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Programme Manager at World Vision Kenya
World Vision Kenya
October 2, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Job Responsibilities:
Technical and Strategic leadership and management
Responsible for the coordination, technical support and implementation of the Program's objectives
Ensure that the Program deliverables are achieved effectively and timely as per the proposal/work plan and meeting donor expectation and regularly review Program status
Ensure that Program initiatives meet or exceed planned outcomes and are implemented in full compliance with the donor, WV Kenya and Government standards and guidelines;
Provide effective, innovative and strategic leadership and direction to the Program staff from WV Kenya and other stakeholders within the Program.
Coordinate restoration interventions in partnership with Kenya Forest Service (KFS), County Governments, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), Water Resource User Associations (WRUAs), and other local institutions.
Oversee assessment and documentation of land tenure, carbon rights, and Program eligibility requirements within target landscapes.
Ensure compliance with carbon standards, land-use regulations, environmental laws, and safeguard requirements.
Lead stakeholder engagement on carbon ownership, benefit-sharing, and participation agreements.
Maintain accurate Program records and documentation required for carbon Program registration, verification, and audit processes.
Ensure restoration approaches are aligned with county and national forest restoration strategies.
Develop appropriate implementation strategies for the Program as per approved PDD and budgets through quarterly, monthly and weekly activity work plans and budgets
Ensure focused quality, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program's interventions
Work with the accountant to monitor and support the timely and appropriate utilization of budgeted resources for all Program interventions.
Ensure social inclusion (mainstreaming gender and youth) and conflict-sensitive programming.
Ensure that professional development activities, including performance appraisals, performance agreements, monitoring and needed training and mentoring activities are carried out successfully.
Ensure integration of the grant with the Area Development Programme's and Integrated Programme Framework objectives and Child results in-line with the WVK Strategic priorities.
Lead, inspire and manage a high-performing project team, ensuring clarity of roles, objectives and accountability.
Oversee performance management including goal setting, coaching, appraisals and development plans.
Mentor and build capacity of staff in program delivery, compliance, and stakeholder engagement.
Drive recruitment, onboarding, retention and succession planning for project critical roles.
Provide leadership in a matrixed environment across technical, MEAL and finance
Promote staff wellbeing, safeguarding, inclusion, and a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
Quality Assurance - Implementation, Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation
Develop, with support of WVK Program staff, a detailed plan that will support delivery of the Program objectives throughout the Program period.
Ensure accurate and quality Program Design Documents (PDD) are on file and used to inform implementation
Ensure timely and effective implementation of all Program interventions as well as the successful achievement of proposed outcomes and intended impacts
Ensure timely and appropriate utilization of the budgeted Program resources in full adherence to the donor's set standards.
Organize annual review meetings for planning and monitoring of Program activities.
In Liaison with Program Accountant, track Program implementation expenditure levels, manage work plans and budgets to ensure Program expenditure remains within acceptable levels
Ensure that the Program achieves acceptable financial and operational audit results by implementing activities in accordance with established norm and policies whilst maintaining acceptable audit rating
Proactively enforce controls and checks as well as ensure effective and timely response plans to all financial audit findings and take the needed measures to prevent future recurrence.
Ensure timely baseline survey of the Program and dissemination of findings to all partners including GoK while ensuring streamlining implementation in respect to the outcomes of the survey.
Support the Program officers to set up and maintain effective complaints and feedback mechanisms to ensure that beneficiary concerns are addressed in a timely and effective manner.
Ensure submission of timely and quality periodic (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports) to the Regional Manager, Cluster Manager and Technical team at the National Office and Support Office.
Work closely with the communications department to ensure regular documentation of best practices, success stories / innovation and lessons learnt over the Program implementation period for sharing across the partnership
Ensure production and dissemination of communications resources for the Program to key stake holder
Partnership, coordination and networking
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with national and county government institutions, regulatory agencies, research organizations, and development partners to advance Program objectives.
Lead stakeholder coordination and engagement processes with community institutions, producer groups, cooperatives, and local governance structures across the Program.
