Expert Pool Manager – Strengthening Good Governance in Kenya

Democracy International; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading organization in international development is seeking an Expert Pool Manager for a project focused on strengthening governance in Kenya. This part-time position will involve operational management of short-term expert pools, promoting accountability and combating corruption. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in financial administration and donor-funded project management, with a commitment to gender-sensitive practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in contract management for donor-funded projects.
• Minimum two (2) years managing short-term expert teams.
• Proficient in English (C2) and working knowledge of Kiswahili preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day technical steering of two short-term expert pools.
• Draft and administer expert contracts, managing travel logistics.
• Compile biannual progress reports and ensure compliance with standards.

Skills

Contract management

Financial administration

Technical steering

Donor compliance

Gender-sensitive approaches

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics, public finance, law, political science, public administration, or a related field

Master's preferred

Job description

Position:Expert Pool Manager – Strengthening Good Governance in Kenya

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Id:1079

# of Openings:5

Expert Pool Manager – Strengthening Good Governance in Kenya

DemocracyInternational(DI) is establishing an international roster of short‑term experts to support the anticipated Strengthening Good Governance (GoGo) Programme in Kenya, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the EuropeanUnion and implemented by GIZ. Working in close coordination with Kenyan public‑sector institutions, county governments, and civil‑society partners, the programme advances anti‑corruption, public‑finance integrity, transparency, accountability, and efforts to curb illicit financial flows (IFFs). The Expert Pool Manager will lead the operational management of two on‑call short‑term expert pools, 25 international and 25 national specialists, spanning anti‑corruption, public‑finance management, transparency & accountability, and illicit‑financial‑flows reform. Working side‑by‑side with DI’s Nairobi‑based consortium and GIZ counterparts, the Manager will match task orders with qualified experts, guide assignment design, oversee quality control, and keep the program’s rolling pipeline of workshops, studies, and capacity‑building support on track. This is a part‑time, Nairobi‑based position contingent upon award and donor funding.

The position’s responsibilities will include:

• Lead day‑to‑day technical steering of two short‑term expert pools, aligning assignments with GoGo outputs and partner requests.
• Co‑create scopes of work, concept notes, and work plans with GIZ advisors, Kenyan oversight institutions, and county governments.
• Maintain a dynamic database of vetted experts; proactively source new talent to address emerging needs (e.g., climate‑finance auditing, whistle‑blower protection, beneficial‑ownership registries).
• Facilitate needs assessments, design participatory workshops, and coordinate peer‑to‑peer learning events across 15 counties.
• Track activity progress against program indicators (e.g., anti‑corruption bills drafted, asset‑recovery trainings delivered) and flag implementation risks or timeline shifts to DI and GIZ leadership.

Administrative

• Draft and administer expert contracts, manage travel logistics, and monitor level‑of‑effort ceilings against budget.
• Review and edit expert deliverables for clarity, accuracy, and gender‑ and conflict‑sensitive language before submission.
• Compile biannual progress reports, brief completion summaries for each assignment, inception/final reports, and ad‑hoc inputs to GoGo’s results‑based monitoring system.
• Liaise regularly with DI’s headquarters, program finance, and procurement staff to uphold GIZ compliance, data‑protection, and environmental‑sustainability standards.
• Inception Report within 30days of contract start, outlining management procedures and first‑year work plan.
• Updated Expert Database reflecting active, standby, and prospective specialists, refreshed quarterly.
• Biannual Implementation & Financial Progress Reports (June/December).
• Two‑page Close‑out Memo for each expert assignment, summarizing outputs and lessons learned.
• Final Program Report (≤30pages) synthesizing results, best practices, and recommendations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s preferred in economics, public finance, law, political science, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in contract management, reporting, and/or financial administration for donor‑funded projects.
• At least two (2)years managing short‑term expert teams or rosters, including performance oversight and quality assurance.
• Minimum five (5)years working with development partners such as GIZ, EU, USAID, or similar.
• Full professional proficiency in English (C2). Working knowledge of Kiswahili highly preferred.
• Established network of Kenyan governance specialists and training providers preferred
• Demonstrated application of gender‑ and conflict‑sensitive approaches
• Experience with digital accountability tools or climate‑finance oversight would be an asset.

Reporting:

The Expert Pool Manager will report to DI’s Project Director and coordinate closely with the GIZ GoGo Programme Manager and Component Leads.

Application Process:

Interested applicantsMUST submit a CV. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the positions will be filled as soon as qualified candidates are identified. DI will only contact candidates of interest.

Democracy International maintains the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

About the Organization:

DI provides technical assistance, analytical services and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance and conflict mitigation programs worldwide for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department and other development partners. Since its founding in 2003, Democracy International has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election-management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions, and others in 80+ countries.

DI welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for DI employees. DI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at DI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.