Job Vacancies at RTI International

The position will be based in Kenya and recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project and final USAID approval.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the DCOP of Operations include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Chief of Party in all operation and management aspects of the project and serves as second in command in the Chief of Party absence.
• Ensure proper administration of the project and oversee all financial, procurement, HR, communications, logistics, security and field operations.
• Ensures the project conforms to USAID rules and regulations as well as project agreement requirements, including cost, schedule, and quality parameters.
• Oversee the intersection of contract, budget, and technical work, engaging appropriate RTI contract and finance staff as needed.
• Coordinate the development, implementation and reporting on detailed management plans that may include implementation plans, deliverable tracking, etc., in assigned area of responsibility.
• Monitor and review project budget and expenditures, financial forecasts, working with business partners to ensure compliance with corporate and client regulations.
• Responsible to ensure project financial goals are met.
• Responsible for the accuracy of project timelines, tasks, milestones, resource requirements, costs, risks and execution.
• Track and report quarterly on programmatic achievements as required for project deliverable reporting. Produces operational reports and updates for deliverable reporting and project success stories.
• Responsible for design and implementation the grants management program
• Collaborate with Chief of Party to identify and manage risks and actively participate in the resolution of performance issues with project staff and sub-contractors or sub-awardees.
• Assist Chief of Party in managing all aspects of staffing and creating/maintaining a clear organizational structure with specific roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines.
• Develop partnerships with client, implementers, and stakeholders and foster coordination.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 15 years of experience, Master's degree and 12 years of experience, PhD and 8 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience implementing projects that are similar to this activity in terms of complexity, scope, and budget.
• Experience working on international education programming preferred, including experience working with Ministries of Education, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders that work in education programming.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of USAID policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation policies and procedures related to grants, procurements, and subawards.
• Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representatives, and senior-level staff.
• Verbal and written fluency in English required. Oral and written communication skills in Kiswahili preferred.
• Experience working in the East Africa region, specifically Kenya preferred.

go to method of application »

RTI is seeking a Technical Director for the anticipated follow-on to the USAID-funded Kenya Tusome Early Grade Reading Activity. RTI has been implementing this project since 2014, reaching all public schools nationwide to improve learning outcomes for children in grades 1-3. The anticipated follow-on activity will likely continue and expand EGR support to schools, strengthen education system capacity, and address other needs in the community. The Technical Director will be responsible for providing technical oversight and leadership to ensure technical excellence across project activities. They will manage a team of technical experts, ensure technical rigor of programming, coordinate STTA, in collaboration with the COP; and liaise with GOK technical staff across the education structure as needed.

This position is contingent upon funding and award.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of Technical Director include, but are not limited to :

• Responsible for supporting the CoP in developing a technical vision and strategy for the project shared with project team and key stakeholders.
• Manage technical personnel and oversee all technical activities on the project to increase the capacity of the MOE and other relevant institutions/entities (SAGAs) to implement improved reading instruction in Kenya, sustainably.
• Ensure that all technical activities conform to the terms and conditions of project requirements, including cost, schedule, and quality parameters.
• Ensure integration of project technical activities by leading the technical aspect of the annual work planning process, implementing the annual workplan, ensuring close integration of technical activities with monitoring, evaluation, and learning efforts, and cost-effective operational management.
• Provide technical leadership across reading and remedial programming, capacity building, systems strengthening, and school-based support to teachers.
• Ensure program strategies and activities represent global good practice in education.
• Ensure that key cross-cutting elements, such as equity and inclusion are in place and mainstreamed effectively in all program activities. This includes supporting private sector and civil society engagement.
• Support the preparation and delivering high quality reports to USAID, including quarterly and annual reports, annual work plans, technical and financial reports.
• Ensure all contractual deliverables and reporting requirements are met and in compliance with contractual requirements and U.S. federal regulations.
• Foster and maintain effective, professional relations with government counterparts, local organizations, donors and other stakeholders for successful implementation.
• Collaborate and share knowledge with other development partners and their initiatives.
• Liaise with USAID and RTI home office on technical issues and reporting on technical programming.
• Develop and implement practices to ensure a high level of staff morale and retention.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree and 15 years of experience, Master's degree and 12 years of experience, PhD and 8 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience and expertise working projects to strengthen education systems and improve education outcomes with a strong focus on reading and remediation programs.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with GOK counterparts and stakeholders, including supporting capacity building.
• Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Knowledgeable and experienced with international development contracting policies and procedures, specifically USAID.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representatives, and senior-level staff.
• Experience working in the East Africa region, preferably within Kenya.
• Kenyan citizens/nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

go to method of application »

