AGRA - Associate Program Officer for Commercialization, Grants Assistant, Grants Officer, Communications Specialist Jobs in Kenya

 The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a not-for-profit organization formed in 2006 to work with African governments, farmers, donors, NGOs and the private sector to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa through agricultural development targeted at resource-poor farmers. AGRA has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and an office in Accra, Ghana.

AGRA is seeking to recruit exceptional and experienced individuals to fill the following positions:

Associate Program Officer for Commercialization - Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS)

Ref: APOC/ 04 -12

The Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS) is an initiative sponsored by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to deliver seed of improved, adapted crop varieties to Africa’s smallholder farmers.

This position is nationally recruited and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, on a 3-year renewable contract. The position will report to the Director, PASS and will require the job holder to travel up to 50% of the time.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating joint ventures between public breeders and private seed companies to bridge existing gaps in technical support and marketing;
• Working with breeders to ensure sufficient production of seeds to meet industry requirements;
• Providing information to all stakeholders regarding availability, location and release of improved and adapted crop varieties;
• Working with Government agencies and other stakeholders to identify and resolve issues blocking the commercialization of improved crop varieties; and
• Liaising with other breeding and seed production Program Officers in designing and implementing strategies for disseminating improved crop varieties.

Key Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field;
• 5 years’ post-qualification experience, with special focus on systems management, agri-business, or marketing; and
• Fluency in French will be an advantage.

Grants Assistant

Ref: GA /04 -12

The Grants Assistant has the overall responsibility for providing administrative, financial and logistical support to the AGRA grants administration team. The individual will be expected to work flexibly and collegially to make grants management work well for AGRA.

This position is nationally recruited and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, on a 3-year renewable contract. The position will report to the Grants Officer, working closely with the Grants Manager.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Receiving and logging-in all funding requests and enquiries and forwarding them to relevant program units for review while maintaining a tracking system to ensure timely response;
• Developing and maintaining an effective filing system for all documents related to the grants unit for easy retrieval;
• Ensuring that all correspondence to grantees and contractors are dispatched to the relevant grantees in a timely manner;
• Initiating grants’ payment requests;
• Conducting an initial review of grantee and consultants financial reports and updating the financial report monitoring system; and
• Generating disbursement and grantee reporting status and processing grantee reminders for report submission.

Key Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience:

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree;
• Minimum of 3 years’ post-qualification grant management experience;
• Excellent numerical skills, computer proficiency and experience in organizational financial management; and
• Ability to work independently with little supervision, but also participate as a team member in accomplishment of duties.

Grants Officer

Ref: GO/04-12

The Grants Officer has overall responsibility for providing program support to AGRA in ensuring that AGRA’s grant making procedures are adhered to by program staff and grantees.

This position is nationally recruited and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, on a 3-year renewable contract. The position will report to the Grants Manager, working closely with the Program Coordinators and the Finance Manager.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Assisting the Grants Manager with the review and compilation of grant materials for the grants committees,
• Ensuring that all grant and contract documentation assembled by program staff is complete and accurate and complies with all AGRA policies and procedures;
• Managing and reviewing AGRAs GIFTS grant management system to ensure completeness and accuracy of entries;
• Reviewing grants and contracts to ensure completeness and accuracy before their final review by the Grants Manager;
• Managing the Continually reviewing electronic grant documents;
• Managing the flow of grants over the course of a year and advising the Grants Manager potential issues that need to be addressed; and
• Serving as the AGRA contact person to receive, acknowledge and log in all grant reports ensuring that they are reviewed and subsequent actions are handled in a timely manner.

Key Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience:

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree, preferably business related;
• Minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification grant management experience;
• Strong accounting background in a grant making environment;
• Proficiency in GIFTS grant management system will be an added advantage;
• Ability to work independently with little supervision, but also participate as a team member in accomplishment of duties; and
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain a timely and efficient work flow.

