Secretary – Social Development

The Public Service Commission (PSC) invites applications from highly accomplished and strategic leaders for the position of Secretary – Social Development. This senior executive role offers an opportunity to provide national leadership in social development, community empowerment, and social protection while advancing a distinguished career within public service commission jobs in Kenya.

Key Job Information

• Position: Secretary – Social Development
• Organisation: Public Service Commission
• Job Scale: As per approved PSC executive grading structure
• Number of Vacancies: As advertised
• Terms of Service: Permanent and Pensionable (P&P)
• Location: Kenya (national duty station)
• Experience Level: Senior Executive / Top Management
• Application Deadline: As stated in the official PSC advert

About the Public Service Commission

The Public Service Commission of Kenya is a constitutional commission mandated to promote the values and principles of public service, strengthen governance, and ensure effective service delivery across government. PSC plays a pivotal role in appointing and managing senior leadership that drives national development priorities.

Careers under jobs at Public Service Commission provide senior professionals with an opportunity to influence public policy, guide multi-sectoral programmes, and strengthen collaboration between national and county governments. The Commission supports transformative leadership that delivers inclusive, citizen-centric outcomes.

These executive-level public service commission vacancies are ideal for leaders seeking to shape Kenya’s social development agenda through ethical leadership, innovation, and partnerships.

Job Description

The Secretary – Social Development is the chief accounting and technical officer responsible for policy formulation, strategic leadership, and coordination of social development functions. Reporting to the Principal Secretary, the role oversees national and devolved social development programmes, community empowerment initiatives, and regulatory frameworks governing social organizations.

This position provides strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, performance management, inter-governmental coordination, and international engagement. It is a flagship leadership role within PSC jobs, offering direct influence on social cohesion, inclusion, and sustainable community development.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading policy formulation, review, and implementation in social development and community empowerment.
• Providing strategic leadership to directorates, divisions, and regional structures under Social Development.
• Overseeing planning, budgeting, performance contracting, and accountability mechanisms.
• Coordinating with County Governments on devolved social development functions.
• Guiding inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaboration on community development and social protection initiatives.
• Supervising implementation of key programmes including community-driven development (CDD) initiatives and support to vulnerable groups such as youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
• Overseeing registration, regulation, and capacity building of community-based organizations and self-help groups.
• Ensuring compliance with statutory regulations under the NGO Coordination Act, Social Development Policy, and Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Framework.
• Serving as Secretary or advisor to relevant boards and committees, including social development and NGO coordination bodies.
• Leading capacity building through development of training curricula, technical guidance to county officers, and promotion of participatory planning and social accountability tools.
• Overseeing data collection, analysis, monitoring, and reporting on social development indicators and programme impact.
• Facilitating resource mobilization through donor engagement, public-private partnerships, and collaboration with UN agencies, NGOs, and faith-based organizations.
• Advising the Principal Secretary and Cabinet Secretary on emerging issues affecting community development and social cohesion.
• Representing the Ministry in inter-ministerial, regional, and international forums on social development.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum cumulative service period of eighteen (18) years, with at least three (3) years served in the grade of Director – Social Development (CSG 5) or a comparable and relevant position in the wider public service.
• Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university in one of the following fields:
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Social Work
  • Community Development / Management
  • Disability Studies
  • Gender Studies / Gender and Development
  • Business Administration
  • Counselling Psychology
  • Or any other relevant qualification
• Master’s Degree from a recognized university in Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Community Development/Management, Disability Studies, Gender Studies, Gender and Development, Business Administration, Counselling Psychology, Public Policy, Project Planning/Management, Disaster Management, or equivalent.
• Certificate in Strategic Leadership Development Programme from a recognized institution.
• Good standing as a current member of a relevant professional body.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience in national or devolved social development leadership.
• Strong background in policy analysis, programme management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven ability to mobilize resources and manage donor-funded programmes.
• Experience engaging international development partners and regional bodies.
• High standards of integrity, accountability, and public service ethics.

Benefits and Compensation

The Secretary – Social Development role is offered on Permanent and Pensionable terms in accordance with PSC executive guidelines. The position offers:

• Competitive executive remuneration based on PSC job scale.
• Pension and retirement benefits under the public service scheme.
• High-level job security and long-term career fulfillment.
• Opportunity to shape national social development policy and community transformation.
• A professional environment that supports ethical leadership and work-life balance.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates seeking senior public service commission jobs, public service commission vacancies, jobs at Public Service Commission, or executive-level PSC jobs in social development are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should apply using the Apply Now button below. Applications must be submitted within the timelines specified in the official Public Service Commission advertisement. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The Public Service Commission is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive, transparent, and merit-based recruitment.