Project Director - Freedom 250 Tech and Innovation Exchange
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Summary of Responsibilities Program Leadership and Strategic Oversight 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. 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. 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 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. Design and implement structured externships, mentorships, and professional engagement opportunities with U.S. companies and innovation ecosystem partners operating in Kenya. 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 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. Ensure transparent, merit-based recruitment and selection processes aligned with Embassy priorities and Freedom 250 branding and messaging. Lead implementation of participant orientation, pre-departure preparation, re‑entry activities, and structured post‑program engagement in Kenya. Operations, Compliance, and Risk Management Oversee day-to-day program operations, logistics, and coordination with U.S. and Kenyan partners. 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. Lead participant safeguarding, duty of care, and emergency response planning, in consultation with the U.S. Embassy. 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 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. 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 Supervise, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary program team based in Kenya and in coordination with U.S.-based staff. 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. Contribute technical and strategic inputs to proposal development, learning agendas, and future U.S.–Kenya exchange or innovation initiatives, as needed.