Associate Director, AHC Programs

Category

Opportunity

Nairobi, Kenya | Full-Time, Grant-Funded | Hybrid

Reports to the Senior Director, International Relations (Africa)

The Opportunity

The Associate Director, Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) Programs, will provide leadership and managerial oversight of the AHC’s partner-led program implementation across a multi-stakeholder, multi-country initiative dedicated to transforming Africa’s health ecosystems.

Reporting to the Senior Director, International Relations (Africa) and Head of the AHC Secretariat, this is a key leadership role on the Secretariat team — contributing directly to senior-level decisions and working closely with academic leaders, faculty, staff, and students across all nine founding partner institutions and the Mastercard Foundation, as well as governments, donors, and the wider ecosystem of health and development partners.

The Associate Director will facilitate the partnerships underpinning the AHC’s graduate programs, certificates, micro credentials, entrepreneurship activities, and leadership/observership initiatives.

What You Bring

Education

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Health Administration, Project Management, Organizational Leadership, or a related field — or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible leadership experience.
• PMP® or another relevant professional designation is considered an asset.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including 5+ years in a senior management or leadership role within complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale international development, higher education, healthcare, public sector, or donor-funded initiatives.
• Proven leadership of regional or multi-country programs involving multiple partner organizations and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience working collaboratively with universities, governments, health systems, research institutions, and development partners.
• Track record in strategic planning, project and portfolio management, governance, and organizational development.
• Strong financial management experience — budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and resource planning.
• Experience developing executive-level reports, business cases, and program recommendations.
• Experience managing large grant-funded initiatives with multiple stakeholders and donor reporting requirements.
• Experience leading organizational change, large-scale events, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience administering financial and HR policies, procedures, and collective agreements, and managing consultants, vendors, and procurement processes.

Skills

• Exceptional leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, and operational management skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project and portfolio management skills, including planning, monitoring, reporting, and risk management.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams), including executive reporting and dashboards.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and governance support skills.
• Highly developed financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning skills.

Other Attributes

• Superior planning, organizational, and execution skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.
• Collaborative, inclusive, and accountable leadership style.
• Excellent analytical skills and creative problem-solving ability.
• Ability to mentor others and cultivate a supportive team environment.
• Strong attention to detail balanced with big-picture, strategic vision.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and flexibility.
• Knowledge of trends in employability, professional development, international higher education, and experiential learning is preferred.

Working Arrangements

• Hybrid role based in Nairobi, Kenya — approximately two days per week in the office, subject to operational requirements.
• Regular collaboration across multiple international time zones, with occasional early morning, evening, or weekend meetings.
• Periodic travel within Africa and internationally to support partner engagement, governance meetings, conferences, workshops, and monitoring visits.
• Additional hours may be required during peak periods, including donor reporting deadlines and major strategic initiatives.
• Term: grant-funded role.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation: KES 8.4M per annum, plus applicable statutory benefits and a competitive employer-sponsored benefits package. Full details of the benefits package will be shared with shortlisted candidates and confirmed prior to employment.

Confidentiality, Data Security & Safeguarding

All staff must comply with AHC, Olade, Workpay, and Mastercard Foundation policies on confidentiality, data security, and youth protection/safeguarding guidelines. This includes adhering to all protocols, completing required training, and promptly reporting any potential risks or breaches.

Equal Opportunity

AHC and its partner institutions are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background. Accommodations are available on request throughout the recruitment process.