Job Vacancies at Catholic Relief Services

REF:2019/056

Background:

CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions has submitted a proposal to USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP) to implement a 5-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Kenya. CRS has named its proposed program Mfumo Imara Lishe Endelevu (MILE). The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), focusing on Isiolo and Marsabit counties. The activity will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase I (1.5-2 years) Research, test approaches and collaboratively design a context-sensitive, multi-sectoral activity that sustainably reduces acute malnutrition.
• Phase II (3- 3.5 years): Activity Implementation and System and Institutional Strengthening

Job Summary:

The Administrative Assistant will provide service in the day-to-day delivery of responsive, effective and efficient administrative activities in support of MILE project operations in Marsabit County. S/he will support the Administrative Manager and provide consistent and high-quality service and contribute to the proper stewardship of resources to help ensure operational effectiveness in support of high-quality programming.

Job Responsibilities:

• Facilitate communication with all units of the County Office and external stakeholders as relevant. Send/receive and distribute all incoming and outgoing correspondence.
• Provide specialized administrative transactions and processes (e.g. translate, type, proofread, and/or format documents; record and transcribe meeting minutes; draft simple correspondence messages).
• Prepare transactional documents in support of general operations processes and support coordination of transaction processing (e.g. payment requests, travel authorizations, travel advances, visas, etc.).
• Compile data perform data entry and data verification in relation to general administration processes (e.g. various contact lists, employee leave schedules, staff attendance reports, Vehicle Log Sheets review, visitors' welcome packages, etc.).
• Support travel and logistics arrangements for staff and visitors to the county office. Schedule and coordinate appointments. Provide logistical and communication support to event planning activities.
• Support implementation of property management processes, such as property receipt and distribution, property labeling, physical counts, etc. Manage office assets and ensure the asset register is up to date, accurate and with quality information and data
• Provide administrative and clerical support to HR transactions and processes
• Prepare and process transactional documents for payment purposes
• Provide day-to-day HR assistance to sub-offices as requested

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Diploma in Business Administration/Management or relevant field
• Two years’ experience working in an office environment in a clerical or administrative role. Experience with a local or international NGO a plus.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience.
• Experience with typing/word processing, data entry into online databases and forms, and working with various office equipment, systems and procedures.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and information management systems. Proficient in Word.
• Ability to recognize sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality of information
• Ability and willingness to work in multicultural set up.
• Experience living/working in Marsabit County a plus

Personal Skills

• Good time management and coordination skills with ability to work on multiple tasks
• Strong customer service orientation with good communication and interpersonal skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts may not be readily available.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Kiswahili, English

Travel Required: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Administrative Manager, Head of Operations, Chief of Party MILE, DCOP Operations MILE, System Strengthening Specialist Marsabit, County Research Coordinator, MILE Program team, and Nairobi based operations staff.

External: Local government officials, Local/international NGO offices, and UN agencies operating in the project area.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talents
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability and Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

****Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.*

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Marsabit (REF:2019/055) Isiolo (REF:2019/079)

Background:

CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions has submitted a proposal to USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP) to implement a 5-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Kenya. CRS has named its proposed program Mfumo Imara Lishe Endelevu (MILE). The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), focusing on Isiolo and Marsabit counties. The activity will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase I (1.5-2 years) Research, test approaches and collaboratively design a context-sensitive, multi-sectoral activity that sustainably reduces acute malnutrition.
• Phase II (3- 3.5 years): Activity Implementation and System and Institutional Strengthening

Job Summary:

The Administrative Manager will manage the provision of responsive, effective, and efficient operations in Marsabit including CRS interests with local government agencies, to ensure implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. S/he will provide leadership in the management of the office, with emphasis on administration, human resources, security, transport, procurement and external relations with government and other partners. S/he will work closely with the Deputy Chief of Party for Operations, and in coordination with CRS Operations Department main office, to ensure strong and effective management systems are in place and program implementation is carried out with high quality and efficiency.

