IT Project Manager and Systems Architect

Position: IT Project Manager/ Systems Architect
Reporting to: Technical Director
Location: Full-time, on-site role based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Contract type: Fixed-term consultancy opportunity
Duration: 12 months
Tentative Start Date: 1st May 2026
Remuneration Package: A competitive consultancy package will be offered, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

About Development Pathways

Development Pathways is an international consultancy with deep expertise in social protection, poverty and vulnerability analysis, social development, management information systems, research, and training. We are committed to delivering innovative, evidence-based social policies and actively influencing global discussions through our website and participation in international forums. Our approach combines rigorous country-specific social and political analysis with insights gained from extensive international experience, ensuring that policies and programs are both effective and inclusive, benefitting the most vulnerable populations, including children, women, and people with disabilities.

Our team has worked extensively across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America, collaborating with a diverse range of clients, including United Nations agencies (UNICEF, WFP, FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNDESA), development banks (World Bank, ADB, KfW), governmental donors (FCDO, GIZ, DFAT), and international NGOs (e.g., HelpAge, Save the Children). Development Pathways leads several high-impact projects, such as the Partnership for Social Protection (P4SP) with DFAT in the Pacific, the Strengthening Societal and Economic Resilience in Jordan (SSERJ) project with FCDO, DFAT’s Social Protection Advice, Research, and Capability (SPARC) platform, and a KfW project in Malawi focused on the Social Cash Transfer Programme.

With a team of around 36 staff members spread across our three offices in Greater London (UK), Nairobi (Kenya), and Canberra (Australia), we work alongside a global network of trusted consultants. As an employer, we prioritise our staff’s well-being, champion flexible working practices, and foster professional growth and development.

We are recognised for our pioneering, evidence-based work in social protection, underpinned by strong delivery capabilities and expertise in digital technology. At the forefront of digital innovation, we have developed a range of technology products and services tailored to specific country or sector needs. Our focus is on creating innovative digital solutions that enhance governments’ ability to deliver core public services. Since our founding in 2010, we have supported governments across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in improving their IT systems, with a focus on social protection information systems. More recently, we have expanded into supporting education and health service delivery.

Development Pathways’ Digital Technology Team currently has openings for an IT Project Manager and a Systems Architect to be based in Nairobi for a period of 12 months. The successful candidates will lead and support the enhancement and upgrade of an existing client Social Protection Information System, providing both technical leadership and delivery oversight.

The system is built using C# .NET (web application and API gateway), supported by a SQL Server RDBMS, and includes a .NET MAUI (mobile application) with SQLite for local data storage. The role will be responsible for guiding architectural design decisions, ensuring alignment with best practices, and overseeing the end-to-end delivery of system enhancements in line with project objectives.

Purpose of the position

The IT Project Manager / Systems Architect will develop a comprehensive understanding of the business, user, and system requirements for social protection projects through the review of existing documentation and close engagement with system developers and the client project team. This will inform the planning, design, and execution of system enhancements and upgrades, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and technical standards.

The role will work closely with the Systems/Business Analyst to guide requirements elicitation and validation, and with the Quality Assurance Specialist to ensure that deliverables meet the agreed testing strategy and quality benchmarks. It will provide both technical leadership and delivery oversight—defining and maintaining the overall system architecture, while managing implementation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement.

The IT Project Manager / Systems Architect will also ensure robust deployment processes, adherence to development standards, and comprehensive documentation across the system lifecycle.

