Head of Programme Job Opportunity in Kenya: Lead a Multi-Country Entrepreneurship Programme Supporting Over 1,600 Entrepreneurs Across Africa

<p>GrowthAfrica is recruiting an experienced and visionary Head of Programme to lead one of its largest and most impactful entrepreneurship support initiatives operating across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ghana.</p> <p>This senior leadership position presents a unique opportunity for an accomplished programme management professional to oversee the strategic direction, implementation, quality assurance, partnerships, grants management, donor engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and operational delivery of a large-scale entrepreneurship programme designed to transform businesses and entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa.</p> <p>The programme focuses on supporting aspiring entrepreneurs, innovation teams, and early-stage businesses, with a strong emphasis on empowering young women entrepreneurs in rural and peri-urban communities.</p> <p>Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the successful candidate will lead a diverse team of professionals while collaborating with partners, investors, mentors, technical experts, ecosystem stakeholders, and funders across four African countries.</p> <h2>About GrowthAfrica</h2> <p>GrowthAfrica is recognized as one of Africa&#8217;s leading entrepreneurship support organizations, working to accelerate business growth, strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, and create sustainable economic opportunities across the continent.</p> <p>Through strategic partnerships, business acceleration programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and ecosystem development interventions, GrowthAfrica supports entrepreneurs in building resilient and scalable businesses capable of driving economic transformation.</p> <p>The Head of Programme role offers an opportunity to join a dynamic leadership team that works across multiple countries, sectors, and stakeholder groups to create lasting impact.</p> <h2>About the Programme</h2> <p>The flagship programme is designed to support entrepreneurship and innovation at scale across four African countries:</p> <ul> <li>Kenya</li> <li>Rwanda</li> <li>Uganda</li> <li>Ghana</li> </ul> <p>The initiative aims to provide support to:</p> <ul> <li>More than 1,600 aspiring entrepreneurs</li> <li>200 innovation teams</li> <li>80 early-stage businesses</li> </ul> <p>A key objective of the programme is to promote inclusive entrepreneurship by increasing support for young women entrepreneurs, particularly those operating in rural and peri-urban communities where access to entrepreneurial resources and opportunities may be limited.</p> <p>The programme brings together a wide range of ecosystem actors including:</p> <ul> <li>Entrepreneurs</li> <li>Investors</li> <li>Mentors</li> <li>Technical experts</li> <li>Delivery partners</li> <li>Donors</li> <li>Government stakeholders</li> <li>Innovation ecosystem organizations</li> </ul> <p>This collaborative approach is intended to strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems while fostering sustainable business growth and economic development.</p> <h2>Position Summary</h2> <p>The Head of Programme will provide overall leadership and management of programme operations across all participating countries.</p> <p>The role carries responsibility for ensuring that programme objectives, deliverables, quality standards, budgets, donor requirements, and impact targets are successfully achieved.</p> <p>The successful candidate will serve as a strategic leader while also maintaining oversight of day-to-day programme implementation and operational excellence.</p> <h2>Key Responsibilities</h2> <h3>1. Programme Leadership and Strategic Direction</h3> <p>The Head of Programme will:</p> <ul> <li>Lead overall programme strategy and implementation</li> <li>Ensure successful programme delivery across four countries</li> <li>Drive achievement of programme objectives and outcomes</li> <li>Coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders and partners</li> <li>Maintain programme quality and performance standards</li> <li>Support continuous programme improvement and learning</li> </ul> <h3>2. Team Leadership and Management</h3> <p>The role includes direct leadership of a team of 24 professionals.</p> <p>Responsibilities include:</p> <ul> <li>Building high-performing teams</li> <li>Managing staff performance</li> <li>Providing coaching and mentorship</li> <li>Supporting professional development</li> <li>Promoting collaboration across countries</li> <li>Strengthening team effectiveness and accountability</li> </ul> <h3>3. Partnership Management</h3> <p>The successful candidate will build and maintain relationships with:</p> <ul> <li>Development partners</li> <li>Implementing partners</li> <li>Entrepreneur support organizations</li> <li>Investors</li> <li>Mentors</li> <li>Government institutions</li> <li>Ecosystem stakeholders</li> </ul> <p>Strong partnership management will be essential to achieving programme goals and expanding impact.</p> <h3>4. Donor Engagement and Compliance</h3> <p>The Head of Programme will ensure compliance with donor requirements while maintaining strong relationships with funding partners.</p> <p>Responsibilities include:</p> <ul> <li>Donor reporting</li> <li>Compliance management</li> <li>Risk management</li> <li>Grant oversight</li> <li>Performance monitoring</li> <li>Stakeholder communication</li> </ul> <h3>5. Budget and Grants Management</h3> <p>Financial oversight is a critical component of the role.