Strategic Partnerships Manager / Senior Associate NGO Job OAF Nairobi, Kenya

About the Role

• By 2030, our organisation will serve 10 million farm families annually. This growth will be fuelled by fundraising, and at One Acre Fund, our fundraising relies on industry-leading grant and partnership management. We have a 10-person grant management team within our larger Business Development department, responsible for stewarding our highest-value donor partnerships, and are now looking for new Strategic Partnerships Senior Associates / Managers to join this team.
• These roles will manage some of our highest-value donor partnerships, leading the coordination and monitoring of grant-funded activities. All roles will report to leaders within our Global Business Development team, while closely coordinating with leaders for the relevant programs. All roles will also interact closely across 1AF’s programming, building deep fluency with our approach to smallholder agriculture: equipping farmers with high-quality products/services to increase their harvests and profits, build their climate resilience, and improve their long-term livelihoods.
• Specific roles will have major emphasis areas based on the nature of each donor partnership, helping the organisation pioneer new approaches to thematic priorities including conservation agriculture, engaging women and youth farmers, and smallholder insurance.

Responsibilities

Drive thematic partnerships happening in the field: You will bring an ambitious vision of smallholder prosperity to life in new thematic areas for the organisation, helping us build the capacity to deliver impact to smallholders through conservation agriculture, women/youth engagement, and/or smallholder insurance:

• Project Management and Coordination: Partner with program teams to set goals, design and run project activities, anticipate challenges, and keep every part of the plan moving forward smoothly.
• Collaborative Problem Solving: Work closely with program staff to tackle day-to-day and long-term challenges, bringing real-world insights directly to org leadership and the donor.
• Program Fluency: Spend dedicated time in the field with farmers and staff to fully understand work and ensure that all we do in the partnership remains tailored to what farmers really need.

Own, manage and/or support key donor relationships: You will ensure One Acre Fund builds and maintains an excellent relationship with our partners, translating field impact into clear, compelling narratives and keeping our partners deeply connected to our progress:

• Donor Engagement: Act as the main point of contact for all funder communications, seamlessly bridging the gap between donors and field teams in whatever ways are needed, including regular communications, coordinating visits, and more as required.
• Storytelling and Reporting: Through deep program fluency, deliver clear, high-quality narrative and financial updates that demonstrate to our partners the true impact of their support.
• Grant Administration: Manage the essential day-to-day details of the funding, including accurate data tracking, invoices, and otherwise ensuring all grant operations are running smoothly and on time.

Career Growth and Development

• We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Business, Economics, or a related field. 
• 5-10 years of professional experience in international development, strategic partnerships, grant management, consulting, or project management, depending on role level.
• Experience in a public-facing role and with managing external stakeholders, preferred.
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive.
• Proven negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable with data and working in Google Sheets, preferred.
• Fluency in English required.

Preferred Start Date

• As soon as possible

Job Location

• Kigali, Rwanda, Nairobi, Kenya or the United States (Must be on the East Coast, with a strong preference for New York City).

After you apply, we will notify you which opening/s you are being considered for based on your experience and existing work eligibility for each location as follows:  

• Kigali, Rwanda: One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.
• Nairobi, Kenya: Open to citizens or permanent residents of Kenya.
• US: Open to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.

Benefits

• Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits.

Contract Duration

• 2 years, renewable with a high chance based on good performance.

Travel Requirement

• At least two weeks per year. Candidates based in the US should expect to spend four weeks visiting our programs in their first year, with a minimum of two weeks annual travel expected thereafter.

Eligibility

• This role is open to all applicants; however, candidates with citizenship or permanent residency in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, or Burundi are strongly preferred.

Application Deadline

• 23 October 2026. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

How to Apply

Click Here to Apply