KikoRomeo is seeking a highly skilled Fashion Lab Manager to lead the implementation of the Fashion Lab under the project “WINGS: Work, Inclusion and Sustainable Growth of women, vulnerable youth and people with disabilities in Kenya”, in partnership with CISP and funded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS).
Project background:
The WINGS project is a 36-month initiative in Kenya focusing on the school-to-work transition and aims to improve access to productive and decent work for vulnerable individuals, particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities, in five target counties: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu. The project addresses the issues of informality and unemployment by focusing on two specific sectors: domestic work and support staff, and ethical and sustainable fashion.
Result 3 of the WINGS project specifically focuses on promoting employment development in the ethical and sustainable fashion sector in Kenya and encouraging the growth of fashion businesses. The project intends to o er a structured and comprehensive programme encompassing online fashion business training, specialized technical training for designers and artisans in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu, access to an advanced fashion lab with photo studio and showroom in Nairobi and support for entrepreneurship, while fostering sustainable development and decent job creation. Through CISP, this result also aims to engage with academia, facilitating knowledge transfer and enhancing long-term training provision in the sector.
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead the overall planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of the Fashion Lab, including maker space, co-working space, photo studio and showroom.
• Ensure timely execution of the lab work plan and achievement of results.
• Manage the administrative and legal aspects of the lab, in coordination with the project accountant, ensuring compliance with AICS, CISP and KikoRomeo regulations.
• Help develop budgets and track expenses to ensure effective resource utilization in coordination with the Project Accountant.
• Create an enabling environment with staff, partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries to ensure the program has lasting impact.
• Support the project’s communication, visibility, and advocacy efforts.
• Input in the practical lab training programs to ensure they meet the needs of the target recipients.
• Help develop the Fashion Lab residency, coordinating the details of the in-lab activities.
• Sell membership to fashion professionals.
• Host stylists and buyers, introducing them to designer collections in the showroom, taking orders and coordinating rentals.
• Facilitate community conversations to facilitate their buy-in to the Fashion Lab.
• Develop local and international networks to fashion professionals, and maker spaces.
• Ensure the machinery and assets of the Centre are used and kept in good condition.
• Organize the machinery and photographic usage schedule.
• Ensure safety of the lab users and assets.
Staff Management
• Manage a team of Lab Tailoring technicians, Receptionist(s) and out-sourced cleaning company.
• Coordinate with the Project Accountant and Project Logistician as well as the KikoRomeo fashion expert, visiting education consultants, trainers and monitoring & evaluation expert.
• Report to the KikoRomeo Project Manager.
Key Deliverables
• Well-functioning Fashion Lab
• Users’ rates card
• Monthly Reports to the Project Manager
• Quarterly and monthly budgets for the Fashion Lab (by end of year 1)
• Fashion industry events including the Lab launch
• Engaging and active website and social media.
Requirements:
Education:
• A university degree in a relevant field such as Project Management, Business Administration, Fashion and Textile Studies or related fields.
Professional Experience:
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a managerial position, ideally in a co-working space or similar.
• Proven expertise in budget design and management.
• Experience managing Human Resources (HR).
• Strong leadership, planning, coordination, and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of current ethical fashion and sustainability concerns.
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.
Desirable Skills:
• Technical fashion skills (such as sewing, pattern-cutting, designing etc)
• Knowledge of technology applications in fashion production management, design and marketing.
• Sales & Marketing experience, ideally in developed markets.
• Event management
• Experience in Sample-making
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract Duration: 1 year renewable
How to apply
The interested applicants with the required skills are invited to submit their application to [email protected] and CC [email protected] not later than Sunday 16th November 2025 by 23:59 (EAT) with the E-Mail subject line ‘’ Fashion Lab Manager – Sustainable Fashion & Employment Creation”. Late applications will not be reviewed.
Applications must include ALL of the following in order to be assessed:
1. Cover letter clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications for this position including your availability and salary expectation.
2. CV including 2 referees (maximum 2 pages)
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
KikoRomeo is committed to diversity and inclusion. Women and candidates from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply (if they don’t have all the desired qualifications, their compelling reasons for consideration should be made clear in a summary paragraph at the top of the cv and explained further in the motivational letter).
KikoRomeo is strongly committed to ending Child Abuse, all forms of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and to building a work environment that is safe and welcoming for all, where Sexual Harassment does not take place. The desired candidate for any position should share and support this commitment in all aspects of their personal and professional behaviour. Any history implicating that the applicant has a history of Child Abuse, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, or Sexual Harassment, is a reason for excluding him or her from employment with KikoRomeo.
