Head of Mission Kenya & Somalia Full Time

arche nova – initiative for people in need (AN) is a German, non-profit, non-religious humanitarian organisation focusing primarily on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Since 2012, AN has been implementing programmes in Kenya and Somalia in the sectors of WASH, Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL), and informal education. Activities are managed through the Nairobi Office in close collaboration with the Headquarters (HQ) in Germany.

We are currently looking for a

Head of Mission Kenya & Somalia (f/m/d)

Position to be filled: 1st of March 2026
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to the project locations in Somalia
Duration: initial 12 months contract (extension desired) with 6 months’ probation period
Working hours: fulltime (40 hours/week).

Note: This position is only filled locally with a local contract (Kenya). Applicants must hold a valid work permit.

Overall Purpose of the Position

The Head of Mission (HoM) Kenya & Somalia is responsible for the strategic, operational, financial, and security management of all AN operations in both countries. The HoM represents AN with authorities, donors, UN agencies, clusters, partners, and networks, ensuring programme quality, compliance, staff wellbeing, and the implementation of the country strategy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Representation

• Provide overall leadership and vision for AN operations in Kenya and Somalia.
• Lead the development, implementation, and annual review of the Country Strategy.
• Represent AN in national and regional coordination forums, sector clusters, donor meetings, NGO platforms, and technical working groups.
• Maintain strong relationships with authorities, donors, UN agencies, INGOs, and local partners.
• Identify new funding opportunities and develop donor engagement plans.
• Ensure the promotion and visibility of AN through presentations, reports, and external communication.

2. Programme & Grants Management

• Oversee the management and quality assurance of all programmes and grants, ensuring compliance with AN policies and donor regulations.
• Ensure programme design reflects innovation, community participation, sustainability, and humanitarian principles.
• Supervise project implementation and provide regular support to programme staff and partners.
• Ensure MEAL systems, accountability mechanisms, learning processes, and safeguarding standards are implemented.
• Lead and coordinate proposal development, ensuring strong technical inputs and alignment with donor priorities.
• Approve and oversee external research, evaluations, audits, and rapid assessments of emerging crises.
• Ensure programmes integrate climate risk analysis and environmental sustainability measures.
• Align programme approaches with AN’s global commitments to climate and environmental protection.

3. Human Resources, Administration & Capacity Building

• Oversee HR management across both missions, including recruitment, organisational structures, performance monitoring, and disciplinary processes.
• Promote staff wellbeing and duty of care, ensuring safe and enabling working conditions.
• Identify and support capacity-building needs for staff and partners.
• Ensure compliance with national labour laws, AN HR policies, safeguarding, Code of Conduct, and anti-fraud measures.
• Ensure harmonised and compliant administrative, procurement, and financial procedures.

4. Finance Management & Compliance

• Oversee financial planning, budget management, expenditure monitoring, and forecasting.
• Ensure compliance with AN’s authority matrix, procurement rules, and donor financial regulations.
• Support internal and external audits and ensure follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Monitor financial risks and advise HQ on sustainability and growth.

5. Security Management

• Lead security management for Kenya and Somalia in close coordination with the Global Security Advisor.
• Ensure all security protocols, SOPs, contingency plans, and risk mitigation measures are up to date.
• Provide regular security briefs to HQ and ensure staff receive security training.
• Ensure appropriate responses to political, operational, or natural-crisis developments affecting programming.

6. Operations, Logistics & Compliance

• Oversee logistics, procurement, fleet, warehousing, and asset management.
• Ensure transparent and efficient procurement in line with AN and donor standards.
• Oversee office registrations, legal compliance, and adherence to national regulations (including Kenya PBO Act).
• Manage risk, prevent fraud, and safeguard AN’s assets and reputation.

7. Partnership Management & Localisation

• Strengthen partnerships with national NGOs, community-based organisations, and technical institutions.
• Lead due diligence processes, capacity strengthening plans, and partnership compliance.
• Promote equitable partnerships and localisation principles.

8. Safeguarding (PSEA & Child Protection)

• Ensure safeguarding and PSEA policies are implemented across all offices and programmes.
• Deliver and monitor mandatory staff training on PSEA and Child Protection.
• Ensure confidential, safe, and efficient reporting mechanisms for safeguarding concerns.
• Promote a culture of protection, equality, and accountability for the staff and to affected populations.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Master’s degree (or BA with substantial experience) in development studies, humanitarian affairs, international relations, or relevant fields.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in senior management roles in humanitarian or development settings.
• Strong experience in programme management, strategic leadership, HR oversight, and financial management.
• Demonstrated experience with major donors (BMZ, German Federal Foreign Office, EuropeAid, ECHO, CBPF, UN Agencies).
• Experience working in complex, fragile, or insecure environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and representation skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Experience in East Africa, particularly Somalia and Kenya.

Personal Competencies

• High intercultural competence, conflict sensitivity, and integrity.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Flexibility, proactivity, and ability to adapt to humanitarian crises.
• Commitment to gender equality, safeguarding, and localisation

Note: This position is only filled locally with a local contract (Kenya). Applicants must hold a valid work permit.

We would like to encourage people with similar CVs, and especially women to apply, even when not all criteria are perfectly matched.

We offer:

• Competitive salary based on AN salary scale
• 24 days of annual leave + public holidays
• Access to psychosocial support services
• Professional development and training
• An inclusive, respectful, and diversity-positive organisational culture

Attention: this is no family duty station

However, arche nova is a family friendly employer and allows for flexibility regarding children or care work.

Tagged as: arche noVa, Kenya, Somalia