Job Vacancies at Options Consultancy Services

Options is seeking a Communications Intern to join our Evidence for Action (E4A) – MamaYe team in Kenya. She/he will support coalitions in Bungoma and Nairobi build and strengthen their advocacy communications aimed at improving maternal and new-born health outcomes.

Responsibilities: 

As Communications Intern, you will contribute to the successful delivery of communications activities in Kenya supporting the work of the Communications Manager, recognising that our communications work often has synergies cutting across Options programmes. You will support in building the capacity of civil society organisations on advocacy communications, including providing inputs to training packages on communications and contribute to the wider delivery of the E4A-MamaYe communications strategy.

You will work closely with the E4A-MamaYe Kenya team to package, communicate and tailor our learning, tools, and products to make these appealing and easy to access by various types of stakeholders including other implementing partners and potential funders. In addition, you will support civil society coalitions in Kenya to gather and package information for strategic advocacy communications, share learning and organise events.

This position is line managed by the E4A MamaYe Communications Manager who will support, mentor and work closely with you to ensure you have the technical and operational support necessary to deliver your objectives. The role will be based in either of Options’ offices in Nairobi or Bungoma, Kenya with remote working arrangements as COVID 19 situation evolves.

Person specification

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Experience in using social media including Facebook and Twitter in a professional capacity to increase levels of engagement.
• Demonstrable ability to optimise digital communications and levels of audience engagement
• Strong computer skills: facility with MS Word and PowerPoint
• Flare for writing concise, compelling and accurate copy for digital and print for different audiences
• Proactive, strong administration and organisational skills, effectively plans and prioritises own workload and to coordinate content from others
• Team player, including working with teams based in offices across multiple countries with high sensitivity to cultural and social diversity

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Options seeks a Chief of Party to be responsible for the overall strategic leadership, managerial oversight and technical direction of the anticipated USAID/Kenya & East Africa Health Systems Strengthening Governance Activity. They will lead the implementation team and also serve as the key point of contact for USAID, government, program consortium partners, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities: 

The Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for the overall strategic leadership, managerial oversight and technical direction of the anticipated USAID/Kenya & East Africa Health Systems Strengthening Governance Activity. They will lead the implementation team and also serve as the key point of contact for USAID, government, program consortium partners, and other stakeholders. They will also coordinate closely with other USG projects and development partners to ensure joined up approaches and complementarity with other health and governance programs. The COP will report to the Country Representative based in Options’ Nairobi office and will work closely with Options’ management and administrative colleagues. Coordinating the inputs of the team from Options and partners, they will ensure that program objectives, outcomes, and deliverables are met and that financial, operational, and reporting requirements are in compliance with USAID regulations and Options’ policies and processes.

Key responsibilities:

Team management and leadership – lead a team of technical, financial, programmatic and administrative experts to deliver the programme to the highest technical quality. Lead and manage staff professional development to build their capacity and strengthen competency and professional development. 
Programme delivery, and oversight – oversee programme strategies, technical approaches, workplans, risk management, and budgets. Ensure the programme delivers against its theory of change and achieves its intended results.
Budget implementation and financial management – Working closely with the finance and operations team to ensure the project’s preparedness for USAID audit.
Client, government and partner relations – be the primary point of contact with USAID, other implementing partners, MOH and other stakeholders. Represent the programme on behalf of Options and ensure alignment and harmonization with other programming where appropriate. Also, take a leading role in disseminating successes and lessons from the project across all stakeholders.

