Career Opportunities at Zizi Afrique Foundation

Job Purpose
Reading Champions is a prospective five-year USAID-funded project at Zizi Afrique. The project seeks to implement a community-based reading intervention to hasten acquisition of foundational literacy competences amongst grade 3 learners in 11 counties (Bungoma, Turkana, Nairobi, Kakamega, Siaya, Kitui, Mombasa, Narok, Samburu, Migori and Kilifi).
The Chief of Party (COP) is a key position primarily responsible for the overall management and operations of the project at Zizi Afrique and reports directly to the Director of Programs.
The COP will supervise project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals and reporting requirements. S/he will take a leadership role in coordination among USAID and key stakeholders (including policy makers at county and national levels) and other implementing partners.

Key Responsibilities / Duties / Tasks
Managerial / Supervisory Responsibilities

• The COP will have technical and managerial responsibility for all project personnel.

Operational Responsibilities / Tasks

• Strategic Leadership and management
• Responsible for the overall planning, implementation, and management of the Reading Champions program as well as the achievement of the goals and objectives of the project in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Ensure strong communication and coordination with program team and USAID to effectively achieve program objectives. Encourage transparency among and between all the stakeholders to promote coordination and effectiveness.
• Lead the planning of project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, Zizi Afrique Foundation regulations, best practices, and USAID guidelines.
• Primary point of contact and collaboration for the team and in-country stakeholders, including USAID, implementation partners, government partners and other key stakeholders.
• The COP should embrace the shared vision of the project and effectively manage available financial and human resources to make program vision a reality.
• Strategic Engagement and Donor Relations
• Ensure effective liaison with local government officials, local communities, donor representatives and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Constantly look for effective and efficient implementation strategies and opportunities to increase impact.
• Monitoring, Reporting, Documentation & Knowledge Management
• Establish and maintain effective project reporting, evaluation, and communication systems.
• Submit timely accurate and quality reports that meet USAID requirements.
• Document and disseminate project best practices, lessons learnt and success stories.
• Publish program insights to offer thought leadership in Foundational Literacy, especially on community-based and youth led literacy initiatives.
• Budget Management and Fundraising
• Manage Award budget within approved spending levels and ensure accurate and timely financial reports to USAID and Zizi Afrique Foundation.
• Ensure Award expenses are reasonable, allocated as per assigned budget, prudent and spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations to ensure low risk audits.
• Identify funding opportunities to complement available funding and lead in proposal development.

Others

• Attend, and fully participate in staff meetings and retreats as required.
• Write bimonthly and annual progress reports and use these as the basis for monthly and annual engagements with the line supervisor.
• Perform other duties as may be required from time to time.

Job Dimensions:
Financial Responsibility:

• Position is responsible for all program budgets
• Responsibility for Physical Assets

Decision Making:

• Position makes decisions for self and organization – Reading Champions Program matters.
• Consults with the FLN unit team members to ensure a shared understanding across the various FLN projects.

Job Influence:

• In charge of the Reading Champions Program

Working Conditions:

• Normal working conditions; Workdays, 40-hour week.

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).
Academic Qualifications

• Graduate qualification in Education, or a related field, PhD is preferred but no pre-condition.
• Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Previous relevant work experience required.
• 10 years of progressive work experience with demonstrated management success and oversight of grant funded projects.  Minimum of 6 years in a senior management or leadership position. Has held a senior management position in an impact organization, Relevant experience in Kenya and/or the East African sub-region is also highly desirable. Is ambitious and passionate for impact in education. Extensive knowledge of USAID rules and regulations and has desire to grow in an impactful organization that works with children and youth.

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Operational Responsibilities / Tasks
Data management, analysis, and reporting

• Develop and manage all project performance monitoring activities and systems, including necessary data management and visualization software and data collection instruments, to collect, store, manage, analyze, and report M&E data on output, outcome, and impact indicators.
• Liaise with multiple stakeholders (Zizi Afrique Foundation colleagues, USAID, sub-contractors, partners, private firms, etc.) for timely data collection, verification, and feedback.
• Conduct regular and ad-hoc data analysis and work closely with the Reading Champions team and communications team to develop reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) to demonstrate progress and facilitate continuous learning for USAID and project management, and support other learning, communications and thought leadership materials and activities.
• Ensure data is input into USAID’s indicator reporting systems as required (directly input as appropriate).
• Support the Reading Champions Program in the development and dissemination of thought leadership and learning content including the preparation of responses and products for ad hoc learning requests from USAID.

