Head of Department - Programs

What You’ll Do:

Strategic leadership & programme integration

• Own the annual strategic plan across PROMPTS, MENTORS 2.0 and Data & Advocacy, aligned to organisational OKRs and donor commitments.
• Translate strategy into departmental action plans with clear ownership, milestones and resource allocation.
• Drive integration and cross-learning across the three workstreams, and lead quarterly programme reviews.
• Represent Programmes in organisational leadership forums and support the Director, Kenya Programs on donor engagement and executive decision-making.

Programme oversight

• PROMPTS: oversee reach, consent and engagement KPIs; continuously improve the enrolment model, consent strategy and cost-per-consented-mum efficiency; drive cost-share targets with counties and facilities; guide EMR integration.
• MENTORS 2.0 & HSS: provide strategic oversight of the EmONC mentorship programme; lead Ministry of Health engagement toward formal endorsement as a national mentorship implementer; steer health financing strategy and Results-Based Financing pilots; manage the Health Financing Technical Advisor.
• Data & Advocacy: set direction for the County Data Sharing & Advocacy project; oversee platform roll-out, adoption and utilisation; lead county advocacy design, messaging and tracking tools; convene cross-learning events.

People, partnerships & delivery

• Lead, develop and manage direct reports through structured check-ins, coaching and performance management.
• Build a high-performing, motivated Programmes team with clear roles and career pathways, and actively manage field travel load to prevent burnout.
• Project and manage annual departmental budgets; review monthly variance analyses; ensure timely, high-quality donor reporting; oversee contracts with technical partners.
• Represent Jacaranda Health at national and international forums, working groups and donor convenings, and cultivate new partnership opportunities.

Who you are:

What you bring

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Master’s in Public Health, Business, Strategy or related discipline and/or project management certification is an added advantage.
• 10+ years of progressive experience, including at least 5 years in senior leadership, managing complex, multi‑workstream or multi‑county health programmes.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following areas: digital health, clinical mentorship at scale, health financing or systems strengthening, and government partnership management.
• A strong track record leading donor‑funded, multi‑stakeholder programmes, with confidence in grant compliance, reporting and budget oversight.
• A people‑centred, execution‑focused leader who translates strategy into measurable results, builds high‑performing teams across geographies, and navigates dynamic, high‑pressure environments with clarity and resilience.

Skills and Competencies:

• Transformational leadership and people development; strategic thinking and innovation management.
• Advocacy and stakeholder influence; collaborative, co-design approach.
• Data-driven decision making; excellent oral and written communication.
• Resilience under pressure; change management and adaptability; high integrity.