Director, Digital Platforms & Business Development

Primary Responsibilities:

Portfolio Leadership and Team Management

• Lead and scale the Nairobi Digital Hub as a multidisciplinary engineering organization across software, data, cloud,
• DevOps, QA, security, and UX 
• Provide executive oversight of major digital and platform implementations, balancing innovation, delivery discipline, risk, and financial performance 
• Represent Palladium as a senior digital and engineering leader with clients, funders, governments, and private sector partners 
• Ensure projects align with Palladium’s platform strategy and Digital Hub delivery model 
• Recruit, mentor, and retain strong engineering and product talent while building sustainable delivery capacity and clear career pathways 
• Foster a builder culture grounded in ownership, accountability, learning, and delivery excellence 

Technical Strategy and Execution Oversight

• Define and lead Palladium’s digital platform strategy across interoperable architecture, open-source/public goods ecosystems, data platforms, analytics, and AI 
• Set and uphold engineering standards for architecture, code quality, security, scalability, documentation, and DevOps 
• Oversee the design, build, and operation of shared platforms, accelerators, and reusable components 
• Drive a product- and platform-led delivery model supported by modern engineering practices such as Agile, CI/CD, cloud-native, API-first, and modular design 
• Provide senior technical leadership on architecture, integration, and interoperability across sectors 
• Ensure platforms are secure, scalable, compliant, and supported by reusable reference architectures and blueprints 

Growth and Business Development

• Originate, develop, and close digital platform and product opportunities, with a strong focus on digital health solutions, data platforms, and technology-enabled services  
• Lead end-to-end business development, including pipeline creation, client engagement, solution design, pricing, and deal closure  
• Drive product creation and commercialization, packaging digital platforms into scalable, repeatable offerings (e.g., SaaS, managed services, digital health solutions)  
• Build and execute market entry strategies, particularly in digital health and adjacent sectors  
• Establish and grow strategic partnerships with technology firms, digital health companies, startups, investors, and ecosystem partners to support co-creation and co-investment  
• Identify and pursue new revenue streams, including private sector clients and blended finance opportunities beyond donor-funded work  
• Lead or contribute to proposal development, including technical design, commercial structuring, and value proposition articulation  
• Act as a client-facing commercial leader, capable of pitching, negotiating, and closing complex digital and platform deals 

Product & Platform Creation and Commercialization 

• Lead the design, development, and launch of digital products, with emphasis on digital health platforms and interoperable solutions 
• Define product vision, roadmaps, and go-to-market strategies for platform-based offerings 
• Ensure platforms are designed for scalability, reuse, and commercial viability, including SaaS and managed service delivery models 
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and commercial teams to bridge product development and revenue generation 
• Continuously iterate offerings based on market demand, client feedback, and emerging digital health trends 

Essential Criteria:

• 15+ years in software engineering, digital platforms, or technology leadership roles 
• Demonstrated success in business development, sales, or commercial roles, including originating opportunities, shaping deals, and closing revenue-generating engagements  
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and growth of digital platform engineering teams at scale 
• Strong understanding of: Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP); Modern software architectures (microservices, APIs, event-driven systems); Data platforms and analytics 
• Proven experience in building partnerships and ecosystems, particularly with technology firms, digital health organizations, or platform providers  
• Experience operating at the intersection of technology, product development, and commercial strategy 
• Track record of delivering complex digital solutions in multi-stakeholder environments 

Core Capabilities: 

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive revenue and close complex deals 
• Ability to translate product, engineering, and market needs into compelling platform offerings 
• Expertise in partnership development and ecosystem building, especially in digital and health tech 
• Excellent communication with technical and non-technical audiences 
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building new models 
• Strong people leadership and coaching skills 

Desired Criteria: 

• Experience in building or scaling digital health, health tech, or data-driven health platforms or products, not just projects  
• Exposure to managed services or SaaS-style models 
• Experience working with or alongside startups and technology vendors 
• Background in global development, DPI, or large-scale public-sector digital programs