Team Leader - NYOTA Refugee Business Development Services

About DRC   
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental and non-profit organization, founded in 1956, that works in more than 35 countries around the world. DRC is one of the largest protection actors in Kenya, actively coordinating and advocating for improving the protective environment for refugees and host communities.  DRC implements Protection monitoring, Child Protection and GBV prevention and response programmes in its areas of operation to address protection issues faced by displaced and non-displaced at-risk groups and individuals. The programme also aims to identify and build synergies with DRC´s Economic Recovery sector to facilitate durable solutions and Humanitarian Disarmament & Peace Building activities to enhance to respond to the needs of communities affected by acute crisis as well as those in protracted displacement situations.

Overall purpose of the role: 
DRC has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) for The National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project, supported by the World Bank and implemented by the Government of Kenya through the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), that aims to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for vulnerable youth. In anticipation of being shortlisted and invited to submit a full proposal, DRC is launching this recruitment process to identify suitably qualified candidates for the proposed key positions. Any subsequent engagement will be conditional on DRC progressing to the proposal stage and ultimately being awarded the assignment.

Within this anticipated assignment, the Team Leader will provide overall technical, operational and quality leadership for the design, adaptation and delivery of the NYOTA BDS package for refugee youth. The role will coordinate implementation teams across Turkana and Garissa and ensure that programme delivery meets MSEA requirements for quality, inclusion, oversight and reporting.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Project leadership and coordination

• Lead overall planning and implementation of the BDS assignment and coordinate delivery across Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kalobeyei Settlement and Dadaab Refugee Complex.
• Coordinate and supervise BDS Delivery Specialists, trainers, mentors and other implementation personnel across participating counties.
• Maintain availability for the full duration of the assignment and support timely mobilisation, sequencing and delivery of all required activities.

Technical design and quality

• Lead the contextual assessment and the review, selection, adaptation and finalisation of BDS, socio-emotional skills and mentorship curricula for refugee youth.
• Oversee piloting and refinement of training materials, trainers manuals, participant materials and mentorship guidance, including gender-responsive and disability-inclusive adaptations.
• Ensure delivery is practical, experiential, trauma-informed, accessible to participants with different literacy and ability levels, and relevant to micro and small enterprise realities in refugee settings

Implementation oversight

• Oversee Training of Trainers, training of mentors, classroom BDS delivery, structured mentorship, business networking and market-linkage activities.
• Ensure women, girls and persons with disabilities can participate safely and meaningfully, including through appropriate accessibility, facilitation and referral arrangements.
• Promote linkages with local value chains, business associations, financial services, digital marketplaces and complementary service providers where relevant.

Monitoring, reporting and stakeholder coordination

• Ensure accurate, verifiable and auditable documentation of training and mentorship delivery, including attendance, completion, session content, progress and outcomes.
• Lead quality assurance and preparation of inception, progress and final reporting required under the assignment.
• Coordinate closely with DRC management, MSEA and other relevant government, humanitarian, UN and private-sector stakeholders.

Experience and Technical Competence 

• At least eight (8) years of experience in entrepreneurship programmes.
• At least five (5) years of experience in business/entrepreneurship training and/or livelihoods programmes involving refugee communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Kenyan micro and small enterprise context, particularly in refugee settings.
• Demonstrated understanding of gender-responsive and disability-inclusive programme design in humanitarian or displacement-affected contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and supervise multi-disciplinary teams across participating counties.

Education

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline. 

Language

• Proficiency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Key stakeholders: Internal & External
• DRC project and support teams; MSEA and designated Project/Contract Manager.
• BDS Delivery Specialists, trainers and mentors.
• Refugee youth participants and community representatives; local government, UNHCR, NGOs, business groups and private-sector actors

About you:  

• In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:  
• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.   
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.   
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.   
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.   
• Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.   

Conditions  

• Contract: One-year contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment. 
• Availability: November 2026
• Duty station: Roving within various DRC duty stations: (Kakuma/Kalobeyei (Turkana) and Dadaab (Garissa)

Application and CV:  
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.  DRC only accepts applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV and do not attach any written recommendations.  Please submit your application and CV in English no later than 1st October, 2026