Kenya to finance Kenya Accelerator Programs.
• Work with Heifer Impact Capital (HIC) and other critical stakeholders (development partners, equity investors, etc) to drive Access to Finance for Heifer Kenya.

Operational Excellence And Leadership (15%)

• Remain knowledgeable of and commission market-based demand-driven value chain studies to build out signature programs within the country.
• Maintain, cultivate, and grow a strong signature program portfolio.
• Work with signature program leaders to ensure quality delivery of Heifer’s model.
• Systematically identify viable value chain opportunities
• Fosters a sense of connection and belonging.
• Shows openness to new ideas and fosters organizational learning.
• Maintain country-level requirements for Heifer’s legal operation.
• Provide sound operational and fiscal management.

May Perform Other Job-Related Duties As Assigned (5%)

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree from a recognized university or equivalent in Social Sciences or Business Administration, plus 15 years of relevant experience with at least ten (10) years in a supervisory capacity.
• Fluent in English and local language/s, both spoken and written.

Preferred Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of major funders such as USAID, DFID, IFAD, AFDB, FAO, etc.
• Proven professional experience & results in agribusiness/community development.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Proven knowledge of new business development strategies
• Inspires and motivates others to take action.
• Aligns resources to accomplish key objectives and assigns clear accountability for important objectives. Achieves meaningful accomplishments.
• Ability to support differences of opinion, and help individuals constructively resolve conflict.
• Proven experience in development actions under the following or related themes: Food Security and Nutrition, Environment, Women and Youth Empowerment
• Knowledge of NGO regulatory environment in the country of employment
• Knowledge of and skill in managing institutional and project budgets.
• Existing relationships with potential partners in Agri-business in the country.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Familiarity with and experience in responding to requests for applications/proposals (RFA/RFP), call for proposals, indefinite-quantity contracts, and task orders.
• Excellent networking and negotiation skills.
• Public speaking skills.
• Skills with Microsoft Office package, internet browser, and other appropriate technology.
• Good understanding of and sensitivity to poverty, social and ethnic issues.
• Understand the importance of traditional customs to various ethnic issues.
• An excellent team player with the ability to work with diverse cultural groups.

Essential Job Functions And Physical Demands

• Unify a group of individuals behind a commonly shared vision.
• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision.
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity.
• Constant face-to-face, telephone, and electronic communication with colleagues and the public.
• Constant sitting, standing, and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting and carrying of up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms) floor to waist.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both locally and internationally.
• Ability to meet and deal with others courteously and tactfully.
• Working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and to maintain confidentiality