Chief Operating Officer at Mukutan Conservancy

Key missions/purposes for the post include:

• To release the Managing Directors to concentrate at the strategic level on raising the funds and development of partners both necessary and suitable to the achievement of the ambitious vision for the Conservancy, by providing inspirational and accountable day to day management of the conservancy. 
• Strengthen the conservancy as a pillar of the community by building on and strengthening existing goodwill and mutually supportive livelihoods between the Conservancy and its neighbours
• To support existing commercial partners and create the conditions to attract further sustainable investments through the provision of security, operations and other facilitating functions 
• To ensure the integrity of the Conservancy by developing the capacity of the various departments, in particular the Security and Community departments. 
• To help strengthen the financial and administrative functions of the conservancy in order to create a conservancy wide system of accountability and performance management 
• Help develop detailed costed plans to support fundraising efforts for infrastructure, training, and other capacity development. 

Responsibilities:

• In addition to fulfilling the key missions/purposes for the post, the COO is to:
• Planning
• Support the Managing Directors in the finalisation of a strategic plan for the Conservancy
• Edit the Land Management Plan and prepare for submission to KWS 
• Oversee implementation of Mukutan’s Conservation Strategy
• Develop and Implement yearly and quarterly action/operational plans
• Develop / reinforce Conservancy wide standard operating procedures 
• Lead monthly operational planning with Middle Management
• Advise Managing Directors on the operational priorities and needs required to resource their vision

Supervision, Monitoring & Evaluation

• Carry out regular checks to ensure the implementation of departmental monthly operational plans
• Weekly meeting with Middle Management
• Support Middle Management (i.e. heads of department and key administrative staff) in the development of operational Plans for each department
• Support Middle Management in the development/reinforcing of standard operating procedures for each department
• Foster an environment of collaboration and team-work
• Carry out checks and balances at all levels and departments to ensure the safe and effective functioning of the conservancy

Finance & Administration

• Ensure that all appropriate Kenyan labour laws are adhered to in the administration of Human Resources
• Ensure that all appropriate Kenyan law and donor contractual obligations are adhered to in the administration of Finance
• Ensure proper accountability for purchases, procurement, and the storage and use of movable assets and consumables

Operations & Infrastructure

• Ensure the cost-effective and efficient use and maintenance of Conservancy assets, including Fleet, Engines, Stores, and Infrastructure
• Provide clear direction on the allocation of operational resources and their priorities to the various departments

Security

• Provide clear direction and support the Security department in:
• Crisis management (bush fire, invasion, civil disorder, stock theft, armed trespass, etc.)
• Ensuring operational effectiveness against all known threats
• Promoting discipline, values and standards with in the security team
• Identifying training requirements
• Facilitating trainers and other security partners
• Assist in the implementation of operations room management

Community

• Maintain and further develop relationships and collaborations with key stakeholders including county and national Government, and surrounding communities.
• Support the development and implementation of a positive communications plan for the conservancy

Partnerships

• Ensure that the conservancy’s contractual obligations with commercial partners are met
• Develop operational level co-operations with neighbouring conservancies and Government agencies 
• Attend landscape conservation orientated forums and meetings (such as with the LCA, KWS, etc.)
• Facilitate conservation partners and researchers

Reporting

• Carry out all necessary reporting including weekly verbal reports, written monthly reports to the Managing Directors on progress of activities of works, projects and key successes
• Ensure conservancy systems are designed and operated to easily provide necessary data and other information to facilitate fundraising and strategic partnership development efforts, in eluding the development, design, monitoring and evaluation of various projects. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across the organization. Your primary goal will be to increase our organization's productivity, efficiency, and profitability. You will advise the CEO on key operational insights as well as provide coaching to employees. 

Responsibilities

• Produce annual operation forecasting report and strategy
• Oversee and evaluate day-to-day operations
• Identify new market opportunities to accelerate growth
• Present operational strategy recommendations to the CEO based on your market research

Qualifications

• 10 - 15 years' of executive experience
• Strategic planning and business development experience
• Strong written and verbal and presentation skills
• Strong leadership and organizational skills
• Fluency in Swahili