Job Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, monitor and report on activities and required resources to ensure cost efficient and quality service delivery from administrative support functions. Anticipate delivery challenges to ensure service continuity.
• Approve expenses, in line with CRS approval matrix, monitor spending, and make budget adjustments in line with operational needs and donor requirements.
• Serve as the security focal point for Marsabit County. Proactively manage security and mitigate security risks. Ensure a safe work and living environment through leading implementation of safety and security protocols and staff care and well-being best practices.
• Provide guidance and leadership in making systems efficient, effective, transparent and in line with the agency and donor’s policies, procedures and regulations, ensuring integrity and compliance to the agency accepted standards.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity.
• Support the operational transition from MILE Phase 1 research to Phase 2 implementation in Marsabit County.
• Monitor day-to-day operations to ensure all operational services (HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Admin, ICT) are delivered with high quality in an efficient manner and adhere to policies and to ensure accountability and integrity to CRS and Donor’s standards and requirements. Manage risk and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, optimal utilization and maintenance of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material). Ensure coordination with Main Office OPS Department.
• Report immediately to the DCoP-Operations any issues, constraints and challenges in complying with CRS and Donor’s standards policies and regulations and with government’s laws.
• Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Identify capacity strengthening needs for staff and partners and coordinate with CRS Kenya program and operations teams to address capacity strengthening.
• Ensure completion of the mandatory CRS online courses and submit the completion report to the DCoP-Operations and CRS Kenya HR Manager
• Adhere to CRS' principles of confidentiality in relations to staff, partners, vendors and other stakeholders. Report to the management potential irregularities or any misbehavior that occurs

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or other relevant field. Master's Degree would be a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in administrative support functions, with increasing responsibility. Office management experience a plus.
• Experience with an NGO a plus
• Knowledge of procurement and general office administrative/management issues
• Previous experience with donor funded projects or knowledge of donor regulations
• Staff management experience and abilities
• Experience in management of safety and security a plus
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.
• Experience working and living in Marsabit County a plus.

Personal Skills

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts may not be readily available.

Required/Desired Foreign Language

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to draft and edit reports.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in Kiswahili.
• Dialects local to Marsabit County a plus.

Travel Required 25% of the time within the county

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Administrative assistant (Marsabit county)
• Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Chief of Party MILE, DCOP Operations MILE, System Strengthening Specialist Marsabit, County Research Coordinator, MILE Program team, and Nairobi based operations staff.
• External: Local government officials, Local/international NGO offices, and UN agencies operating in the project area.
• Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship
• Leadership and Management Competencies
• Communicates strategically under pressure
• Manages stress and complexity
• Actively promotes safety and security
• Manages and implements high-quality program activities

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

****Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.*

go to method of application »

REF:2019/64

Background:

CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions has submitted a proposal to USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP) to implement a 5-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Kenya. CRS has named its proposed program Mfumo Imara Lishe Endelevu (MILE). The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), focusing on Isiolo and Marsabit counties. The activity will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase I (1.5-2 years) Research, test approaches and collaboratively design a context-sensitive, multi-sectoral activity that sustainably reduces acute malnutrition.
• Phase II (3- 3.5 years): Activity Implementation and System and Institutional Strengthening

Job Summary:

The County Research Coordinator in Marsabit/Isiolo, will ensure effective coordination and management of MILE formative and implementation research activities across the county. S/he will provide both administrative and technical support to the execution of four targeted pilot studies throughout the county. S/he will oversee data collection teams and maintain key relationships with both local implementing partners and relevant county government actors.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support MILE Research team to roll out strategic mix of research methodologies appropriate for Isiolo geographic and sociocultural context as well as the MILE timeframe.
• Directly supervise POs for Pilot Studies (5), providing oversight to major functions of implementation research, including data collection, analysis, documentation, and dissemination.
• Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Disseminate MILE research tools to support both formative and implementation research, and engage in on-the-job training in their usage as needed
• Manage partnerships with county research institutions
• Actively engage county government counterparts on MILE research agenda development and pilot study design, to facilitate collaboration and buy-in.
• Conduct regular sub-county field visits to support research teams and enhance understanding of local contexts.
• Contribute to transition plan moving from Phase 1 (Research and Collaboration) to Phase 2 (Activity Implementation) by ensuring research results are useful, accessible, and applicable for making activity design decisions
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project needs.
• Through planning and oversight, ensure efficient use of project resources

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, economics, agricultural/development economics, statistics, bio-statistics, nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or another relevant subject. Master’s degree in similar fields a plus. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of four years professional experience in research, including progressive experience in leading multi-disciplinary, multi-site research teams
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative and quantitative methods
• Experience working with research and academic institutions in Kenya.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Personal Skills

• Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Very good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Manages financial resources with integrity.
• Excellent communication skills.