Collaborative Learning and Adaptation

• Support in the development and facilitating tools and activities to help in the identification, analysis, and synthesis of lessons learned from program implementation; facilitate incorporation of lessons into the activity cycle with the COP and other program colleagues.
• Participate in regular project management planning meetings and provide analytical feedback and support to inform technical decisions.

Reading Champions Program and Buy-in MEL Plan Development and implementation

• Lead annual MEL planning process, including partners and stakeholders to adapt and improve the MEL plan; update, annually or as needed, the project’s MEL Plan.
• Work with the Reading Champions team to identify learning questions and outcomes of interest among Zizi Afrique Foundation and USAID during the early stages of new buy-ins.
• Lead the development and implementation of buy-in specific MEL strategies, including indicator selection, target setting, data collection methods, and data verification to track buy-in level performance and provide evidence to inform buy-in specific learning questions and ensure data is aligned with Mission and Operating Unit M&E requirements and rolled-up into top-line program indicators and MEL Plan, in collaboration with all stakeholders, buy-in clients, sub-contractors and partners.
• Directly support sub-contractors and grantees to track performance indicators and capture learning, as needed.
• Integrate MEL data collection and reporting requirements into Scope of Work for new buy-ins, grants, and subcontractor task orders, ensuring they are incorporated into deliverables or milestones.
• Verify transaction close-out reports, support transaction close out documentation, and review other MEL-related deliverables.

Data Quality Assurance

• Responsible for overall data quality control; conducting data verification and other quality assurance activities, including spot-checks, data quality assessments (DQAs), etc. to ensure accuracy of MEL data and reporting documents.
• Facilitate and/or provide M&E training to the project staff and partners.
• Travel to the site of buy in activities as needed.

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).
Academic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related discipline that demonstrates complementarity to the scope of requirements and 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Previous relevant work experience required.

• Master’s degree in a related discipline that demonstrates complementarity to the scope of requirements and 5 years of relevant work experience.
• At least two years of proven experience managing MEL or research on USAID or other donor-funded projects.
• Working knowledge of USAID, or other donor MEL guidance and policy.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with multiple stakeholders for data collection, data verification, reporting and dissemination.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis and data visualization.
• Excellent writing, communications and data management skills and attention to detail.

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Operational Responsibilities / Tasks
Technical Support to Programs, Projects and Trainings

• Provide technical leadership to ensure that project activities address youth considerations, and that project activities specifically address the needs of female and male youth.
• Provide strategic technical guidance on youth integration to key personnel, project staff, government ministries, and project partners and stakeholders.
• Review and provide input to project work plans, with attention to youth dimensions of technical activities and operations and discuss issues and priorities with project senior management and other technical specialists.
• Engage available and active youth networks and organizations in the planning and implementation of project activities.
• Support development of youth monitoring and evaluation indicators for the project.
• Develop appropriate youth resources and tools for project staff.

Project Management and Reporting

• Support various performance management, budgeting and communications functions.
• Assist with tracking analytical data on youth and education programming including tracking results around relevant indicators.

Knowledge Management and Coordination

• Collect, analyze, and find ways to apply best practices and lessons learned from youth activities on youth engagement and locally led development to education programming.
• Serve as point of contact in the Center for reporting, coordination, and sharing of guidance and best practices related to local capacity development and youth engagement in education programming, such as strengthening capacity of youth-led and youth-serving organizations to implement local education activities.
• Interface with the colleagues to ensure consistent, quality communications on USAID youth and education programming.

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).
Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field and 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Previous relevant work experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
• 5 years’ experience on donor-based programming.
• Experience working in institutions with a focus on serving the needs of youth.
• Technical knowledge and experience in skills development, curriculum development, positive youth development, and related support services for at-risk youth.
• Deep understanding of the best practices, approaches, and methodology in programming related to Community Development, or Youth Engagement.
• Minimum of five years of experience managing field-based workforce and development initiatives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and teamwork.

