Director, Project

Role Overview

This position takes charge of a proposed two-year U.S. government-funded initiative aimed at shielding children from labor exploitation and online abuse while expanding their access to digital learning tools and future employment opportunities. The Project Director will serve as the senior decision-maker responsible for translating the project’s vision into daily action, coordinating across government ministries, private technology firms, civil society, and the donor. Day-to-day work blends strategic planning with hands-on oversight of budgets, staff, partnerships, and safeguarding protocols to ensure the project meets its commitments and delivers real impact for vulnerable children and youth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full project cycle from startup and strategy alignment through implementation, course correction, and closeout, ensuring milestones and performance targets are met on schedule.
• Act as the primary liaison with the donor, national government bodies, private-sector partners, and community organizations, representing the project in high-level forums and working groups.
• Direct the design and rollout of interventions that increase access to quality EdTech for children at risk, support digital literacy, and connect youth to apprenticeships, vocational training, and employment pathways.
• Oversee efforts to strengthen online safety awareness, reporting mechanisms, and government capacity to prevent child labor and online exploitation.
• Manage the project budget, including expenditure tracking, forecasting, procurement decisions, subawards, and consultant agreements, while maintaining full compliance with U.S. government rules and organizational policies.
• Drive the monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning agenda, using performance data and stakeholder feedback to adapt strategies and improve outcomes.
• Recruit, mentor, and supervise a multidisciplinary team spanning technical, finance, operations, grants, and M&E functions, fostering a culture of accountability and inclusion.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic, financial, operational, and reputational risks, with particular attention to safeguarding and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, international development, public policy, or a related field; a master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing donor-funded programs focused on education, child protection, youth engagement, or international development.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing complex, donor-funded projects, preferably with experience in Kenya.
• Demonstrated track record with U.S. government-funded projects; prior experience with the U.S. Department of Labor is an advantage.
• Experience strengthening government systems and building capacity at the institutional level.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, survivor-centered approaches, ethical data practices, accountability standards, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Familiarity with digital equity, digital safety, and preventing online exploitation and abuse of children is preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to Washington, D.C., as needed for donor meetings and project coordination.