StrongMinds – Country Director, Kenya

About StrongMinds

StrongMinds is a global mental health nonprofit on a mission to end the depression pandemic in Africa and beyond. Using Interpersonal Group Therapy (IPT-G), StrongMinds has treated over 1.5 million people since its founding in 2013, making it one of the most cost-effective mental health interventions in the world. Operating across Uganda, Zambia, and through government and NGO partnerships in Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania, StrongMinds is now opening a country program in Kenya to bring its proven model to millions more people in need.

The Opportunity

This is StrongMinds’ first appointment in Kenya and an opportunity to build something from the ground up. The Country Director will take on the challenge of creating a new country program from its earliest stages including setting up the legal entity and laying the foundations for long-term growth.

They will be responsible for putting in place core systems and structures, while shaping and leading a small, high-performing founding team. In parallel, the Country Director will also cultivate strong partnerships with government and civil society, and drive a clear and ambitious agenda to elevate mental health within Kenya’s public health priorities.

StrongMinds already has meaningful partnerships at the county level and growing momentum across Kenya. The Country Director will translate these early relationships into a fully operational, scalable program that integrates StrongMinds’ IPT-G model into county and national health systems built to scale. The CD will also be equally focused on delivering operational excellence and championing mental health advocacy at every level from community health structures to the Ministry of Health.

This is a highly entrepreneurial role in terms of operating both as a builder and leader. The CD will work with a high degree of autonomy, supported by StrongMinds’ global leadership, and will be expected to exercise sound judgment, navigate ambiguity, build relationships at the highest levels, and deliver measurable progress toward national scale.

Key Responsibilities

A. Country Start-Up & Strategic Leadership
Lead the establishment of the Kenya program, including legal registration, core systems, and building a lean, high-performing founding team.
Develop and execute a clear country strategy and scale plan aligned with StrongMinds’ global vision and growth ambitions.
Translate existing partnerships into a fully operational, scalable program, ensuring high-quality delivery of the IPT-G model in the Kenyan context.
Set and drive priorities across goals, budgets, and targets, building a culture of data-driven decision-making and continuous learning.

B. Advocacy, Partnerships & External Engagement
Serve as StrongMinds’ primary representative in Kenya, building trusted relationships across government, civil society, and the mental health ecosystem.
Lead advocacy efforts to strengthen policy prioritization and public funding for mental health, positioning StrongMinds within national systems.
Deepen and formalize existing partnerships while expanding engagement across counties and national platforms.
Support the development of a strong local Board and represent StrongMinds in key external forums and networks.

C. Resource Mobilization
Identify opportunities for funding, co-financing, and partnerships that support sustainable scale.
Contribute to global fundraising efforts through local insights, relationship-building, and donor engagement.
Support proposal development and reporting processes as needed, particularly for locally relevant funding.
Build partnerships that help reduce cost-per-patient and expand reach through leveraged resources.

D. Operational & Financial Management
Establish and oversee fit-for-purpose systems across finance, HR, procurement, and administration in line with local requirements and global standards.
Manage budgeting, financial reporting, and expenditure with a focus on discipline, transparency, and cost efficiency.
Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and donor requirements as the program grows.
Anticipate and manage operational, financial, and programmatic risks in a dynamic environment.

E. Team Building, Culture & People Leadership
Recruit, develop, and lead a small, high-impact team, fostering ownership, accountability, and collaboration.
Provide hands-on coaching and support, particularly during the early stages of building the program.
Build a strong, mission-driven culture that connects the Kenya team to the broader StrongMinds organization.
Champion staff wellbeing, safeguarding, and an inclusive, supportive work environment.

Expected Outcomes (First 18 Months)

Within the first 18 months, success will be measured by five key outcomes:

• Program launched and operational: StrongMinds Kenya is legally registered, fully staffed with a high-performing founding team, and supporting government partners in delivering IPT-G treatment that meets quality standards and early patient targets.
• Government partnerships formalized and expanding: Existing partnerships are transitioned into the new entity, new county and national-level MOUs are in place, and government-led replication pathways are actively scaling.
• Advocacy strategy delivering results: StrongMinds is recognized as a credible voice in Kenya’s mental health landscape, with measurable progress toward influencing policy and increasing public resource allocation for mental health.
• Financial sustainability on track: Local funding and co-financing opportunities are identified and being pursued, cost-per-patient is trending toward global benchmarks, and financial systems are operating with full compliance.
• Strong governance in place: A diverse, engaged Board of Directors is established and provides effective oversight, and all legal and regulatory obligations are met.

Required Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in international development, public health, or the nonprofit sector, with the maturity to operate at a country leadership level
• Deep experience engaging government at multiple levels in Kenya or a comparable East African context, with a proven ability to build and formalise partnerships and navigate complex policy environments.
• Demonstrated ability to build or scale programmes in lean, early-stage environments, with experience creating systems, teams, and partnerships from the ground up.
• Strong advocacy experience, with evidence of influencing policy, shaping government priorities, or mobilising public resources within a health or social sector.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the presence and judgement to represent an organisation effectively at senior levels.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred but not essential.
• Proven financial and operational management capability, including budgeting, donor compliance, and a focus on cost efficiency.

Good to Have

• Prior experience working with or serving on a Board of Directors.
• Existing networks within Kenya’s mental health and/or public health sectors.
• Experience with resource mobilization, local fundraising, or building co-financing models.
• Familiarity with Interpersonal Group Therapy (IPT-G) or community-based mental health programming.

The Leader We’re Looking For

• Autonomous and proactive – You do not wait for permission or instruction. You identify what needs to be done, develop a plan, and follow through. You are comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and adjusting your approach as you learn.
• Entrepreneurial and resourceful – You thrive in environments where there is no established playbook. You build systems from the ground up, find practical solutions, and deliver results with limited resources.
• Results oriented and accountable – You set ambitious goals, track progress with discipline, and hold yourself and your team to high standards. You are motivated by achieving measurable impact.
• A relationship builder – You build trust quickly and navigate complex stakeholder environments with confidence. You bring people together, form effective coalitions, and turn relationships into partnerships that deliver results.
• Deeply mission driven – You care deeply about mental health and believe in the power of evidence based interventions to transform lives at scale. StrongMinds’ mission is not just a job to you, it is a cause you are committed to advancing.
• Data driven and learning oriented – You use evidence to inform decisions, encourage continuous improvement, and are comfortable working in an environment that requires ongoing learning and adaptation.

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