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Operational Responsibilities / Tasks

• Assists the Finance Manager in all aspects of the project accounting and financial management.
• Oversee the processing of accounting transactions according to the general principles of accounting.
• Follow USAID and Zizi Afrique Foundation policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Review copies of all receipts for all expenses.
• Facilitate provision of information and documentation during audits.
• Review expense reports.
• Provide a first review of all accounting transactions entered into accounting system.
• Review procurement transactions prepared by operations team to ensure that all supporting documentation and approvals are accurate.
• Oversee bank reconciliation process.
• Ensure the maintenance of proper accounting documentation.
• Oversee processing of payroll each month and prepare salary receipt/payroll forms, as well as the Provident Fund withholdings and employer contributions.
• Liaise with income tax authority and remit employee withholdings on a monthly basis.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the home office Field Accounting & Compliance Team (FACT) representative.
• Review all coding sheets before they are sent to the Finance Manager & COP for approval.
• Examine monthly wire transfer requests through a thorough analysis of projected project expenditures.
• Support the Finance Manager in subcontractor management by reviewing and monitoring monthly subcontractor invoices.
•  Evaluate VAT reports to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Ensure all transactions are in compliance with USAID rules and regulations.
• Support the Finance Manager as a liaison to other administrative and technical components to manage project financial budgeting and expenditure progress.
• Assist the Finance Manager in monthly reconciliation of Account Receivables and Account Payables.

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and 4 years of relevant work experience.

Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies

• CPA K

Previous relevant work experience required.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting
• Certified Public Accountant accreditation preferred
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience; USAID experience desirable
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in English required
• Knowledge of Accounting Software

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Operational Responsibilities / Tasks
Planning/Preparation

• Create or select short- and long-range plans based on the curriculum requirements, student profiles and instructional priorities.
• Identify specific intended learning outcomes that are challenging, meaningful, and measurable.
• Plan and prepare a variety of learning activities considering individual student’s culture, learning styles, special needs, and socio-economic background.
• Develop or select instructional activities which foster active involvement in the learning process.
• Identify, select and modify instructional materials to meet the needs of students with varying backgrounds, learning styles and special needs.
• Assist in assessing changing curricular needs and plans for improvement.

Assessment/Evaluation

• Develop and use assessment strategies, traditional and alternative, to assist the continuous development of learners.
• Analyze and identify reading problems.
• Interpret data including but not limited to standardized and other test results for diagnosis, instructional planning and program evaluation.
• Assist teachers in selecting, administering, and evaluating results of screening, diagnostic, and progress assessments.

Portfolio/Program Management & Oversight

• Serve as the Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative Activity Manager for the learning and education quality improvement activities.
• Provide overall technical guidance and oversight to education quality improvement education activities in the portfolio, including providing technical direction to partners; monitoring activities through regular site visits; review of annual work plans, progress reports, and technical reports; review of technical approaches and strategies; ensuring compliance with USAID guidelines and other established  guidelines, policies and procedures; tracking expenditures and accruals against obligations, making recommendations to implementing partners to increase project impact and enhance sustainability and reporting on project results.
• Direct, coordinate, and monitor activities necessary to attain specific results. Engage with implementing partners, and county government to assess the progress of activities towards achieving results and ensure that activities within the project portfolio are on track to meet time-bound targets, and if they are not, lead corrective actions with the necessary group of partners to get them back on track.

Job Competencies (Knowledge, Experience and Attributes / Skills).
Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field and 7 years of relevant work experience.
• Previous relevant work experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
• 7 years’ experience on donor-based programming.
• Prior experience working with USAID partners or other donor partners is preferred.
• The Education Specialist must have experience in program design, management, and implementation of education programs in developing countries.
• A high degree of technical knowledge in improving the quality of education and learning outcomes is required. Prior experience working in early years grade reading or learning preferred.
• Can analyze programming issues and to develop a way to solve them; excellent writing and speaking skills; good interpersonal skills, including an ability to work as a member of a team, build consensus, provide leadership, and effectively coordinate with internal and external stakeholders in a multi-cultural setting.
• S/he must be able to organize work, develop schedules, and meet deadlines.