Kenyatta University Hiring In 4 Positions

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN A FAST GROWING INSTITUTION

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE)

Email: [email protected]      Tel/Ext: 3053 P. O. Box 43844-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Phone 870901/12 Telex: 25483 Fax: 810759

 Date: 18^th July 2023

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Kenyatta University and USAID – HERO Project wishes to invite applications from suitably qualified candidates with outstanding academic/Professional qualifications and relevant experience for the following positions;

 1. Social protection/strategic purchasing Lead (1 Post)

Duty Station / Location: Nairobi

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) the position holder will be responsible for providing strategic direction and leading the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of program activities to strengthen social protection.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement interventions to strengthen and increase social protection schemes for improved coverage of underserved and vulnerable populations.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Health, social protection secretariat, county governments, other relevant ministries and stakeholders to strengthen social protection schemes.
• Provide technical guidance on implementation to the project health financing officers.
• Represent the Activity’s social protection initiatives to key stakeholders.
• Define key information needs for the project and work closely with the MEL Advisor for tracking, collection, and dissemination to strengthen social protection schemes.
• Represent the Activity’s social protection initiatives to key stakeholders.
• Apply appropriate monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools within social protection activities.
• Support the DCOP and COP in developing annual work plans, budgets, reports, success stories, and other deliverables.
• Manage and coordinate relevant partners in compliance with USAID requirements.
• Perform other duties as requested by the DCOP.

Qualifications

• At least a Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Community Development, Public Health or related field from registered/ accredited institution
• At least five (5) years managing complex projects in the areas of Health system strengthening (HSS) social protection
• Demonstrated experience supporting the Ministry of Health in strengthening the health system OR experience supporting social protection initiatives in Kenya and/or East Africa will be preferred.
• Previous programmatic work with USAID-funded, or other large donor, activities is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated technical understanding of Kenya’s social protection system.
• Demonstrated success in building, managing, and maintaining effective working relations with key country and county stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of local partners and stakeholders.
• Reputation for professional excellence including outstanding strategic planning and management skills.
• Exceptional communications and presentation skills (oral and written).
• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills.
• Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level county counterparts, donor representatives and senior-level staff.
• Advanced professional proficiency in English and Kiswahili 

2. Grants and compliance officer (1 Post)

Duty Station / Location: Nairobi

Job Summary:

The grants and compliance officer will report to the Finance and Administration Manager and will be responsible for providing the day to-day supervision, guidance, and monitoring of all USAID HERO activities. This position will work with the finance team and Projects team and will additionally support capacity-building for sub-grantees.

Job Description:

• Administer the full grant cycle of sub-award management activities, from solicitation through selection, pre-award assessment, negotiation, monitoring/compliance visits, and closeout efficiently and in a timely fashion in line with Kenyatta University guidelines and USAID requirements.
• Support sub awardees in management of sub grants by facilitating training and mentoring programs to strengthen their capacity to receive and manage USG funds.
• Coordinating and undertaking capacity assessment for the partners with a view of determining their ability to receive and manage program funds.
• Support the Finance and Administration Manager in drawing annual action plans with the partners and driving the process of smooth implementation for quality programming.
• Undertake quarterly reviews on the partner’s capacity assessment action plans and continuous follow up to ensure that the capacity gaps are addressed within the stated timelines.
• Manage sub grants agreements by ensuring compliance with the terms, rules, regulations, legal and regulatory requirements governing the award.
• Lead the team in monthly monitoring of sub awardee budgets, expenditure tracking, timely reporting and implementation of risk mitigating measures.
• Ensure timely, accurate Monthly reporting from partners to allow consolidation and submission of the program and finance report within the set timelines.
• Review and verification of expenditure, bank reconciliations and other related documentation on a monthly basis.
• Support in Planning, coordinating, monitoring, and reporting all sub grants and related grants management activities which the program will carry out.
• Support the manager in coordinating all other partner’s requirements especially the annual audit and reviews.
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure accurate and timely disbursement and liquidation of sub-award expenses. Ensure a comprehensive review of partner budgets.
• Maintain an updated grants matrix for each sub awardee that informs regular decision making as well as used as a reference tool when reviewing partner cash requests.
• Ensure timely training of sub-grantees to understand and comply fully with funder requirements. Develop and implement institutional strengthening tools/plans for the partners.

Qualifications

• A first degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field from a registered / accredited institution with 5-7 years of experience with sub award administration and compliance for USG-funded projects (USAID/PEPFAR preferred);

OR

• Master’s degree in the afore mentioned areas with 3-4 years of experience with sub award administration and/or compliance for USG-funded projects (USAID/PEPFAR preferred)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA (K)), Certified Financial analyst (CFA) or ACCA or any other relevant certification will be an added advantage.
• Strong working knowledge of USG rules and regulations.
• Familiarity with federal OMB (Office of Management and Budget) circulars
• Familiarity with Kenyan health sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kenya is highly desirable.
• Strong project management and time management skills; highly organized and detail oriented
• Demonstrated experience managing large volumes of high value sub awards with local partners.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to respond to inquiries independently and follow-up on requests in an efficient manner with minimal supervision, manage high volume of workflow efficiently.
• Ability to interpret financial and other quantitative information and reports.
• Ability to work collaboratively, productively and sensitively within a multidiscipline and multicultural environment.
• High ethical standards.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and deliver high volumes of work with minimal supervision.
• High degree of proficiency in written and spoken English communication.