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• University degree in a relevant subject 
• Extensive experience providing technical, strategic and program management oversight to major multi-year and multi-partner complex programs in Kenya and/or East Africa as a Chief of Party or Team Leader. 
• Demonstrated experience working to strengthen governance and accountability mechanisms in devolved or federated government structures as well as enhancing national local cooperation. 
• Strong understanding of the Kenyan health sector including key context and trends relevant to devolution and health systems strengthening. Relevant networks at the county level.   
• Strong external liaison and negotiation experience fostering partnerships between Government and other stakeholders, including at county level, and building national and sub-national capacity. Familiarity with government practice and protocol. 
• Significant experience and a track record of successful leadership and management of teams based in multiple locations. Previous experience leading a team of highly skilled, multidisciplinary staff to leverage joint management support, and empowering team members to deliver high quality work. Experience managing teams in high-risk environments. 
• Demonstrable experience of working with USAID and familiarity with USAID practice and protocol with a proven ability to represent organizations and program with USAID. Significant experience with USAID planning and reporting systems, operations, programming, and structure. 
• Experience in managing budgets effectively with oversight on spending while providing regular oversight on issues related to risk and audit 
• Experience of risk management and mitigation in a program context. 
• Leadership and influencing skills 
• Strategic thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills 
• Strong financial and risk management skills 
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills 
• Strong administration and organizational skills, good time management 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing 
• Commitment to equal opportunities 
• Commitment to the program’s and Options’ principles of Safeguarding, Do No Harm, and to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights.  
• Awareness and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Fluency in written and spoken English. 

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Options is recruiting a Programme Manager for our ALM programme to cover maternity leave for up to 12 months. The role will manage the smooth running of a multi country, multi partner programme. The successful candidate will work directly under the Team Leader and closely with the leadership team and will be a crucial part of the team.

Responsibilities: 

As the ALM Programme Manager you are responsible for the effective and efficient project management of the Africa Led Movement to End FGM programme (ALM) which is funded by the FCDO and is due to run for 5 years. Under the guidance of the Team Leader or Project Lead you will work closely with other Options’ Departments and project teams to enable projects to be carried out on time and to budget and within Options’ quality standards of delivery. You will report to the Team Leader, and will be based either in the UK or in Kenya, with some potential overseas and national travel.

Person specification

• Masters in relevant subject area or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience of working in international development at Programme Management level.
• Extensive experience of the development and implementation of programmes.
• Experience of managing large, complex donor-funded budgets.
• Experience working in resource constrained settings and low and middle income countries.
• Experience of close working relationships with partners and consortia.
• Experience of contracts and contracting.
• Experience of networking to build successful relationships with potential clients, collaborators and consultants.
• Excellent financial management skills.
• Ability to work on a wide range of projects and other issues simultaneously.
• Self-starter, can work independently or as part of a team.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to plan and manage work in a highly organised way.
• Excellent communicator both in writing and verbally.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Flexible attitude to work and ability to work in challenging working environments.
• Sensitive to other cultures.
• Knowledge of a spread of international donors, including FCDO, USAID, CIFF, BMGF etc.
• Commitment to equal opportunities.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• A commitment to the programme’s and Options’ principles of Safeguarding, Do No Harm, and to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Pro-choice
• Applicants must have the right to live and to work in the UK or Kenya.
• Ability to travel internationally for up to three weeks at a time.

Benefits

Options offers a competitive salary, discretionary bonus and benefits including generous annual leave.

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Options is recruiting a Programme Manager to be responsible for the effective and efficient project management of the WISH Lot 2 (WISH2ACTION) project, by ensuring that it is carried out on time and to budget, and within Options’ quality standards of delivery.

Responsibilities

As the WISH2ACTION Programme Manager you are responsible for the project management; managing specific long-term and/or short-term projects within the Options portfolio ensuring all donor guidelines are adhered to. Financial management; developing and managing the project budget and financial reporting. This position is also responsible for ensuring commercial targets are met on the project. Contracting and contract management, and managing program contracts and sub-contracts as per procurement policies and procedures, including preparation of TORs, contracts and budgets, and ongoing management of their inputs and deliverables.

Person specification

• Masters in relevant subject area or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience of working in international development at Programme Management level.
• Experience of contracts and contracting.
• Excellent financial management skills.

Benefits

Options offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical insurance, 13th month salary and generous annual leave.