Required/Desired Foreign Language English and Kiswahili required

Travel Required: 30% field travel

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Project Officers for Pilot Studies (5)
• Internal: MILE Research & Design Lead, MILE Research & Design Manager, POs for MILE Pilot studies, County Systems Strengthening Specialists
• External: Consortium partners, research institutions, government bodies at different levels,
• Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

****Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.*

go to method of application »

Marsabit (REF:2019/054) Isiolo (REF:2019/081)

Background:

CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions has submitted a proposal to USAID Office of Food for Peace (FFP) to implement a 5-year Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) in Kenya. CRS has named its proposed program Mfumo Imara Lishe Endelevu (MILE). The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), focusing on Isiolo and Marsabit counties. The activity will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase I (1.5-2 years) Research, test approaches and collaboratively design a context-sensitive, multi-sectoral activity that sustainably reduces acute malnutrition.
  Phase II (3- 3.5 years): Activity Implementation and System and Institutional Strengthening

Job Summary:

As a member of the MILE project team, the Project Officer - Nutrition Governance will support MILE efforts to strengthen Marsabit county government to deliver a workforce that can deliver integrated service through strategic planning, capacity-building for priority health interventions and strengthening of governance, appropriate regulation and education capacities. S/he will build effective working relationships with county government nutrition and public health counterparts, and local institutions. Through accompaniment, coordination and on-the-job support s/he will support efforts to build preparedness of county government and other local institutions to assume financial and technical responsibility for maintaining reductions in acute malnutrition after the MILE project implementation period is over.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Participate in multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement and coordination with relevant county and community-based government of Kenya (GOK) staff, key stakeholders and other local institutions. Engage in technical working groups and other multi-sector platforms to enhance communication of goals and objectives, obtain buy-in, enhance awareness and ensure collective engagement.
• Provide ongoing support of linkages between MILE activities and GOK’s strategic plans at county levels (e.g. Kenya Ending Drought Emergencies Framework, County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs)). Incorporate strategies to address governance and systems-related drivers of acute malnutrition in the county into MILE activity design.
• Along with the County M&E specialist and System strengthening specialist, support county government counterparts to use available nutrition and other relevant sector information for decision making, program planning, and performance and results monitoring.
• Contribute inputs to transition plan from MILE Phase 1 (Research and Collaboration) to Phase 2 (Activity Implementation).
• Utilize tools and materials designed to effectively measure capacity improvements
• Along with the County M&E specialist, identify and monitor key metrics to measure institutional strengthening
• Along with System Strengthening Specialist, identify of capacity strengthening needs through ongoing capacity assessments using agreed upon tools and procedures of county government, partner organizations, and other local stakeholders

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Nutrition, Public Administration, International Development or other relevant fields.
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in project support, with at least 2 years’ experience related to nutrition and/or systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: policy reform, service coverage, clinical nutrition, stakeholder coordination, and/or related areas of system strengthening.
• Experience with conducting gender analyses, assessments and evaluations and other gender-related research, including applying data collection tools and methodologies.
• Experience in participatory action planning and local government engagement.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Personal Skills

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment. Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners, local government, and community members.
• ability to exercise diplomacy and tact as demonstrated in previous roles that have required communication with a broad and diverse set of partners
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.

Required/Desired Foreign Language:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to draft and edit reports.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in Kiswahili.
• Dialects local to Marsabit/Isiolo County a plus.

Travel Required 50% of the time to the sub counties

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: none

Internal: County Systems Strengthening Specialist, County Research Coordinator Marsabit/Isiolo, County M&E Specialist, NRM Governance Officer

External: MILE consortium members, County government of Marsabit/Isiolo staff especially Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, other related government bodies and authorities, Local Implementing partners and private sector service providers

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talents
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability and Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.