Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) is a non-profit organization based in Nairobi, Kenya and New York, NY that combats urban poverty and gender inequity in the slums of Nairobi. Kennedy Odede, who grew up in the Kibera slum, founded SHOFCO in 2004 with a focus on youth and gender empowerment

Summary

SHOFCO is seeking a strategic Public School Partnership Manager to play a crucial role which involves overseeing a comprehensive program aimed at partnering more than 50 public school across the nation to boost facilities, support learners, increase teacher capacity and improve parent engagement. The Public School Partnership Manager will be responsible for managing government relations to ensure interventions can run smoothly on the ground; this includes partnering on school selection criteria, defining scope of work and agreeing on the government roles in the project – working towards sustainability. Based on the scope of work, the Public School Partnership Manager will be responsible for developing a comprehensive curriculum/implementation plan for the program that will be rolled out at all schools across the country. The Public School Manager will then manage the team responsible for the implementation. The ideal candidate has significant education experience in Kenya, including successful partnership with government and working with low-income communities, and is personally aligned with SHOFCO’s value of staying “grassroots” and always listening to and empowering the community.

Key Responsibilities and Job Dimensions

Strategy Leadership and Project Oversight:

• Develop and execute a plan for partnering with public schools across the nation, delivering the program in alignment with SHOFCO’s overall mission and objectives.
• Engage the government to ensure initial buy-in and long term sustainability.
• Oversee the implementation of the program across multiple counties, ensuring that activities are delivered on time, within budget, and achieve desired impacts.

Team Management and Development:

• Lead, mentor, and build the capacity of a diverse team of professionals, ensuring high levels of motivation, commitment, and performance.
• Foster a collaborative and positive work environment that encourages innovation, accountability, and excellence.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy:

• Represent SHOFCO in various forums, including meetings with government officials, donors, and partners, to advocate for the program’s objectives and secure necessary support and resources.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders in SUN (SHOFCO’s national network), partner organizations, and government agencies, to enhance program impact and sustainability.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning:

• In partnership with SHOFCO’s Impact team, drive performance against a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to track program progress, assess effectiveness, and inform ongoing improvements.
• Ensure that lessons learned are captured, shared, and integrated into program planning and execution.

Requirements

Academic Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in education, with experience in project management, government partnerships, and low-income communities
• Bachelors Degree in any Education/Development Studies or any other related studies

Other requirements (unique/job specific)

• Proven track record of successfully leading and scaling ambitious programs.
• Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience using data and insights to drive program improvements.
• Familiarity with the contexts of urban slums and rural agricultural communities.
• Strong commitment to SHOFCO’s mission and values
• Strong commitment to SHOFCO’s mission and values.