Water Mission, a Christian engineering nonprofit, is seeking a highly skilled and mission-aligned individual to serve as the Country Director for its operations in Kenya. This leadership role is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary and dynamic professional to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable communities through the implementation of best-in-class safe water solutions.
Founded on Christian principles and rooted in a biblical worldview, Water Mission delivers water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions to transform lives. The organization operates globally, and the Kenya Country Director will play a critical role in furthering Water Mission’s goals within Kenya and across the region.
This position calls for a passionate, experienced leader who is equally committed to professional excellence and spiritual integrity. It will be based in Nairobi, with frequent travel across the country and internationally, including visits to the organization’s headquarters in Charleston, USA.
Position: Country Director, Kenya
Organization: Water Mission
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Senior Regional Director, Africa
Overall Role Purpose
The Country Director will be responsible for leading Water Mission’s Kenya program, guiding a diverse team of professionals across several functional domains. These include community development, finance, human resources, operations, WASH programming, monitoring and evaluation, ministry, and administration. The successful candidate will oversee strategic planning, partnership engagement, program implementation, staff development, and resource management with a goal to maximize impact and honor God through sustainable service delivery.
The position demands a high level of leadership, interpersonal skills, financial acumen, technical understanding of WASH, and a deep commitment to the mission and values of Water Mission.
Key Responsibilities
1. Mission Leadership and Spiritual Culture Development
- Model servant leadership grounded in a strong Christian witness to colleagues, partners, and the public.
- Encourage spiritual growth among staff by leading and participating in prayer and biblically based staff devotions.
- Foster a God-honoring work environment that promotes accountability, integrity, love, and excellence.
2. Country Program Strategy and Operational Oversight
- Provide overall leadership and management of Water Mission’s activities in Kenya, ensuring alignment with the organization’s global strategy and mission.
- Contribute to the strategic development of the Kenya country program, including the planning and execution of key initiatives such as the Living Water Strategy.
- Oversee day-to-day operations across Water Mission’s Kenya offices located in Nairobi, Makueni, and Turkana.
- Ensure project planning and implementation meet Water Mission’s standards and goals for quality, cost, and timeliness.
3. Team Leadership and Human Resource Management
- Lead and manage a team of over 50 staff and volunteers.
- Provide coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback to direct and indirect reports.
- Collaborate with Water Mission’s East Africa regional office to guide Kenya-based matrix staff such as the Human Resources Manager and Finance Manager.
- Identify staff skill and performance gaps and implement targeted training and development plans.
- Foster a culture of excellence, trust, and mutual respect within the team.
- Ensure the care, well-being, and professional growth of all staff.
4. Financial Oversight and Administrative Accountability
- Monitor and evaluate program performance against approved budgets, operational plans, and key performance indicators.
- Ensure proper financial controls are in place and that enterprise accounting and project management systems are current and accurate.
- Review and contribute to the preparation of detailed program budgets, financial reports, and cost estimates for program and grant proposals.
5. Program Quality and Innovation
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality service delivery in all WASH-related interventions.
- Work collaboratively to apply innovative solutions, tools, and processes that increase efficiency and impact.
- Oversee the implementation and expansion of Water Mission’s technical and programmatic activities in Kenya.
- Ensure that monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) processes are effectively informing program decisions and donor reporting.
6. External Relations and Partnerships
- Actively engage with government entities, development partners, local and international NGOs, and other WASH actors to promote collaboration and strategic partnerships.
- Represent Water Mission at national, regional, and global forums relevant to the WASH and humanitarian development sectors.
- Establish and strengthen partnerships with Christian ministries and evangelism-focused organizations in alignment with Water Mission’s ministry objectives.
7. Donor Engagement and Reporting
- Collaborate with the global headquarters team in Charleston on grant application processes and fulfillment.
- Provide timely updates and reports to Water Mission’s headquarters on administrative, programmatic, and financial matters.
- Prepare and deliver presentations and communications to the Kenya Program Board of Directors, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
8. Organizational Representation and Communication
- Serve as Water Mission’s key representative in Kenya, embodying the organization’s values and strategic vision.
- Deliver clear and compelling presentations and reports to various audiences, including staff, partners, donors, and the public.
- Lead crisis management, risk assessment, and compliance procedures in coordination with headquarters.
Qualifications and Experience
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Management, Engineering, Development, Business, Public Health, or a related field from a recognized university.
- Minimum of 8 years of leadership or management experience, preferably in the development or humanitarian sector, with at least 1 year spent living in a developing country (African experience preferred).
- Proven ability to manage large-scale programs with budgets exceeding USD 1 million.
- Demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams and developing new leaders.
- Technical expertise or experience in the WASH sector, including program design and implementation.
- Construction and engineering project management experience is a plus.
- Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Kiswahili is advantageous.
- Previous experience in Christian ministry, evangelism, and discipleship is highly valued.
- Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office 365, and SharePoint.
Personal Attributes and Skills
- A personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Alignment with Water Mission’s Statement of Faith and core values of Love, Excellence, and Integrity.
- Commitment to servant leadership and organizational mission.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, especially in cross-cultural environments.
- Adaptability and willingness to work flexible hours when necessary.
- Capacity to travel regularly across Kenya and internationally.
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Dedication to resolving the global water crisis through sustainable, faith-driven solutions.
Work and Travel Requirements
- The role requires full-time residence in Nairobi.
- Regular travel to field locations within Kenya will be necessary, often up to one week at a time.
- Occasional international travel, including trips to Charleston, South Carolina, USA, and other regional country programs will also be required.
Why Join Water Mission?
Working with Water Mission is more than a career—it’s a calling to be part of an organization that serves with compassion, faith, and excellence. As Kenya Country Director, you will have the opportunity to shape a national program that brings hope and dignity to thousands of people. You will be at the forefront of life-changing work, backed by a team of dedicated professionals who share your commitment to ending the global water crisis in Jesus’ name.
This position offers a unique blend of strategic leadership, community impact, spiritual service, and operational oversight. If you are looking for a meaningful leadership role where your faith and skills can come together to make a real difference, we encourage you to consider this opportunity.
Application Details
To learn more and submit your application, please follow the link below.
