Cooperative Specialist Job at Global Communities

This position is based in the Global Communities Kenya office in Westlands and has operations in and around Nairobi. The Cooperative Specialist will report to the Cooperative Development Chief of Party at Global Communities Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. The position is for the period of January 2016 and September 30, 2016 with the possibility of extension, subject to donor funds.

Position Description

The USAID/EMIRGE Cooperative Specialist will be responsible for the management and leadership of program operations in Kenya while contributing to the larger multi-country EMIRGE Cooperative Development Program. In Kenya, the Cooperative Specialist will be responsible for providing strategic leadership to the EMIRGE program in Kenya and working to develop the capacity of three cooperatives in the service sectors in collaboration with the EMIRGE Kenya team. The Cooperative Specialist (CS) will be responsible for managing the Global Communities side of the research component in collaboration with USIU.  The Cooperative Specialist will also be responsible for monitoring the progress, milestones and achievements of the cooperatives over the life of the program and be responsible for program administration including all monthly and semiannual progress report. The EMIRGE CS will report directly to the EMIRGE Chief of Party at Global Communities’ headquarters in Washington, DC and work locally with the Kenya Country Director, EMIRGE Program Officer and all consultants to accomplish the workplan.  

Critical to this position is a strong understanding of the cooperative business model and background in working with cooperatives to strengthen their operations, management, financial and governance systems. Candidates should be open to working in a nontraditional working environment with remote management and be natural communicators. Candidates interested in this position should have at least 5 years of experience working with worker owned cooperatives, service and consumer cooperatives to strengthen their business goals and management capacity to achieve those goals. Experience working with youth is also important. This program does not work with or facilitate SACCOs

The Cooperative Specialist will specifically be responsible for;

• Serving as the primary representative for the EMIRGE Kenya program;
• Providing training and mentorship to the nascent cooperatives that EMIRGE is supporting which includes but is not limited to: good governance, operational management, cooperatives membership roles and responsibilities, strategic business planning;
• Work to finalize strategies and implement research program in close coordination with USIU and Chief of Party at Global Communities headquarters.
• Identify organizations and meet with existing partners and stakeholders that can provide strategic value to EMIRGE efforts to facilitate a more supportive legal enabling environment, a robust research program and facilitate worker co-ops;
• Support the collection, analysis and management of data/knowledge to track program progress and to provide recommendations for ongoing improvements;
• Develop and submit all program reports including monthly performance reports, learning documents, quarterly blogs and USAID semi-annual reports;
• Manage a program budget;
• Meet internal programmatic deadlines such as finance, M&E, workplan and reporting;
• Represent Global Communities in cooperative forums as requested.
• Manage EMIRGE Program Officer

Report to EMIRGE Chief of Party located in Silver Spring, MD

• Kenyan national
• Candidates should have at least 5 years’ experience working with worker owned cooperatives, service and/or consumer cooperatives to strengthen their business goals and management capacity to achieve those goals;
• Bachelor’s degree in cooperative business model, business administration, finance or other relevant background;
• Excellent critical thinking skills;
• Excellent writing and reporting skills;
• Experience in writing program reports, developing curriculum, writing concept notes or similar;
• Public speaking skills, able to lead workshops and engage with individuals with a variety of backgrounds in the cooperative sector;
• Demonstrated ability to provide training to cooperatives, business associations or other income generating groups;
• This position requires comprehension of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel to complete job requirements;
• Ability to be flexible with time schedule to allow for communication via Skype or other software with EMIRGE Program team in Silver Spring, MD

• Languages skills: Fluency in written and oral English and Kiswahili

• Note: this position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not intended as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.Interested applicants are requested to read and complete very carefully the following application form. Deadline for submission is February 12, 2017 at 4 Pm.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.