Senior Consultant, Advocacy
Contract: Full time; two years fixed term, renewable
Remuneration: Competitive, based on experience and competence
Location: Nairobi
About us
Africa Practice is a mission-led strategic consulting firm advising investors and development partners across the continent. Our mission is to shape a prosperous Africa that inspires the world. For over 20 years, we have been partnering with global investors, policy-makers, development partners and other changemakers to drive transformation on the continent.
Our insights and advocacy solutions are rooted in detailed systems and stakeholder understanding. We identify, generate, and analyse human-centred systems data to design impactful advocacy interventions. We deliver our world-class insights and advocacy solutions through our local presence, which transcends the African continent.
We operate as one company, with a diverse team working on a hybrid basis in Abuja, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Gaborone, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and London. We are risk analysts, development economists, advocates, storytellers, data scientists, policy experts, systems thinkers and creative minds. Over 80% of our staff are African and over 50% are women. We have been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2021 and achieved B-Corp status in 2024.
About the role
We are looking for a senior public policy and stakeholder engagement specialist, with a nuanced understanding of the Kenyan political economy, deep networks in the public and private sectors and a proven track record of effective engagement in the policymaking process. The successful candidate will lead project teams in designing and delivering innovative, inclusive policy solutions to complex development challenges. The key responsibilities are as follows:
Consulting services
- Surface nuanced insights into the national and sub-national (e.g. county-level) political economy shaping the policymaking process for specific issues
- Maintain a detailed, deep, and powerful stakeholder network, surface nuanced stakeholder insights and coordinate stakeholder engagements at the highest levels for clients and Africa Practice teams
- Actively monitor global and continental policy and institutional trends to understand how issues outside the region might influence and shape the design of policy in Kenya and the region
- Guide meticulous policy tracking on designated issues and direct robust analysis of complex public policy, regulation and legislation
- Deliver actionable policy insights and advisory for clients through highly visual multimedia formats, engaging and interactive verbal presentations and concise, authoritative written output
- Lead client and project teams in the co-creation of innovative, inclusive and evidence-based policy solutions, involving a range of stakeholders potentially impacted by the policy
- Lead in the design and delivery of progressive policy testing methods, including smart use of data and the development of creative multimedia assets and immersive experiences to capture stakeholders’ attention and motivate action
- Lead on legal drafting for policy submissions
- Advise on and drive execution of policy advocacy strategy, including grasstops and grassroots engagement to champion and enable broad participation in the policy-shaping process
- Ensure that consulting projects are delivered within the required timeframe and budgeted hours while simultaneously satisfying Africa Practice’s high quality standards
- Contribute to the development of the advocacy practice and the continual evolution of our policy advocacy value propositions, including supporting marketing and thought leadership initiatives
Business development
- Proactively identify new business opportunities and methodically qualify leads
- Develop targeted and compelling proposals that respond to clients’ stated and unstated needs and add value
- Develop and maintain a network that yields high-value insights, new business opportunities and technical expertise across multiple sectors and geographies – including for subcontracting
Leadership
- Provide clear guidance and proactive coaching and support to colleagues
- Demonstrate emotional intelligence and empathy in managing relationships
- Contribute to a healthy, inclusive and sustainable working culture
What we are looking for
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- At least 8 years of professional experience advising on complex policy and regulatory issues in Kenya
- Passion for advancing innovative, human-centred public policy in Africa and a track record of exploring and applying best practice in substance and process
- A nuanced appreciation for the political economy dynamics and drivers that shape policy and regulation at national and sub-national level
- Deep knowledge of issues relating to the digital economy, telecoms, health, growth firms or food security and nutrition is an advantage.
- Outstanding critical thinking and analytical capability, highly creative solution design and proactivity in execution
- Strong project management skills - proven ability to accurately scope a programme of work, direct multiple project teams to deliver on schedule, on budget and to a high quality standard, manage client relationships, ensure accurate project documentation and adopt a proactive approach to opportunity identification and risk management
- Ability to thrive in an agile and dynamic consulting environment by multitasking and prioritising effectively across a portfolio of projects
- Proven ability to manage volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity
- Confidence in handling data sets, digital analytics and new technologies
- Ability to cultivate strong, trust-based relationships within the company, with clients and with the wider political economy and stakeholder ecosystem
- Outstanding influencing, persuasion and engagement skills in verbal and written formats
- Masters degree in a relevant discipline (public policy, international relations, political science, law); postgraduate degree preferred
What we offer
We offer the successful candidate an opportunity to develop a rewarding career within a dynamic pan-African consultancy advising a prestigious portfolio of clients. This position offers:
- Competitive remuneration
- Immediate opportunities for growth
- Collaboration with a diverse and experienced team of colleagues
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are much less likely to apply for a position unless they meet every single qualification. So this notwithstanding, if you are excited about this role, we would love to hear from you. At Africa Practice, we are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse and authentic workplace. You might just be the new team member we are looking for – for this or other roles.
Do you want to contribute to an influential and prosperous Africa, inspiring the world? We’re looking for Africa’s changemakers – smart people with strong analytical, advocacy, digital and problem-solving skills who can reconcile diverse perspectives to deliver sustainable change.
Please send in your application by clicking on the “apply” button.
Do include a cover letter explaining why you think you are suited to this position and indicating your availability. Your documents must be entitled with “*your name* Senior Consultant, Advocacy, Nairobi”.
The vacancy is immediately open for suitable applications and will be closed as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. Early applications are advised.