</p> <p>Responsibilities include:</p> <ul> <li>Budget planning and monitoring</li> <li>Resource allocation</li> <li>Financial reporting</li> <li>Grant management</li> <li>Expenditure tracking</li> <li>Financial accountability</li> </ul> <p>The successful candidate must demonstrate strong experience managing complex programme budgets and grant-funded initiatives.</p> <h3>6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)</h3> <p>The position requires oversight of programme performance measurement and impact assessment.</p> <p>This includes:</p> <ul> <li>Monitoring programme outcomes</li> <li>Measuring impact against targets</li> <li>Reviewing performance indicators</li> <li>Supporting evidence-based decision-making</li> <li>Facilitating organizational learning</li> <li>Ensuring quality reporting</li> </ul> <h2>Why This Opportunity Is Significant</h2> <p>This role offers the chance to lead one of GrowthAfrica&#8217;s flagship entrepreneurship programmes at a critical stage of growth and impact.</p> <p>Successful candidates will have the opportunity to:</p> <h3>Lead at Scale</h3> <p>Oversee a programme supporting thousands of entrepreneurs across multiple African markets.</p> <h3>Shape Entrepreneurship Ecosystems</h3> <p>Contribute to strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in East and West Africa.</p> <h3>Drive Women&#8217;s Economic Empowerment</h3> <p>Support initiatives focused on increasing opportunities for women entrepreneurs operating in underserved communities.</p> <h3>Work Across Multiple Countries</h3> <p>Gain exposure to programme delivery and stakeholder engagement in:</p> <ul> <li>Kenya</li> <li>Rwanda</li> <li>Uganda</li> <li>Ghana</li> </ul> <h3>Join a Leading Organization</h3> <p>Become part of one of Africa&#8217;s most respected entrepreneur support organizations.</p> <h3>Influence Strategic Growth</h3> <p>Play a key role in shaping programme strategy, partnerships, learning, and long-term impact.</p> <h2>Who GrowthAfrica Is Looking For</h2> <p>The ideal candidate will possess a combination of strategic leadership, programme management expertise, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement experience.</p> <p>Candidates should demonstrate:</p> <h3>Leadership Experience</h3> <ul> <li>Significant experience managing complex programmes across Africa</li> <li>Experience leading large and diverse teams</li> <li>Strong people management skills</li> </ul> <h3>Programme Management Expertise</h3> <ul> <li>Advanced programme planning and execution capabilities</li> <li>Experience overseeing multi-country initiatives</li> <li>Strong organizational and coordination skills</li> </ul> <h3>Donor-Funded Programme Experience</h3> <ul> <li>Understanding of donor requirements and compliance frameworks</li> <li>Experience managing grant-funded programmes</li> <li>Strong reporting and accountability skills</li> </ul> <h3>Partnership Development Skills</h3> <ul> <li>Experience working with multiple stakeholder groups</li> <li>Ability to manage complex partnerships</li> <li>Excellent relationship-building capabilities</li> </ul> <h3>Sector Knowledge</h3> <p>Understanding of:</p> <ul> <li>Entrepreneurship development</li> <li>Innovation ecosystems</li> <li>SME growth and support</li> <li>Business acceleration</li> <li>Economic development initiatives</li> </ul> <h3>Strategic and Operational Balance</h3> <p>The successful candidate should be able to:</p> <ul> <li>Think strategically</li> <li>Make informed decisions</li> <li>Execute effectively</li> <li>Deliver measurable results</li> </ul> <h2>This Opportunity Is Ideal For Professionals Who:</h2> <ul> <li>Enjoy leading teams and managing large programmes</li> <li>Thrive in dynamic and complex environments</li> <li>Are passionate about entrepreneurship development</li> <li>Enjoy working with diverse stakeholders</li> <li>Are motivated by measurable impact</li> <li>Want to contribute to stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems</li> <li>Believe in empowering women entrepreneurs</li> <li>Are committed to sustainable economic development across Africa</li> </ul> <h2>Job Location</h2> <p>Nairobi, Kenya</p> <h2>Application Deadline</h2> <p>Deadline: 25 June 2026 at 23:59</p> <p>Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline to be considered for this exciting leadership opportunity.</p> <p>Click <a href="https://growthafrica.com/job-internships/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>here</strong></a> for more and to apply</p> <h2>Final Thoughts</h2> <p>The Head of Programme position at GrowthAfrica represents a rare opportunity to lead a transformative entrepreneurship initiative operating across four African countries.</p> <p>With responsibility for strategy, delivery, partnerships, grants, donor engagement, and team leadership, this role is ideal for an experienced programme leader seeking to create meaningful impact at scale.</p> <p>Professionals with a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, women&#8217;s economic empowerment, and ecosystem development are strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline.</p> <p>Click <a href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/?s=job" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>here</strong></a> for more global job opportunities</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" 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