This position is expected to be delivered on a full-time basis over a period of 12 months, based at the Project Office in Nairobi.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide overall technical leadership and define the system architecture, ensuring alignment with business requirements, scalability, interoperability, and long-term sustainability.
• Lead project planning, coordination, and delivery management, ensuring that system enhancements and upgrades are delivered on time, within scope, and in accordance with agreed quality standards.
• Review and approve system design, architecture, and technical approaches proposed by the development team, ensuring consistency across web, mobile, API, and database layers.
• Oversee the design and implementation of APIs and integration frameworks to support interoperability with external systems (e.g. payment service providers, national registries, and third-party platforms).
• Ensure that performance optimisation strategies (application and database) are defined and implemented by the development team to maintain system responsiveness and scalability.
• Establish and enforce secure architecture and development standards, including authentication, authorisation, and data protection, in line with industry best practices (e.g. OWASP, ISO/IEC 27001).
• Oversee deployment, configuration, and release management processes across environments (development, testing, and production), including governance of CI/CD practices where applicable.
• Lead and facilitate technical reviews (including code and design reviews) to ensure adherence to standards, quality benchmarks, and architectural principles.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of comprehensive technical documentation, including system architecture, integration specifications, and deployment frameworks.
• Monitor overall system performance, stability, and risks at a strategic level, ensuring that issues are identified, escalated, and resolved in a timely manner.
• Oversee data architecture and governance practices, including database design standards, data integrity, and migration strategies.
• Coordinate closely with Systems/Business Analysts and QA teams to ensure requirements are clearly defined, validated, and aligned with system capabilities and testing strategies.
• Engage with client stakeholders and project governance structures, providing technical guidance, progress updates, and supporting key decision-making processes.
• Identify, assess, and manage technical and delivery risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Ensure adherence to version control, backup, and repository management standards across all development activities.

Your Profile

ESSENTIAL:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related field.
• At least 10 years’ experience in software development and system implementation, with a minimum of 5 years in a technical leadership, systems architecture, or IT project management role.
• Proven experience leading end-to-end delivery of enterprise-grade information systems, including planning, coordination, and stakeholder management.
• Strong expertise in designing and overseeing architectures based on C# .NET frameworks, API-driven systems, and relational database management systems (preferably SQL Server).
• Demonstrated experience in defining scalable, secure, and interoperable system architectures, including web, mobile, and integration layers.
• Solid understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, or hybrid) and experience managing multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Proven ability to translate business requirements into high-level technical designs and implementation roadmaps.
• Strong knowledge of system integration approaches, including APIs, middleware, and interoperability frameworks.
• Experience in establishing and enforcing secure system design and development practices, aligned with standards such as OWASP and ISO/IEC 27001.
• Good understanding of deployment architectures, including cloud and on-premise environments, and oversight of release and environment management processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex technical challenges and guide teams towards effective solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage risks, dependencies, and technical trade-offs in complex system implementations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to interact effectively with both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to produce and review high-quality technical documentation, including system architecture, integration designs, and implementation plans.
• Fluency in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills.

DESIRABLE:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field or professional certification in Project Management (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum).
• Familiarity with .NET MAUI and modern web frameworks (e.g. Blazor, Angular) to effectively oversee development teams.
• Experience with microservices architecture, containerisation (e.g. Docker), and orchestration tools (e.g. Kubernetes).
• Knowledge of DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies.
• Experience working with interoperability platforms (e.g. API gateways, service buses, national data exchange layers).
• Understanding of data governance, data protection regulations, and privacy-by-design principles.
• Experience working in multi-stakeholder, donor-funded, or international development projects.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, including the use of AI-assisted development tools (e.g. GitHub Copilot) to improve delivery efficiency.

Terms of Employment and Benefits

Consultancy fees will be determined during the selection process, based on the candidate’s experience, scope of responsibilities, and relevant international expertise.

Equality Statement

Equality and inclusion are at the core of Development Pathways’ values. In the selection of our consultants, we are committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, ethnicity, sex, or religion, and without discrimination against persons with disabilities: well-qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Our consultants are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

How to apply

We invite interested candidates who meet the requirements to email their applications to recruitment@developmentpathways.co.uk

Applications should include:

1. A one-page letter explaining why you are applying for this position, and how your recent relevant experience and skills meet the requirements for this position.
2. A detailed Curriculum Vitae (maximum of two pages) specifying your qualifications, education, and relevant work experience.

If short-listed, you will be expected to provide the names, email addresses, and daytime contact numbers for two referees (supervisors of the current post and a past post) and undergo some written tests.

Closing date for this post will be the close of business 17^th April 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and a successful candidate may be selected before the closing date. Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a brief assessment and to participate in an interview.

 Due to the high number of applications expected, unfortunately, only successful candidates will be contacted.