Jobs at RTI International

Position Description

The Research and Development (R&D) Lead for the Western Kenya Sanitation Project. The R&D Lead will set and oversee strategy and direction of the research objectives of the project, oversee R&D, Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) investment, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), strategic communication and evidence generation. The R&D Lead will work with the activity market-based sanitation team to design, implement and monitor pilots that test an array of approaches for results and to shape a program that learns from its interventions and quickly focuses on efforts that are producing results, dropping those that are not and adapting and scaling interventions where appropriate. The R&D Lead will report to the COP. This position will have two direct reports: Senior MEL Specialist and Data Analyst.

Responsibilities of the R&D Lead include, but are not limited to:

• Set and oversee overall strategy and direction of the research and development objectives of the project in collaboration with the COP and DCOP.
• Oversee project R&D, SAF investment, performance management, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), strategic communications, and evidence generation.
• Lead the R&D team to design and monitor pilots , contributing to the design of high-quality and innovative research concepts, proposing ideas for SAF investment alongside the MBS team, and helping formulate challenge drives to further identify additional strong pilot ideas.
• Develop indicators and trigger points for pilots to go to scale
• Lead project work in collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA), including documenting and sharing learning through regular technical and stakeholder meetings and pause-and-reflect sessions.
• Participate as a part of the senior management team, providing overall leadership to technical and administrative staff.
• Address issues and mitigates risks related to pilot implementation in a timely manner and appropriately adjust pilot strategies, as required.
• Support the production of high-quality, relevant project performance M&E indicators.
• Track and report quarterly on programmatic achievements as required for project deliverable reporting. Produces technical and/or operational reports and updates for deliverable reporting and project success stories.
• Initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with civil society, product innovators and designer, county governments, private sector firms, academic and think tank organizations, and others.
• Ensure that gender, youth, and other social inclusion categories are integrated across the R&D portfolio of work.

Qualifications

• At least a Bachelor’s degree with 12 years of experience or a Master's degree and 10 years of experience.
• Eight (8) years of experience implementing large and complex projects relating to research, monitoring and evaluation and design or implementation of product or service improvement.
• Experience in designing CLA framework and iterations in R&D activities.
• Strong skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, research and M&E.
• Demonstrated experience managing technically, operationally and geographically diverse teams on internationally funded programs, USAID experience preferred.
• Experience designing and monitoring pilot interventions that test market feasibility and commercial viability.
• Expertise evaluating interventions for sustainability and scalability.
• Excellent analytic skills with ability to synthesize data and results for presentation to a variety of stakeholders.
• Experience leading or collaborating on peer-reviewed publications.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel and work in any of the three provinces and difficult terrain/conditions at times.
• Proficiency in English is required.
• Work experience in Kenya required.

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Scope Of Work

The Grant Consultant will be responsible for coordinating the closeout of 195 Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) Activity partner grantees in across 12 counties.

• Review KCDMS’ grants close out tracker, identify required actions, and actively manage its implementation and execution.
• On a daily basis, liaise with Relationship Managers (RMs) and Grants Coordinators (GCs) on the status of each grantee in the tracker and input all updates upon receipt.
• Coordinate the team’s internal bi-weekly closeout meetings and interrogate the status of each grantee to ensure there is progress and set deadlines on action required. Escalate uncompleted actions to the Grants Manager for their awareness.
• Follow up with RMs on pending documentation to ensure timely submission to facilitate the closeout process. Closeout documents generally include:
• Approved final technical report
• Fully signed asset register (where applicable)
• Cost share forgiveness form (where applicable)
• Closeout checklist duly completed
• Final grant modification to capture final financial status (where applicable)
• In collaboration with Grants Coordinators, support upload of completed closeout packages to RTI’s Grants Management System (GMS).
• As time allows, complete grantee file checklists to ensure full grants package is organized.
• Any other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Responsibility

• The holder of this position will be accountable to the Grants Manager.
• He/ she will be expected to have oversight responsibility of the closeout process partner grantees ensuring that RTI/KCDMS standard closeout processes are adhered to and completed in a timely manner.

Minimum Required Education & Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, public policy, or another similar field.
• Statistical and analytical knowledge is an added advantage.
• Prior experience in project management, financial management and/or grants management; Experience with in grants management preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.