Current Opportunities at TechnoServe Kenya

Position Description:

• TechnoServe seeks an Innovation Manager to lead workstream two in designing, developing and deploying prototypes in the Fruits &Vegetables value chains leading to potential viable concepts to redirect fresh fruit and vegetables to low income consumers in urban, peri-urban and rural areas by understanding the needs, behaviors, and preferences of end-users throughout the design process.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct in-depth design research to understand the needs, behaviors, and preferences of low income consumers in urban, peri-urban and rural areas as the user of fresh redirected fruits and vegetables.
• Facilitate brainstorming sessions and collaborative workshops to generate creative ideas.
• Prototyping and Testing: Oversee the development of prototypes and testing processes to evaluate the feasibility and viability of innovative ideas before full-scale implementation.
• Identify opportunities, guide creative ideation, manage the development of new concepts, ensure successful implementation and bring to market successfully.
• Risk Management: Assess and manage risks associated with innovation projects, considering both potential benefits and challenges.
• Technology Scouting: Stay informed about emerging technologies and trends that could impact the horticulture industry, and explore opportunities for their integration into the program.
• Support in knowledge management through a) designing frameworks for programme output mapping and its alignment to objectives; b) documenting findings, and outcomes through structure reports/ programme briefs for dissemination among internal and external stakeholders; and c) supporting communications unit in dissemination outcomes through videos, webinars and on website for stakeholders.
• Networking and Partnerships: Build relationships with external partners, startups, research institutions, and other organizations to enhance access to external knowledge and potential collaboration opportunities.
• Intellectual Property Management: Manage the organization's intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, to protect innovative ideas and technologies.

Required Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Abilities:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g.Behavioral Science, Human Centered Design Thinking, Business Administration or another relevant field)
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience in solution designing, expertise in implementing human-centered designing/behavioral science strategies during programme design and implementation.
• Proficiency in design tools such as Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma, or similar.
• Progressively responsible relevant experience, including experience in agricultural value chains. Alternatively, strong preference for candidates with experience in management consulting, finance or technology.
• Demonstrated experience working in or engaging with the private sector in Kenya.
• Proven ability and experience working and collaborating with teams will be an added advantage
• Experience in knowledge management w.r.t writing project reports, and designing presentations for dissemination of findings to stakeholders.

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• TechnoServe seeks a Business Execution Manager to lead workstream one to translate strategic objectives into actionable plans, overseeing their implementation, and ensuring that the program achieves its goals efficiently and effectively - by designing, developing and deploying Year 1 concepts in the F&V value chains with identified stakeholders. Advise clients from different market channels to analyze their current processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement solutions.  To succeed in this role, you should have a natural analytical way of thinking and be able to explain difficult concepts to non-technical users.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Evaluating business processes, anticipating requirements, uncovering areas for improvement, and developing and implementing solutions.
• Leading ongoing reviews of business processes and developing optimization strategies.
• Effectively communicating your insights and plans to cross-functional team members and management.
• Gathering critical information from meetings with various stakeholders and producing useful reports.
• Working closely with clients, technicians, and managerial staff.
• Ensuring solutions meet business needs and requirements.
• Managing projects and partners, developing project plans, and monitoring performance.
• Monitoring deliverables and ensuring timely completion of projects.

 Required Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Abilities:

• A Bachelor’s degree with 8 years’ experience or Master's degree with 3 years’ experience in business, agribusiness, economics, supply chain management, or other relevant field of study
• Progressively responsible, relevant professional experience, including experience in agricultural processing and trading. Alternatively, strong preference for candidates with experience in strategic consulting, finance or technology.
• Strategy consulting preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working in or engaging with the private sector in Kenya, particularly private sector companies in the agricultural sector
• Prior experience utilizing analytical tools and frameworks to identify, assess and implement solutions that solve business/technical challenges across agricultural supply chains
• Strong data management and analytical skills
• Competence in Excel and other data management software e.g. SPSS
• Excellent interpersonal and oral and written communication skills a must
• Ability to develop well-written, cohesive analyses and reports
• Ability to generate innovative solutions in work situations
• Proven ability and experience working with teams will be an added advantage

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Job Summary:

• TechnoServe seeks an experienced Grants and Finance Specialist for the NutriSave Project. The Grants and finance specialist will manage the administration of grants and the related processes. S/he will lead the design of a Grants Manual and develop criteria for recipients of grants. S/he will also monitor the performance of sub-awardees and compliance, including conducting monitoring visits. The Grants and Finance specialist will provide technical assistance to sub-awardees to support their compliance and optimal performance.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Financial Management, Reporting and Analysis 

