Executive Director – NGO

Role Overview

Youth Alive! Kenya is seeking an Executive Director to lead its youth development and advocacy work, oversee its Nairobi and Mombasa operations, and guide the organisation’s social enterprise activities. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will connect strategic priorities with sound financial and operational management while strengthening youth participation and the organisation’s relationships with funders and public partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Turn the organisation’s strategic direction into practical plans, measurable objectives, and priorities for programmes and operations.
• Support the Board as its secretary by preparing for meetings, recording and following up on resolutions, and providing clear organisational updates.
• Lead fundraising and income diversification, developing relationships with institutional donors, foundations, businesses, and other potential partners.
• Oversee grant proposals, concept notes, partnership pitches, and investment cases, and guide the financial sustainability and revenue plans of social enterprise activities.
• Direct programme design and delivery, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including setting indicators to assess reach, efficiency, and outcomes for young people.
• Ensure young people have meaningful input into programme development, organisational decisions, and civic advocacy.
• Manage and develop staff across programme, administration, and regional teams, including recruitment, performance review, succession planning, and staff wellbeing.
• Oversee budgets, internal controls, procurement, regulatory compliance, organisational risk, audit responses, reporting, communications, and external representation.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Governance, or a related discipline.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience in a non-profit, civil society, or international development organisation.
• At least three years in senior executive management.
• Evidence of securing substantial grants, overseeing complex donor-funded budgets, developing social enterprise models, and supporting organisational growth.
• Strong knowledge of strategic planning, financial management, board administration, governance, risk, and compliance.
• Understanding of youth development, advocacy, human rights, livelihoods, and civic inclusion in Kenya.
• Confident communication, negotiation, media, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Professional training in monitoring and evaluation, project management, or non-profit management is an advantage.

What We Offer / Why Join

The role offers the opportunity to lead an organisation working across youth development and advocacy, while shaping both its programmes and social enterprise activities. The position is based on-site in Nairobi and includes oversight of the Mombasa office.