Communications Specialist

Ref: CS/04 -12

This position is nationally recruited and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, on a 3 year renewable contract. The position will report to the Nairobi- based Director of Communications and will work with members of the Communications team both in Nairobi and in Accra.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Handling all AGRA media activities in Nairobi and elsewhere when required.
• Leading the production of various communication products for the communications unit, e.g. monthly bulletins, and articles for the Program’s website;
• Organizing press conferences for AGRA management and senior scientists;
• Writing, distributing and disseminating press releases for both local and international media;
• Coordinating digital photography, and managing the appropriate storage of photographic images;
• Supporting the activities and efforts of the AGRA President, senior officials, Director of Communications and Communications Officer by scheduling appropriate interviews, field visits and appointments; and
• Making necessary arrangements for meetings, workshops and conferences by providing printed materials and distributing background documentation, with support from the Executive Assistant.

Key Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Agriculture or other relevant field;
• Minimum of 7 years’ post-qualification experience in communications;
• Must have experience in photography;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with computer proficiency;
• Excellent command of English and working knowledge of French.
• Ability to work and thrive in a multi-cultural environment.

The ideal candidates should be attentive to detail, have excellent oral and written communication, relationship-building skills with the ability to work analytically, both with autonomy and with a team in diverse cultural contexts. 

The candidates should also have high levels of integrity and objectivity.
Attractive remuneration packages commensurate with the responsibilities of these positions will be negotiated with the right candidates.

If you believe you can clearly demonstrate your abilities to meet the relevant criteria for these roles, please submit your application with a detailed CV, stating your current position, remuneration, e-mail and telephone contacts and quoting the relevant reference number on the application letter.

For more information on these positions, applicants can visit http://www.agra.org/

To be considered, your application must be received by 16 May, 2012
addressed to:

The Director
Executive Selection Division
Deloitte Consulting Limited
Deloitte Place, Waiyaki Way
Muthangari, Westlands
Email: agra@deloitte.co.ke
Tel: +254 20 423 0000

Base Titanium Limited - Safety Officer Job in Kwale Kenya

 Base Titanium Limited, the Kenyan subsidiary of the Australian company, Base Resources Limited, is developing the globally significant Kwale Mineral Sands Project about 50km south of Mombasa. 

The project is now funded and construction commenced in the 3rd quarter of 2011. 

Production is scheduled to start during the second half of 2013.

Base is a creative resource company that places a strong emphasis on being part of the community in which it operates and on attracting and developing good people. 

Kwale is the first large mining development in Kenya since 1911 and represents an exciting opportunity for high performing candidates seeking to be part of the successful development of the project. Pragmatic and pro-active candidates with strong integrity and who work well in a team environment are encouraged to apply.
 

Reporting to the Occupational Health & Safety Manager, the Safety Officer will be responsible for provision of support and up to date advice OH& S matters for a fixed term of twelve months during construction and
commissioning.
 

Key accountabilities include:

• Assist with the development, review and implementation of site OH&S policy and procedures.
• General data entry and OH&S records management to meet site and statutory needs.
• Conduct site specific induction and general OH&S awareness training.
• Identify specific OH&S education and awareness needs and develop programs to suit.
• Conduct various audits and inspections as required.
• Assist with Site OH&S activities as required by the OH&S Manager.
• Assist other staff with the provision of First Aid services.

Qualifications and experience:
 

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a tertiary qualification. Proven experience in lieu of a tertiary qualification will be considered.
• Have 5 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Be familiar with the legislative and statutory requirements of OH&S.
• Possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate an ability to work in a challenging environment with a multinational workforce with minimal supervision and high ethical standards.
• Possess good computer skills.
• Have ability to work in a team.

Eligible applicants must submit a Curriculum Vitae with a cover letter, copy of Identity Card, copies of qualifications and three traceable references for the attention of the Human Resources Manager, clearly marked “Application for Safety Officer position” to: 

Email: recruitment@basetitanium.com
 

Applications must be received on or before 9th May 2012. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) - Information System Support Invitation for Expression of Interest

Introduction
 

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a nonprofit international health organization headquartered in the
United States. 

