Programme Assistant - Kenya Nationals at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

The MCs will focus on three areas:

• Developing and delivering course clusters for tertiary learners. Focused in interdisciplinary themes, including “Community Based Learning and Civic Engagement: Theory and Practice” and “Oral History and Storytelling”), learners will earn up to 21 Bard College credits on an official transcript and will work with MC faculty on forging educational pathways beyond the cluster;
• Delivering a certificate in Mentorship Training for in-service teachers in refugee communities;
• Training refugees in qualitative and quantitative research for the refugee-led research hub.

Role Overview

JRS in collaboration with MC is now seeking a proactive, innovative, enthusiastic, social and flexible program assistant to support the project leader out of the JRS Nairobi office. While the program Assistant will have clear administrative tasks related to documentation, organization and financial reporting, the role demands someone who is willing to go above and beyond the scope of work. The program assistant will be an employee of the Jesuit Refugee Services in Kenya and will report to Bard College’s Associate Vice President for Global Initiatives, who sits in the JRS Nairobi office.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting with all administrative tasks, including scheduling meetings, checking email, supporting the enrolment process, tracking students, and handling expense reports
• Liaising with program partners, including JRS, Bard, ASU, the LMS, local universities, and other OSUN partners to ensure projects are moving forward
• Working directly with students to provide support as needed, including basic coaching for their classes
• Remaining in close contact with all students and professors, assisting as needed
• Working closely with the program leadership on budgetary matters, including tracking expenses, submitting receipts, as well as filling and finalizing expense reports
• Coordinating any necessary vetting for students and OSUN
• Being ready to answer the students’ concerns and questions any time they reach out to you
• Being ready to assist in any and all ways that will keep the Microcollege project moving forward
• Juggling many tasks simultaneously

Qualification and Experience

The following skills and capacities may have been developed through a combination of formal or informal education, previous professional experience, or current training/professional experience that the candidate is undergoing.

Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in administration, Project Management or any other related field
• At least 2 year working experience
• The candidate should be:
• Highly self-motivated and independent with a desire to take initiative
• Eagerness to make things happen that have never happened before
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks at once
• Ability to work well with others, including those with very different personalities
• Ability to manage an office, including use of Excel and reporting software
• Ability to learn online learning management systems
• Ability and desire to learn new things
• Great problem solving strategies
• Great listening skills
• Eagerness and ability to create connections with organizations and leaders
• Respect for community generated requests and needs
• Familiarity with needs assessment strategies
• Excellent writing skills: proposals, letters, reports

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The JRS remuneration policy is aligned with the JRS ethos to offer effective and professional services and at the same time express solidarity with the people served. Details will be discussed with short-listed candidates.