Facilitate participatory planning and decision-making processes that promote community ownership of restoration and carbon development activities.
Ensure implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles and compliance with social and environmental safeguards.
Oversee the design and implementation of equitable, transparent, and inclusive benefit-sharing mechanisms for participating communities.
Promote meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and vulnerable groups in restoration planning, implementation, governance, and carbon benefit distribution.
Advocacy: Policy and Budget Influence
Coordinate advocacy and policy influence initiatives of the program at county and national level
Increase the visibility of WVK and the donor by maintaining active engagement and advocacy on NRM related matters
KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE
Required Professional experience
Minimum 10 years of experience in natural resource management, forestry, climate change, landscape restoration, or environmental conservation.
Demonstrated experience leading and managing restoration Programs involving both protected/gazetted forests and community-managed lands.
Demonstrated knowledge of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) and familiarity with carbon project development lifecycles, including carbon accounting and monitoring protocols.
Experience working with forest governance structures and community natural resource management systems.
Strong understanding of land tenure systems and community engagement processes.
Understanding of gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all the key areas of responsibility
Ability to work under pressure and strict deadlines
Understanding of development/relief issues with commitment to humanitarian principles and action
Good financial/budget management
Good people management, training and coaching skills with strong conceptual and analytical Skilla
The ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work effectively within a team
Required Education & Certification
Minimum Bachelors's degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Agro-forestry, Range land Management or any other related discipline.
Post graduate degree in any of the above is desirable
GHG accounting/carbon certification or training in standards like VCS, Gold Standard, or CDM will be an added advantage.
Proficiency in GIS tools e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth Engine for satellite data monitoring is desirable
Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications
Demonstrated experience in implementing and managing nature-based carbon projects
Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity with national carbon market policies and schemes, including evolving government policies and regulations, in the forest and biodiversity sectors.
Demonstrated technical knowledge of the carbon project lifecycle, including carbon accounting and monitoring, validation/verification will be an added advantage.
Familiarity with certification in voluntary carbon certification, e.g., Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), and Plan Vivo
Technical and Strategic leadership and management
Responsible for the coordination, technical support and implementation of the Program's objectives
Ensure that the Program deliverables are achieved effectively and timely as per the proposal/work plan and meeting donor expectation and regularly review Program status
Ensure that Program initiatives meet or exceed planned outcomes and are implemented in full compliance with the donor, WV Kenya and Government standards and guidelines;
Provide effective, innovative and strategic leadership and direction to the Program staff from WV Kenya and other stakeholders within the Program.
Coordinate restoration interventions in partnership with Kenya Forest Service (KFS), County Governments, Community Forest Associations (CFAs), Water Resource User Associations (WRUAs), and other local institutions.
Oversee assessment and documentation of land tenure, carbon rights, and Program eligibility requirements within target landscapes.
Ensure compliance with carbon standards, land-use regulations, environmental laws, and safeguard requirements.
Lead stakeholder engagement on carbon ownership, benefit-sharing, and participation agreements.
Maintain accurate Program records and documentation required for carbon Program registration, verification, and audit processes.
Ensure restoration approaches are aligned with county and national forest restoration strategies.
Develop appropriate implementation strategies for the Program as per approved PDD and budgets through quarterly, monthly and weekly activity work plans and budgets
Ensure focused quality, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program's interventions
Work with the accountant to monitor and support the timely and appropriate utilization of budgeted resources for all Program interventions.
Ensure social inclusion (mainstreaming gender and youth) and conflict-sensitive programming.
Ensure that professional development activities, including performance appraisals, performance agreements, monitoring and needed training and mentoring activities are carried out successfully.
Ensure integration of the grant with the Area Development Programme's and Integrated Programme Framework objectives and Child results in-line with the WVK Strategic priorities.
Lead, inspire and manage a high-performing project team, ensuring clarity of roles, objectives and accountability.
Oversee performance management including goal setting, coaching, appraisals and development plans.
Mentor and build capacity of staff in program delivery, compliance, and stakeholder engagement.
