Industry Partnerships and Business Development Specialist at Strathmore University

Industry Partnerships and Business Development Specialist at Strathmore University – Strathmore University Kenya Job Details

About the Role

Strathmore University is recruiting an Industry Partnerships and Business Development Specialist to join a multi-institutional green hydrogen skills development initiative. This full-time position, based in Nairobi, will focus on bridging the gap between vocational training providers and private-sector employers across Kenya’s emerging green hydrogen sector. The role combines partnership management, business development strategy, and policy advocacy to strengthen linkages between educational institutions and industry, with particular emphasis on creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), women entrepreneurs, and young professionals.

The Industry Partnerships and Business Development Specialist at Strathmore University will serve as a key connector between the training ecosystem and the private sector, responsible for coordinating partnerships, brokering agreements, designing awareness campaigns, and contributing to sector policy recommendations. This is a structured role requiring strong stakeholder engagement skills, strategic thinking, and demonstrated experience in building sustainable public-private partnerships within skills development or related sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of private-sector stakeholders within the green hydrogen value chain; engage with industry partners to conduct skills mapping and validate identified skills gaps.
• Establish formal partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with private companies for training collaboration and Centre-of-Excellence participation.
• Support the placement of trainees and interns with partner companies, manage company onboarding processes, and facilitate selection of entrepreneurs for exchange programme opportunities.
• Coordinate liaison activities with other vocational education and training (VET) project partners; compile best-practice guides and knowledge products that document lessons learned across the initiative.
• Design and implement a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting sector stakeholders, including stakeholder mapping, materials development, and multi-channel dissemination activities.
• Lead the drafting of policy briefs containing sector recommendations focused on green hydrogen linkages and broader VET sector development.
• Identify and promote business development and entrepreneurship opportunities specifically for SMEs and women- and youth-led enterprises within the green hydrogen space.
• Report regularly on project progress, deliverables, and outcomes to the project management team.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Policy, or a closely related field. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and substantial additional relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Minimum seven (7) years of professional experience in private-sector development, business development, partnership brokering, or public-private partnership management, preferably within energy, industrial, or skills development sectors.
• Proven track record drafting policy briefs and engaging with policy-making bodies and regulatory authorities at national or sector level.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering awareness campaigns, workshops, and conferences with measurable outcomes.
• In-depth knowledge of Kenya’s private-sector landscape and SME ecosystem; demonstrated commitment to gender-inclusive and youth-inclusive business development approaches.
• Professional membership in a relevant industry or development body is an asset; publications on business development or skills sector topics are valued.
• Excellent written and spoken English; strong analytical capability and persuasive communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate regional or inter-project knowledge-sharing activities and coordinate across multiple stakeholder groups.

What to Expect

• A structured role that combines relationship building with strategic policy contribution, requiring regular interaction with private-sector leaders, government officials, and training institution partners.
• Opportunity to influence vocational training pathways and support emerging green hydrogen sector development in Kenya while advancing inclusive business practices.
• This Industry Partnerships and Business Development Specialist position at Strathmore University in Nairobi is open to qualified candidates meeting the above criteria. Click Apply below to submit your application.

Method of Application

Are you qualified for this position and interested in working with us? We would like to hear from you. Kindly send us a copy of your updated resume and letter of application quoting “Green Hydrogen Technical Specialist” “Curriculum Development and Training Specialist” “Industry Partnerships and Business Development Specialist” on the subject line to [email protected] by 10th July 2026.