- The Field Director - Kenya is the senior leader responsible for the overall management, performance, culture, growth, and operational effectiveness of the organization's Kenya operations.
- The role combines:operations leadership, recruiting, client relationship management, human resources oversight, employee development, financial oversight, and organizational development.
- The Field Director serves as the primary link between Kenya operations, U.S.-based leadership, clients, and Kenya-based remote professionals. The position is initially hands-on and requires direct involvement in key recruiting, client, employee, and operational activities, with the role expected to become increasingly strategic as the organization grows.
Operations Leadership and Business Management
- Provide overall leadership and direction for Kenya operations.
- Execute the organization's operating plan in line with business objectives.
- Establish clear operating standards, accountability structures, responsibilities, and escalation procedures.
- Ensure effective collaboration across departments and functions.
- Identify operational risks, staffing requirements, service gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop scalable systems and processes that support business growth.
- Represent Kenya operations in discussions with executive leadership.
- Address priority business and client matters requiring senior-level intervention.
- Act as an authorized signatory or company representative where formally appointed.
People Leadership, Culture and Development
- Lead and oversee key Kenya-based functions, including Recruiting, Client Concierge, Human Resources, Finance/Accounting, and Executive Support.
- Set clear objectives and performance expectations for managers and team members.
- Conduct regular leadership, team, and performance meetings.
- Coach, mentor, and develop managers and employees.
- Support professional development through training, leadership discussions, and continuous learning initiatives.
- Promote a respectful, collaborative, accountable, and service-oriented workplace culture.
- Ensure performance and conduct matters are handled fairly, professionally, and consistently.
- Maintain effective communication with employees, remote professionals, and leadership.
Client Relationship Management and Business Development Support
- Participate in introductory, discovery, strategy, and planning meetings with prospective and existing clients.
- Understand client business needs, staffing requirements, culture, technology, schedules, and performance expectations.
- Explain the organization's recruitment, onboarding, employment, and ongoing support model.
- Translate client requirements into clear recruitment and operational specifications.
- Maintain effective communication between clients, executive leadership, and Kenya operations.
- Provide senior-level oversight of client relationships and client service activities.
- Participate in significant client reviews, escalations, and strategic discussions.
- Monitor client satisfaction and identify opportunities to strengthen relationships and support business growth.
Recruitment and Candidate Management
- Develop recruitment and sourcing strategies based on client requirements.
- Oversee candidate sourcing through LinkedIn, job boards, professional networks, referrals, and other appropriate channels.
- Develop or review Job Description s and candidate requirements.
- Review applications, resumes, and shortlisted candidates.
- Conduct or participate in candidate screening and interviews.
- Develop or review interview questions and assessment criteria.
- Ensure candidates are evaluated consistently against established requirements.
- Review assessment results and support candidate selection decisions.
- Ensure shortlisted candidates have accurate and professionally presented resumes, profiles, portfolios, videos, and other required materials.
- Communicate role expectations, working arrangements, compensation structures, and employment requirements clearly to candidates.
Client Interviews and Placement Coordination
- Coordinate candidate interview schedules, invitations, meeting links, and instructions.
- Prepare candidates for client interviews and ensure they understand relevant expectations.
- Participate in client interviews and post-interview discussions where appropriate.
- Gather client feedback and coordinate next steps promptly.
- Maintain accurate records of interview outcomes, decisions, and follow-up actions in designated systems.
- Ensure selected candidates transition smoothly from recruitment to placement.
Contracts, Onboarding and Placement Launch
- Ensure required client and employee documentation is completed before placement.
- Coordinate employment and service agreements and related documentation.
- Confirm working hours, responsibilities, reporting arrangements, systems, and communication expectations.
- Ensure technology, equipment, connectivity, accounts, and other onboarding requirements are in place.
- Conduct or participate in onboarding sessions.
- Ensure remote professionals understand their roles, client expectations, company policies, schedules, and reporting structures.
