Program Lead-Humanitarian Response

Job Description

• Verde Edge Consulting Ltd is recruiting on behalf of its client for a strategic and hands-on Program Lead – Humanitarian Response-Giving. The role will lead a global humanitarian response fund and crisis-specific giving initiatives, enabling timely response activation, credible partner coordination, effective fundraising and transparent impact reporting.
• Lead the humanitarian response fund and crisis-specific giving initiatives; maintain activation plans, procedures, budgets and response tools; coordinate cross-functional teams; and manage risks, readiness and continuous improvement.
• Monitor humanitarian crises and assess response opportunities; identify credible partners and grant prospects; recommend allocations based on needs, capacity and available funding; and coordinate approved grant implementation, monitoring and reporting.
• Lead fundraising and donor-acquisition campaigns; oversee approved messaging and digital giving channels; engage donors, champions and strategic partners; and ensure effective stewardship, transparent impact reporting and dignified storytelling.
• Monitor program performance, fundraising targets, response timelines and resource utilisation; provide management and governance updates; maintain program records; and lead post-response reviews to strengthen future interventions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Humanitarian Studies, International Development, Disaster Management, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, Business, or a related discipline.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience, including significant responsibility in humanitarian response, emergency fundraising, crisis grantmaking or a comparable program.
• Direct experience with a humanitarian-response charity, disaster-relief organisation, grantmaking institution, pooled humanitarian fund or similar crisis-response organisation is required.
• Experience in rapid-response activation, humanitarian partner management, grant/allocation recommendations, donor fundraising and post-response reporting is strongly preferred.
• Experience in digital fundraising, campaign analytics, crisis communications or paid donor acquisition is an advantage. Familiarity with humanitarian standards, safeguarding, localisation, cross-border grantmaking and relief-to-development approaches is strongly preferred.
• Experience in an international or globally distributed organisation is preferred.

Additional Information

• Strong understanding of humanitarian needs, response actors, funding priorities and coordination in disasters and complex crises, including the transition from relief to recovery and longer-term development.
• Working knowledge of recognised humanitarian standards and relevant UN and international-agency coordination practices.
• Excellent program and project management skills, with the ability to lead complex, time-sensitive, cross-functional initiatives.
• Sound judgement under pressure and ability to make evidence-based recommendations using incomplete or rapidly changing information.
• Strong relationship management, fundraising, donor stewardship and stakeholder engagement skills, supported by excellent written and verbal communication.
• Data-informed approach to KPIs, performance analysis and continuous improvement; commitment to safeguarding and dignified representation of crisis-affected communities.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Be ready to work in Kenya and beyond as need arises.
• Working hours are expected to substantially overlap with European and U.S. Eastern time zones, typically approximately 1:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Kenya time.
• Occasional extended hours may be necessary during important operational periods.