RTI is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Lead for the anticipated follow-on to the USAID-funded Kenya Tusome Early Grade Reading Activity. RTI has been implementing this project since 2014, reaching all public schools nationwide to improve learning outcomes for children in grades 1-3. The anticipated follow-on activity will likely continue and expand EGR support to schools, strengthen education system capacity, and address other needs in the community. The MERLA Lead will be responsible for designing, together with the Senior Technical Director, a robust MERLA plan and leading all monitoring and evaluation, research, adaptive management learning cycle, and data management aspects of the project. This position reports to the Chief of Party and is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The position will be based in Kenya and recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project and final USAID approval.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the MERLA Lead include, but are not limited to:

• Mentor and oversee research, monitoring, evaluation, adapting, and learning functions and related project staff to ensure implementation is effectively supported.
• Coordinate the development and oversee the implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan as well as annual revisions as applicable.
• Develop, manage, and implement the project’s monitoring and evaluation systems and tools, including relevant performance evaluations, complementary research studies, and annual targets and ensure compliance to USAID requirements .
• Supervise the collection, analysis, and reporting on performance indicators by other team members and project counterparts.
• Design and coordinate activities that demonstrate education modalities, teacher and coaching efficiency, student enrollment and impacts of external factors on the program.
• Ensure adherence to USAID and RTI data quality principles, inclusive and crisis-resilient data collection approaches, and gender and disability inclusive reporting in all aspects of MERLA.
• Coordinate the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports on the status of project implementation for timely submission; contribute to other project reports such as annual work plans.
• Provide monitoring, evaluation, and learning capacity-building for partner organizations and Government counterparts.
• Regularly consult with relevant stakeholders to inform project MERLA approaches.
• Organize and undertake frequent trips to program sites across Kenya to ensure sound implementation of MERLA programming and to verify results reported by staff, partners or consultants.
• Demonstrate professional behavior, including a commitment to conflict-sensitivity, gender sensitivity, and social inclusion and environmental protection and being a team player within the project, and growing and learning.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 years of relevant experience or a Master’s degree and 9 years of relevant experience in the following fields
• Knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines, methods, and approaches for MEL.
• Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills (attention to detail is required); demonstrated flexibility and capacity to multi-task.
• Familiarity and experience with indicators relevant to the education sector preferred.
• Ability to articulate and apply CLA principles.
• Demonstrated experience in analytical skills and data visualization.
• Computer literacy, with ability to analyze and interpret data using Excel, online reporting tools, or statistical packages such as SAS, SPSS, or STATA.
• Experience with MEL that measures and promotes gender and social inclusion.
• Ability to work effectively, responsively, and collaboratively with government counterparts, development and private sector partners, civil society organizations, and academic/research institutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in English required, additional fluency in Kiswahili preferred.

go to method of application »

RTI is seeking a Senior Policy and Capacity Building Advisor for the anticipated follow-on to the USAID-funded Kenya Tusome Early Grade Reading Activity. RTI has been implementing this project since 2014, reaching all public schools nationwide to improve learning outcomes for children in grades 1-3. The anticipated follow-on activity will likely continue and expand EGR support to schools, strengthen education system capacity, and address other needs in the community. The Senior Policy and Capacity Building Advisor serves as the policy lead on the project; liaises with GOK senior technical officials, in consultation with the COP; identifies policy and capacity gaps across the system, and devises strategies to enhance capacity of GOK counterparts and institutions; and supports regional offices to foster coordination and collaboration with county and sub-county officials.

This position reports to the Chief of Party and is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Senior Policy and Capacity Building Advisor include, but are not limited to:

• Leads and coordinates the implementation of the project activities and provide technical expertise related to education policy, system strengthening and capacity building of the MOE and other relevant institutions/entities (SAGAs) to implement improved reading instruction in Kenya, sustainably.
• Builds and maintains relationships with key sector partners, donors, consultants, host country counterparts and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with colleagues across RTI on technical, administrative, and strategic planning initiatives. Ensures best practices and lessons learned are captured and disseminated across project.
• Responsible for coordinating with the project’s Regional Coordinators to work with the county and sub-county MOE and other relevant GOK/SAGAs officials to advance project goals
• Work closely with MERLA Lead on developing system capacity to collect and use data for planning and decision-making and to design indicators for measurement of gains in system capacity.
• May serve as a representative of the project to clients, stakeholders, and partners, providing key inputs for technical or management decisions.
• Responsible for managing program deliverables including planning and coordination of systems strengthening activities.
• Provides leadership, management, and technical assistance for capacity development of non-governmental and governmental organizations focused on education improvement.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, public policy, or related field and 12 years of relevant experience or Master’s degree in education, public policy, or related field and 10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the education sector, including strategic planning, implementation planning and monitoring and evaluation of relevant activities. Experience in Kenya preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain professional working relationships with high-level government and donor counterparts in complex environments.
• Expertise in advising high-level government officials, donor partners, and other technical experts and in education policy and systems.
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Outstanding coordination, facilitation and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated experience in high level policy dialogue and diplomacy.
• Fluent English language skills required; working knowledge of Kiswahili preferred