Drive recruitment, onboarding, retention and succession planning for project critical roles.
Provide leadership in a matrixed environment across technical, MEAL and finance
Promote staff wellbeing, safeguarding, inclusion, and a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
Quality Assurance - Implementation, Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation
Develop, with support of WVK Program staff, a detailed plan that will support delivery of the Program objectives throughout the Program period.
Ensure accurate and quality Program Design Documents (PDD) are on file and used to inform implementation
Ensure timely and effective implementation of all Program interventions as well as the successful achievement of proposed outcomes and intended impacts
Ensure timely and appropriate utilization of the budgeted Program resources in full adherence to the donor's set standards.
Organize annual review meetings for planning and monitoring of Program activities.
In Liaison with Program Accountant, track Program implementation expenditure levels, manage work plans and budgets to ensure Program expenditure remains within acceptable levels
Ensure that the Program achieves acceptable financial and operational audit results by implementing activities in accordance with established norm and policies whilst maintaining acceptable audit rating
Proactively enforce controls and checks as well as ensure effective and timely response plans to all financial audit findings and take the needed measures to prevent future recurrence.
Ensure timely baseline survey of the Program and dissemination of findings to all partners including GoK while ensuring streamlining implementation in respect to the outcomes of the survey.
Support the Program officers to set up and maintain effective complaints and feedback mechanisms to ensure that beneficiary concerns are addressed in a timely and effective manner.
Ensure submission of timely and quality periodic (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports) to the Regional Manager, Cluster Manager and Technical team at the National Office and Support Office.
Work closely with the communications department to ensure regular documentation of best practices, success stories / innovation and lessons learnt over the Program implementation period for sharing across the partnership
Ensure production and dissemination of communications resources for the Program to key stake holder
Partnership, coordination and networking
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with national and county government institutions, regulatory agencies, research organizations, and development partners to advance Program objectives.
Lead stakeholder coordination and engagement processes with community institutions, producer groups, cooperatives, and local governance structures across the Program.
Facilitate participatory planning and decision-making processes that promote community ownership of restoration and carbon development activities.
Ensure implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles and compliance with social and environmental safeguards.
Oversee the design and implementation of equitable, transparent, and inclusive benefit-sharing mechanisms for participating communities.
Promote meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and vulnerable groups in restoration planning, implementation, governance, and carbon benefit distribution.
Advocacy: Policy and Budget Influence
Coordinate advocacy and policy influence initiatives of the program at county and national level
Increase the visibility of WVK and the donor by maintaining active engagement and advocacy on NRM related matters
KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE
Required Professional experience
Minimum 10 years of experience in natural resource management, forestry, climate change, landscape restoration, or environmental conservation.
Demonstrated experience leading and managing restoration Programs involving both protected/gazetted forests and community-managed lands.
Demonstrated knowledge of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) and familiarity with carbon project development lifecycles, including carbon accounting and monitoring protocols.
Experience working with forest governance structures and community natural resource management systems.
Strong understanding of land tenure systems and community engagement processes.
Understanding of gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all the key areas of responsibility
Ability to work under pressure and strict deadlines
Understanding of development/relief issues with commitment to humanitarian principles and action
Good financial/budget management
Good people management, training and coaching skills with strong conceptual and analytical Skilla
The ability to work independently, think innovatively and strategically and work effectively within a team
Required Education & Certification
Minimum Bachelors's degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Agro-forestry, Range land Management or any other related discipline.
Post graduate degree in any of the above is desirable
GHG accounting/carbon certification or training in standards like VCS, Gold Standard, or CDM will be an added advantage.
Proficiency in GIS tools e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth Engine for satellite data monitoring is desirable
Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications
Demonstrated experience in implementing and managing nature-based carbon projects
Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity with national carbon market policies and schemes, including evolving government policies and regulations, in the forest and biodiversity sectors.
Demonstrated technical knowledge of the carbon project lifecycle, including carbon accounting and monitoring, validation/verification will be an added advantage.
Familiarity with certification in voluntary carbon certification, e.g., Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), and Plan Vivo