Our mission is to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between what is known about public health problems and what is done to solve them particularly in developing and transitional countries. 

MSH has operations in more than 30 countries and employs staff from over 70 nations globally.
 

Background
 

The MSH Kenya Health Commodities and Services Management (HCSM) Program in conjunction with the Kenya Ministries of Health, has recently trained and updated over 100 health facilities (and users) on the use of dispensing and inventory management software solutions. 

Ensuring local sustainability is critical to the continued success in use of these electronic tools. HCSM now invites eligible vendors/firms to provide IT support to health facilities that are using the ADT and/or ITT softwares.
 

Scope of Services
 

The scope of the project shall include but not limited to the following;

1. Hardware & Software Maintenance
2. Implementation/Training Assistance
3. Remote assistance using phone, Email, remote desktop or VPN where available
4. Planned/Emergency on Site Assistance and maintenance

Eligibility
 

Individuals/firms interested to participate MUST meet the following qualification necessary to be shortlisted for the next stage of Request for Proposal (RFP);

• Company Profile of the firm to include company background, Contacts information of the company’s technical team (telephone and e-mail address), physical location, organization structure and Current Business licenses
• CV of key personnel to execute the task clearly outlining their Proficiency in MS Access and other related softwares, as well as proficiency in computer hardware maintenance.
• Adequate financial and logistical capability to carry out installation and training at users sites.
• Information on similar projects undertaken by the individual/company in the recent past
• Eligible vendors may be invited to make a presentation before the final selection.

 Submission of EOI
 

Expression of interest documents should be sent in plain sealed envelopes clearly marked “Expression of Interest for ADT/ITT Information System Support”, Must be placed in the tender box at the reception of MSH Kenya Offices Nairobi, ACK Garden House, Wing A, 6th Floor, First Ngong Avenue, Ngong Rd, Off Bishops Road, Nairobi, BEFORE 12.00 HRS ON MONDAY 16TH MAY, 2012.
 

This expression for interest (EOI) does not constitute solicitation. MSH Reserves the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during EOI and/or solicitation Process.
 

Please note that only shortlisted candidates/firms will be contacted.

SOS Children’s Villages - External Communications Advisor Job in Nairobi Kenya

 Established in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages is a dynamic social development organisation working globally to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of orphaned and vulnerable children.

SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organisation that provides support and guidance to SOS member associations in over 132 countries worldwide. 

Working throughout Africa and the Middle East (AFME), SOS Children’s Villages is in the process of  recruiting an External Communications Advisor, for the Continental Office AFME. 

Working on a full time basis and based in Nairobi / Kenya, he / she will establish external communication systems for rapid and efficient sharing of information across the continent, particularly from countries within AFME to the Promoting/Supporting Associations (PSAs). 

The External Communications Advisor will work closely with the Continental Office and the Regional Offices and report directly to the International Head of External Communications, based in Innsbruck / Austria.
 

The Challenge

• Plan and coordinate external communications activities within AFME and ensure consistency with the SOS Children’s Villages strategy and brand
• Form networks of communications co-workers and, as needed, serve as media spokesperson for regional/national journalists
• Build capacity of the organisation in the external communication skills that will best support the PSAs in their fundraising and communication effort

Your profile

• Formal qualification in journalism, communications, PR or similar
• 5 years experience in journalism, communications or a related field
• Excellent verbal / written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and creative communication skills and the ability to relate to different cultures
• Excellent project management skills
• Ability to think strategically
• Well-developed facilitation and presentation skills
• Fluency in English (French is an asset)
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software and the internet

We Offer

• Diverse range of interesting tasks in a well recognised international organisation
• Intercultural working environment
• Interesting opportunities for further development
• Competitive compensation package
• The possibility to shape a new position within a global well-established organisation

In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, all employment is subject to applicable background checks, including criminal record checks where possible.
 

If you are interested in this position, please send your application, (detailed CV and motivation letter - IN ENGLISH) - along with three traceable references to the following email address: ro.afea@sos-kd.org
 

Closing date: 15th May 2012