- Coordinate communication between clients, remote professionals, Recruiting, Human Resources, and Client Concierge teams during the placement launch.
- Follow up after placement to support a successful transition and identify any early issues.
Employee Performance and Professional Development
- Establish effective systems for monitoring employee and remote professional performance.
- Work with managers and clients to address performance concerns and determine appropriate interventions.
- Ensure significant performance matters are appropriately documented.
- Coordinate coaching, training, performance improvement, reassignment, or replacement where necessary.
- Lead or oversee significant employee and client escalations.
- Identify suitable reassignment opportunities for employees whose placements end.
- Coordinate training based on employee, client, and organizational requirements.
- Support the effective use of AI and other technology tools for productivity, communication, documentation, and research.
- Promote continuous professional development and learning.
Human Resources and Employee Administration
- Oversee the maintenance of accurate and confidential employee records.
- Review employment contracts and related documentation.
- Participate in the recruitment and approval of Kenya-based employees.
- Ensure consistent onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Monitor compliance with applicable Kenyan employment and labour requirements, engaging qualified HR or legal professionals where necessary.
- Ensure company policies and employment practices are appropriately implemented.
- Participate in significant disciplinary, conduct, and workplace matters.
- Ensure employee concerns are addressed confidentially, fairly, and professionally.
Compliance, Risk and Documentation
- Ensure required client, employee, and operational documentation is completed and properly maintained.
- Promote confidentiality, data protection, and secure information-handling practices.
- Ensure organizational policies and procedures are communicated and followed.
- Work with relevant professional advisers on legal, employment, financial, or compliance matters.
- Escalate significant legal, financial, employment, security, or operational risks to executive leadership.
Financial and Administrative Oversight
- Oversee Kenya operating expenses and financial processes.
- Work with Finance/Accounting to ensure accurate financial and operational reporting.
- Review relevant payroll, attendance, staffing, and employee information.
- Support budgeting and forecasting activities.
- Monitor actual expenditure against approved budgets and investigate significant variances.
- Ensure appropriate financial controls and authorization procedures are followed.
- Ensure spending remains within approved policies and delegated authority.
Reporting and Business Performance
- Maintain visibility of the overall performance and operational health of the Kenya business and provide regular reports to executive leadership covering, as appropriate:
- Recruitment pipeline and turnaround time
- Candidate sourcing and interview activity
- Placements and successful launches
- Client satisfaction and retention
- Employee and remote professional retention
- Performance and escalations
- Staffing capacity and workforce utilization
- Client and employee onboarding
- Department performance
- Operational risks and challenges
- Budget performance
- Growth opportunities
- Recommended corrective or improvement actions
Office, Travel and In-Person Support
- Where applicable, oversee the effective operation of the Kenya office, including:
- Facilities and equipment
- Internet and technology infrastructure
- Workplace security
- Vendors and maintenance
- Health and safety requirements
- Office procedures
- The role may also require local travel for:
- Candidate and client meetings
- Employee or remote professional visits
- Team meetings
- Training sessions
- Company events
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree and/or Master's degree in Business Administration, Management, Human Resources, Operations, or a related field. Equivalent senior-level professional experience may be considered.
- At least 5 years' experience*in leadership, operations management, outsourcing, professional services, staffing, recruitment, client success, or a related environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams, managers, or department-level functions.
- Experience working with executives, business owners, senior leaders, or international clients.
- Strong understanding of recruitment, interviewing, employee management, and performance management.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex operations involving multiple stakeholders.
- Experience working with U.S.-based companies, international organizations, remote teams, outsourcing businesses, or professional staffing organizations is an advantage.
- Strong written and spoken English.
- Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
- Strong judgment, integrity, professionalism, and discretion when handling confidential or commercially sensitive information.
- Ability to manage difficult employee and client matters calmly and professionally.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to combine accountability with respectful, constructive, and supportive leadership.
- Comfortable remaining hands-on in recruitment, onboarding, training, client service, and operational activities when required.