REF: KNCHR/ADM/ DRAO/01/05/2026

Reports to: Commission Secretary/Chief Executive Officer

Direct reports: Deputy Director: Reforms and Accountability Division, Deputy Director: Research and Compliance Division, Deputy Director: Public Education and Training Division, Deputy Director: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Division.

Indirect Reports: Assistant Director: Reforms and Accountability Division, Assistant Director: Research and Compliance Division, Assistant Director: Public Education and Training Division, Assistant Director: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Division.

Duration: 5 year Contract (Renewable)

Duty Station: Nairobi with occasional travel

Gross Salary: Kshs. 406,750

Other Benefits: Medical cover, Group Life Insurance and WIBA

Job Purpose

This position is responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures, plans, strategies, standards and guidelines relating to the functions of research, advocacy and outreach to ensure the effective realization of the Commission’s mandate.

Key Responsibilities/ Duties / Tasks

Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities

• Direct and provide strategic leadership and coordination in all matters of research, advocacy and outreach at the Commission. 
• Direct and supervise the implementation of all of the directorate’s programs to ensure the strategic goals and mandate of the Commission is achieved. 
• Provide leadership and supervise the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies for the directorate programs to ensure effective discharge of the functions of the Commission. 
• Direct and oversee the preparation of statutory reports, periodic human rights reports and alternative reports to be presented nationally in parliament and to the regional and international human rights mechanisms. 
• Coordinate and supervise the development and submission of all of the Commission’s reports, advisories, memorandums, communiques, research tools, donor reports, curriculums and education materials to relevant actors nationally, regionally and internationally on key human rights issues. 
• Direct and supervise the follow up on the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations from its reports and advisories issued. 
• Oversee the management, monitoring and evaluation of the directorate’s processes and performance.
• Oversee the mobilization of resources for the Directorate’s thematic areas and supervise the development and formulation of the Directorate’s budget to ensure effective utilization of all its resources. 
• Organize and allocate tasks to heads of divisions to ensure optimal utilization of both human and financial resources in the Commission. 
• Coordinate staff performance and build capacity including mentoring, coaching, staff appraisals and development of staff in the Directorate. 
• Oversee and direct the planning, design and implementation of the directorate’s quality control framework to ensure compliance with the set performance targets of the Commission. 
• Coordinate and lead the Commission in key task forces, statutory and ad hoc Boards/Committees on emerging human rights issues in relation to the functions of the Directorate. 
• Provide leadership in fostering synergy, communication and complementarities in the operations, interventions and strategies of all the divisions in the directorate to ensure effective delivery of the Commission’s mandate.

Operational Responsibilities / Tasks

• Conceptualize and direct the planning, design and implementation of the directorate’s
• work in accordance with the strategic plan and mandate of the Commission.
• Review and consolidate the directorate’s work plans and reports to ensure that they are in
• line with the set performance targets for the Directorate
• Coordinate the timely preparation and submissions of quarterly and annual reporting functions of the divisions in the directorate.
• Facilitate the formulation and implementation of the directorate’s divisional reports, advisories, memorandums, communiqués, research tools, donor reports, curriculums and education materials to ensure adherence to the Commission’s standards and mandate.
• Develop concepts and design strategies for resource mobilization and operations of the directorate.
• Advise the Commission Secretary and Commissioners on all matters touching on research, advocacy and outreach in the Commission.
• Represent the Commission in high level meetings nationally, regionally and internationally to advance the Commission’s findings, advisories, recommendations and position on key thematic human rights issues.
• Establish, nurture and maintain networks and partnerships with relevant stakeholders towards Research Advocacy and Outreach.
• Authorize, coordinate and monitor budget utilization of the directorate’s resources.

Job Dimensions:

Financial Responsibility

• Responsible for the management all of the directorate’s financial resources budgets to ensure prudent utilization of resources in line with the Commission’s mandate.
• Provides overall oversight in the management of the directorate’s staff and financial resources.
• Supervises the management of all grants within the Directorate of Research, Advocacy and Outreach.
• Reports to the Commission Secretary on the directorate’s financial status and issues the requisite recommendations to ensure prudent and optimal utilization of resources.

 Responsibility for Physical Assets

• Printer, Laptops, tablets, phones, desktops, workstations, filling cabinets, coat hangers, fan, etc.

Decision Making / Job Influence Strategic Decisions

• Gives strategic direction and approvals on the priorities, design, frameworks, key policies and implementation of all of the Commission’s research, advocacy and outreach interventions and programs.
• Advises and gives recommendation to the Commission on all matters of Research, Advocacy and Outreach at the Commission.

Tactical Decisions

• In charge of all the operations of the directorate including assigning roles, undertaking timely problem solving, crisis management and dispute resolution to ensure seamless delivery of the Commission’s mandate.
• Advises the Commission on the State’s compliance to human rights principles and standards and issues key recommendations on action to be taken by the Commission.

Analytical Decisions

• Assesses  and  analyses  the  impact  of  the  directorate’s  programs  and  gives recommendations to the Commission.

Operational Decisions

• Approves  the  directorate’s  internal  and  external  communication.  Facilitate  the implementation of Human resource strategies.
• Manages performance of the heads of division Financial Decisions
• Supervises and directs the management of all of the directorate’s resources both financial and personnel to ensure optimal delivery of the Commission’s mandate

Working Conditions

• The post is based at the Headquarters in Nairobi with frequent travel to the field nationally and high-level meetings regionally and internationally.
• Entails long working hours, with field travel to remote and hardship areas, places of detention, security operation areas, conflict prone areas, exposure to multicultural settings, monitoring hospitals, prisons, schools, security operation areas.

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).

Academic qualifications

• Master’s degree in any of the following fields: Law, Social Sciences, Peace Building/ Conflict Management, Criminology, Political Science/Government, Anthropology, Sociology, Development Studies, International Relations and Diplomacy or any other equivalent qualification from a recognized institution
• PhD is an added advantage.

Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies

• Post graduate qualification in Strategic and project Management, planning, proposal, Writing/ Administration, governance, or human Rights.
• Membership to relevant professional body
• Certificate in strategic leadership/management course lasting not less than 6 weeks from a recognized institution.
• Training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or Project Cycle Management.

Previous relevant work experience required.

• Served in the grade of Deputy Director for a minimum period of three (3) years;
• Twelve years work Experience with at least five years at a supervisory level.
• Demonstrated knowledge and exposure to international, regional and national human rights instruments
• Experience in conceptualizing and leading research projects
• Experience in conceptualizing and leading advocacy and outreach projects

Functional Skills, Behavioral Competencies/Attributes:

Functional Skills

• Ability to build and lead cohesive teams
• Demonstrable knowledge in formulating research, advocacy and outreach projects
• Demonstrable strategic leadership skills
• Critical thinking and analysis skills
• Problem solving and crisis management skills
• Strategic thinking and execution of strategies
• Financial Management and budgeting
• Knowledge of the project management cycle and public administration
• Excellent IT skills, with working knowledge for the various packages Behavioral Competencies/Attributes
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication (written and oral)
• Interpersonal skills
• Alternative Dispute Resolution skills
• Meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya.