Based in Nairobi, Kenya the Project Director will serve as the senior-most program lead responsible for end-to-end delivery of the exchange over a 36‑month period of performance, working in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy Nairobi (Public Diplomacy Section), U.S. and Kenyan academic partners, American private-sector actors, and IREX headquarters. The role carries delegated authority for day-to-day programmatic decision-making and is the primary point of contact with the Embassy for implementation, approvals, and reporting.
Program Leadership and Strategic Oversight**
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Provide overall leadership for the design, implementation, and management of all components of the Freedom 250 Tech and Innovation Exchange, ensuring full alignment with U.S. government priorities and Embassy guidance.
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Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison with the U.S. Embassy Nairobi (Public Diplomacy Section) for implementation coordination, approvals, and adaptive management under the cooperative agreement.
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Develop, manage, and routinely track the integrated program work plan, timelines, and deliverables across the full 36‑month period of performance; flag risks and propose course corrections to IREX leadership as needed.
Academic, Private Sector, and Partner Engagement****
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Identify, negotiate, and manage partnerships with U.S. universities and Kenyan institutions to deliver semester-long academic placements and advance priority U.S.–Kenya university linkages.
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Design and implement structured externships, mentorships, and professional engagement opportunities with U.S. companies and innovation ecosystem partners operating in Kenya.
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Engage U.S. Embassy counterparts, private-sector associations, and ecosystem partners to ensure the program delivers tangible pro‑American and pro‑commercial outcomes.
Recruitment, Selection, and Participant Experience****
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Oversee recruitment, outreach, application management, and participant support processes for Kenyan undergraduate students, in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy, which retains strict oversight of participant selection.
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Ensure transparent, merit-based recruitment and selection processes aligned with Embassy priorities and Freedom 250 branding and messaging.
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Lead implementation of participant orientation, pre-departure preparation, re‑entry activities, and structured post‑program engagement in Kenya.
Operations, Compliance, and Risk Management****
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Oversee day-to-day program operations, logistics, and coordination with U.S. and Kenyan partners.
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Manage day-to-day compliance implementation for the award, including U.S. Department of State requirements (e.g., J‑1/DS‑2019 processes where applicable), branding and communications guidance, 2 CFR 200 financial compliance, and all award-specific terms and conditions.
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Lead participant safeguarding, duty of care, and emergency response planning, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy.
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Manage program budgets, pipelines, and cost controls; prepare forecasts and justifications and ensure expenditures and procurements follow IREX systems and donor requirements.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting****
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Lead development and implementation of the program’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP), including theory of change, indicators, data collection methods, and learning loops.
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Draft and submit timely, high-quality narrative and financial reports to the U.S. Embassy and internal stakeholders, coordinating inputs from finance, operations, partners, and headquarters as required.
Team Leadership and Representation**
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Supervise, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary program team based in Kenya and in coordination with U.S.-based staff.
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Represent the program in technical and coordination settings with academic and private-sector partners and other implementers; elevate sensitive or high-level engagement needs to the Regional/Country Director.
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Contribute technical and strategic inputs to proposal development, learning agendas, and future U.S.–Kenya exchange or innovation initiatives, as needed.