• Track program and grantee expenditure against the program budgets
• Support the annual and mid-year budgeting, forecasting and planning, and ensure that they are consistent with TechnoServe’s guidelines and procedures
• Lead preparation of budget realignment and budget modification requests when needed
• Ensure program financial audits are completed every year.
• Provide financial and accounting oversight to the NutriSave Project
• Establish and ensure compliance with budget codes.
• Ensure that all financial data recorded in the financial management system have the mandatory accounting dimensions.
• Review accounting transactions and work with in-country controllers to fix any errors as well as ensuring timely completion of month-end procedures.
• Lead on any project audit
• Ensure all accounting program data is updated in the system, reconciled and fully supported in accordance with the donor rules and regulations.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of quarterly and annual financial reporting to the donors.

Grants Management 

• Support the due diligence process with regard to all the project sub grantees.
• With input from country program managers, manage and monitor the matching grants program.
• Provide guidance and training as necessary to all potential subgrantees on the requirements of the proposal preparation and submission process, financial management requirements, and any other administrative requirements pertinent to the grant fund.
• Review disbursement to the program partners including review of partners’ financial reports and documentation.
• Monitor expenditure against partner grant budgets.
• Working closely with the team, oversee procurement processes including tendering process, supplier selection, to ensure procurement solutions that meet project needs are compliant with all applicable regulations and standards of accountability, ethics and integrity.
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality in relation to sensitive and confidential commercial and business financial decisions and issues.
• Ensure that all processes and procurements adhere to corporate policy, legal and contractual obligations, and corporate and donor standards
• Oversee the project’s fixed asset register as maintained by the operations specialist
• Review the consultant’s folder maintained by the team to ensure completeness of records.

Basic Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Law or other relevant field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• At least 5 years’ professional experience in grants or contracts management for a large-scale, complex international development assistance program. 3 years’ experience for Master’s degree. 
• Proven experience making recommendations on the scope, duration and amount of grants. 
• Demonstrated ability to analyze grantee reports for compliance and make recommendations to strengthen performance.
• Strong project management skills including the ability to anticipate demand and manage multiple tasks and projects while meeting tight deadlines.
• Prior work experience in countries in East Africa. Experience working in Kenya strongly preferred.
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills and good computer skills in business software (Excel, MS Project, and PowerPoint).

Required Languages

• Fluency in English with excellent oral and written communication skills required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong private sector market orientation, entrepreneurial and innovative thinker.
• Results-oriented, with demonstrated experience achieving project targets.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Detail orientation, including strong organizational, analytical and quantitative skills.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume workflow, with minimal supervision.
• Proven team player with strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills.
• Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other administrative applications.

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INTERNSHIP OBJECTIVE

• The program seeks to recruit recent graduates, Master’s and Ph.D. students in the fields of food science and finance to work with local food processing firms in, Kenya, The internship provides valuable professional development opportunities to receive on-the-job training in a private sector setting, preparing them to become the next generation of African food technologists and business consultants. In addition to their on-the-job contributions to the client, interns will develop case studies, and carry out research and support pieces of training with supervision by program staff. Overall the internship is aimed at expanding practical knowledge, refining career goals, and building professional networks. The location of the internships will be on-site where the processors are located.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

first degree from a recognized university in any of the following disciplines: 

• Food processing / Food Science and Technology
• Finance / Accounting 
• Must have graduated within the last 2 years, completed coursework awaiting graduation, or currently pursuing a Masters or Ph.D. degree
• Provide a recommendation/reference letter from the university attended.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Should possess interpersonal and communication skills
• Must be goal-oriented, dynamic, passionate, and self-motivated
• Must be a team player and have the ability to solve problems
• A person of integrity
• Must be computer proficient 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES: 

• AINFP program invites applications from qualified candidates for the internship program with knowledge in the following areas:

Food Technology:

• Food Safety and Quality Standards
• Good Manufacturing Practices
• Nutrition and Fortification
• Product Development and packaging
• Food Manufacturing Specifically Dairy, nuts and oils processing.

Finance / Accounting:

• University degree in accounting or finance and CPA II or CPA finalist undertaking the degree Course.
• At least 1 year experience working in a busy accounts department
• Familiar with computerized accounting programs
• Accurate, thorough, able to meet deadlines
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality in relation to sensitive and confidential financial information and decisions.