Job Title: Programs Manager

About Metis 

Every child in Kenya deserves to be safe, loved, valued, and successful. Yet, most Kenyan children finish primary school without meeting minimum literacy and numeracy proficiency, and we want more for them than that: the 21st-century skills to innovate, build relationships, and think critically. Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum aims to deliver both, but faces major implementation gaps, and the wider education ecosystem remains fragmented, with organizations largely working in isolation from one another.

That’s why we exist.

Metis is a non-profit organisation with the mission to equip, connect, and amplify education leaders developing localised innovations for a world where all learners thrive. Our vision is that education systems across Africa provide learners—from cradle to career—with the skills, mindsets, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Since 2018, Metis has supported 170 changemakers through the Fellowship who, in turn, build high-quality learning experiences for over 1.5 million youth across Kenya. We host quarterly events, an annual learning summit for education practitioners, policymakers, and funders, and provide tools and training to support transformative education innovation and leadership. Learn more on our website. Our InnovatED program has brought tools of innovation to 7,000+ teachers across 1,000+ schools in Kenya.

About the Role

The Programs Manager is a program leadership role responsible for the design, delivery, quality, and continuous improvement of Metis's program portfolio.

Working closely with the Director of Programs and other members of the management team, the Programs Manager translates organizational strategy into high-quality, impactful programming for teachers, education leaders, and other stakeholders across Kenya.

The role oversees the day-to-day management and implementation of Metis's Fellowship, Kenya EdTech Testbed, Knowledge Sharing Events, and InnovatED programs, managing multiple concurrent initiatives, Fellowship cohorts, and a geographically distributed network of schools and Fellows.

The Programs Manager is responsible for ensuring that Metis's programs are thoughtfully designed, operationally sound, responsive to participant and partner needs, and delivered to a consistently high standard. This requires balancing program design, field implementation, partner relationships, team capacity, and emerging operational challenges in a dynamic environment.

The role leads the Programs team, including Lead Coaches, Codifiers, Associates, and other program staff and consultants, and provides leadership to Metis's broader Fellows network. The manager establishes clear expectations, drives accountability, builds team capability, and ensures that program teams have the support and direction required to deliver excellent results.

As a key member of the program leadership structure, the Programs Manager is expected to exercise strong independent judgment, identify and resolve implementation challenges, and provide timely recommendations to the Director of Programs on complex or high-impact decisions.

The successful candidate will be both a strategic program leader and an exceptional operator: someone who can design thoughtfully, execute rigorously, lead people effectively, and continuously improve how Metis delivers impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Program Portfolio Leadership & Delivery

• Own the design, implementation, quality, and continuous improvement of Metis's program portfolio.

• Lead concurrent programs and Fellowship cohorts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

• Translate strategy into actionable work plans, priorities, and delivery systems.

• Make timely decisions, manage competing priorities, anticipate risks, and escalate complex issues with clear recommendations to the Director of Programs.

  
  

2. Program Quality, Learning & Innovation

• Lead user-centered program design and ensure high-quality learning experiences for teachers, education leaders, and Fellows.

• Establish and uphold standards for program delivery, facilitation, coaching, learning resources, and participant experience.

• Use program data, feedback, and implementation insights to drive continuous improvement and strengthen future cohorts and programming.

  
  

3. Team & Fellows Network Leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop the Programs team, including Lead Coaches, Codifiers, Associates, and other program staff and consultants.

• Set clear expectations, manage performance, build team capability, and foster a culture of accountability and learning.

• Oversee Fellow engagement, facilitation quality, coaching, and professional development across Metis's distributed Fellows network and alumni community.

  
  

4. Field Implementation & Partnerships

• Oversee program implementation across schools and counties, including regular field monitoring and travel within Kenya.

• Coordinate delivery with school-level stakeholders, government education stakeholders, and up to five program partners.

• Identify and resolve implementation challenges, maintain partner accountability, and ensure effective coordination across internal and external teams.

  
  

5. Program Performance, Data & Reporting

• Oversee program data collection, quality assurance, and collaboration with M&E and research partners.

• Monitor program performance, identify risks, and ensure timely corrective action.

• Produce internal program reports and contribute evidence, learning, and program insights to organizational and stakeholder reporting.

  
  

6. Planning, Resourcing & Organizational Contribution

• Co-develop annual program work plans and budgets with the Director of Programs.

• Monitor program resource needs, staffing capacity, and operational requirements.

• Provide timely operational advice to leadership and contribute to cross-functional initiatives and organizational priorities.

  
  

WHAT YOU BRING TO OUR TEAM

We are looking for an experienced program leader who combines strategic thinking, exceptional execution, strong people leadership, and a deep commitment to education.

You bring:

• Experience managing complex programs, ideally in education, social impact, nonprofit, or related environments.

• Demonstrated experience owning program design, delivery, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.

• Strong planning, execution, and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.

• Experience managing and developing teams, setting expectations, providing feedback, and addressing performance challenges.

• Experience managing geographically distributed teams, field-based programs, and external partnerships.

• Strong understanding of the Kenyan education system, including CBC/CBE, county-level education administration, and school-level operations.

• Experience working with program data, monitoring and evaluation, and evidence-informed improvement.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, relationship management, and problem-solving skills.

• Willingness to travel regularly within Kenya.

  
  

You thrive in environments that require initiative, adaptability, and ownership. You can move between strategy and field execution, make sound decisions with incomplete information, and maintain high standards while supporting teams to succeed.

METIS VALUES