Director/Chief Executive Officer at PKF firms

About the position

Our client, the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) is the National Research Institute under the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade an Enterprise Development. The Institute was established under the Science and Technology Act Cap. 250 of the Laws of Kenya in 1979 (now repealed by the Science, Technology and Innovation Act No. 28 of 2013) as an Institute to undertake research and development in industrial and allied technologies.

The Institute is seeking to recruit an innovative, results driven, highly motivated individual with a strong commercial acumen and high level of integrity to fill the position of Director/ Chief Executive Officer.

The Director/ Chief Executive Officer will be reporting directly to the Board of Directors and will serve as the Accounting Officer of the Institute.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement all Board policies and decisions;
• Coordinate and implement KIRDI’s Strategic Plan that will deliver on the core mandate of the Institute
• Serve as the link between the Board and the Management;
• Be responsible for the implementation of the Performance Contract as signed between the Board of Directors and Government
• Provide strategic leadership, draw and execute plans for the effective implementation of the Institute’s Strategic Plan and Vision 2030;
• Initiate, review and oversee the implementation of policies and programmes as well as harmonise operational procedures to ensure maintenance of high levels of performance and accountability;
• Establish and maintain collaborations with key national and international partners to promote industrial research and development;
• Manage and control the Institute’s financial and other resources in an efficient and cost-effective manner in consultation with the Board;
• Identify and develop the Institute’s competence needs to drive programmes in line with the Board’s approved Strategic Plan;
• Prepare annual work plans and budgets and present to the Board for approval;
• Transform KIRDI to a self-sustaining institute;
• Promote the corporate image of KIRDI.

Education, experience and skills

• Must be a Kenyan citizen
• Must possess a PhD in any of the following fields; Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Textile technology, Electrical Engineering, Mining, Power Resources, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, Food Technology, Ceramics and Clay Technology, Environmental Science, Information Technology and Computer Engineering or its equivalent from a recognised institution;
• Must have at least fifteen (15) years’ relevant work experience of which five (5) years must have been in a senior management level of a public or private institution;
• Must be a member of a professional body;
• Must have published scientific papers in refereed journals;
• He/ She should have undergone management and leadership training course for a minimum period of six (6) weeks;
• Ability to translate national goals, policies and strategies to research programs and projects;
• Must have clear demonstration of managerial, administrative and organisational development skills;
• Must possess good interpersonal skills and excellent people management skills

Shortlisted candidates will be required, at the time of the interviews, to satisfy the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 through provision of:

• Certi­ficate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations
• Clearance Certi­ficate from the Higher Education Loans Board
• Tax Compliance Certi­ficate from the Kenya Revenue Authority
• Clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and
• Report from an Approved Credit Reference Bureau

This appointment is on contractual terms for an initial period of three (3) years and is renewable once, based on satisfactory performance and business requirements.