3. Communication Specialist (1 Post)

Duty Station / Location: Nairobi

Job Summary:

While reporting to the COP, the Communication Specialist will be responsible leading communication and media efforts of the program. More specifically, the Communications Specialist will;

Job Responsibilities;

• Play a key role in ensuring that there is an effective communications strategy and campaign for civic engagement and civic awareness, including in relation to reforms;
• Support implementation of the Program Communication Strategy;
• Develop local media contacts; and design media-related activities to build the identity of the program in the focus counties.
• Lead and advise on the production and dissemination of a broad range of communications for the USAID HERO Program.
• Support program reporting and lead on communications to County Governments’ Media, USAID, and other institutional stakeholders.
• Fill a critical gap in developing internal and external communications through proactive responses to information requests, refining success stories to appeal to specific audiences, and production of relevant knowledge products including a monthly newsletter.
• Support the USAID HERO team in articulating programmatic impact in our communities to advance profile-raising, advocacy and learning goals.
• The Communications Specialist will actively elevate the program’s reputation as a reference point for an informed and meaningful voice on key issues related to the program health financing activities.

Responsibilities on Strategy & Vision

• In coordination with the COP, develop and implement a USAID HERO communications and media engagement strategy inclusive of enhancing internal communication structures and streams.
• Contribute to the analysis of topics and events relevant to Kenyatta University’ work on USAID HERO.
• Serve as the primary point person for all communications related queries related to the KU/USAID HERO brand.

Responsibilities on Internal & Public Communications;

• Serve as the primary point person for media queries for USAID HERO in coordination with the COP.
• Forge strong, institutional linkages and maintain a productive working relationship with USAID, Government of Kenya, the USAID HERO consortium, and other relevant partners in the communications and advocacy fields.
• Identify media trends that could constitute an opportunity for Kenyatta University USAID HERO team.
• Attend internal and external communication and media meetings and events.
• Liaise with press, promoting a positive image of the organization to the public.
• Resolve and mediate communications difficulties and crises.
• Develop internal and external communications strategies.
• Educate and advise employees and management in communication skills.
• Strengthen and expand Kenyatta University network of County contracts in traditional and social media domains.
• Provide support and guidance to ensure project and donor communications obligations are met.
• Act as the lead brand manager, maintaining standards across materials, events, and other media.
• Ensure that Kenyatta University USAID HERO’s work is accurately, regularly and compellingly represented on Kenyatta University internal and external communications platforms.
• Lead the development of a monthly country-level Kenyatta University USAID HERO newsletter.
• Provide editorial oversight and/or design, create, and maintain multi-sector programming updates, and cross-cutting theme factsheets.
• Coordinate closely with the project leadership and University communications focal points to develop key messages, press releases, and statements for external audiences, in response to evolving events.
• Support research and learning findings as well as program impact through the creation of summaries and factsheets for both internal and external dissemination.
• Provide technical and supervisory oversight to the development of protection-oriented digital and print communications (informational brochures, social media content, etc.)

Draft final program reports: Initiate and/or support the production of communication and media materials for USAID HERO, including talking points, news releases, and contributed pieces.

xii. Responsibilities on Project Implementation;

• Coordinate with program staff to gather information for writing programmatic communications including manuals, graphics, articles, success, and impact stories that offer analytical storytelling.
• Support the development of project deliverables, including coordinating information gathering for quarterly, annual reports and annual work plans, one-pagers, reports, etc.
• Ensure appropriate branding and marking as per USAID regulations.
• Ensure that the project team, including USAID, has access to relevant information about project progress and impact.
• Respond in a timely manner to USAID requests for information on project progress, monitoring and evaluation progress, and other queries.
• Build the capacity of staff and provide communications support.
• Develop newsletters, fact sheets, success stories, case studies, and other communications and knowledge products.
• Maintain a close and collaborative relationship with USAID teams on all outreach and communications efforts.
• Lead development of project events and workshops in collaboration with project teams
• Manage Short – term technical assistance for communications efforts (i.e. editors, graphic designers, writers, layout artists, illustrators, videographers, photographers, investment mapping system etc.)
• Oversee external production team including designers, writers, layout artists, illustrators, videographers, photographers, and technical crews to ensure program staff needs and requirements are met.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferrable skills;

• Masters degree or equivalent in Media and Communications, Journalism, Social Studies, or relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in coordinating and producing written and audiovisual content for donor engagement, public advocacy, media, and community relations.
• Strong written and oral communication skills is required, including supporting report writing, editing, and proofreading program documents.
• Experience in coordinating internal and external communications.
• Excellent computer skills, including experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
• Experience with Adobe’s design suite a plus.
• Proven experience in international development communications.
• Experience with representation and liaison with donors and peer organizations.
• Ability to deliver high quality products with short deadlines.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Willingness to learn and collaborate with others.

4. Finance Officer (1 Post)

Duty Station / Location: Nairobi

Job Summary

While reporting to the Finance and Administration Manager, job holder will be responsible for financial integrity and compliance of project activities within the regions.

Minimum Qualifications;

Office Administration & ICT

• In consultation with the Finance and Administration Manager, coordinate the day-to-day management of the regional offices and office assets and consumables.
• Maintenance of up-to-date Assets Registers.
• To facilitate sound data entry systems for the USAID HERO Project.
• To ensure a proper filing system is in place for all USAID HERO Project documents.

Finance

• To assist with the preparation and monitoring of operational budgets, in consultation with the Finance and Administration Manager.
• To be responsible for all financial transactions as per established procedures, as well as maintain up-to-date accounts in accounting system, including filing and safekeeping of documentation.
• To ensure timely preparation of vouchers and provide all supporting documentation for review and approval.
• To process payments (Cash and Bank) as scheduled.
• To be responsible for compiling and submission of accurate, timely and complete monthly financial reports of the Project Management Team.
• To ensure accurate cost allocations and reporting.
• To ensure monthly reconciliations of Staff Advance Accounts.
• To ensure all journals are fully supported and approved.
• To prepare monthly Bank and Cash Reconciliations.
• To be responsible for compliance to all bank requirements.
• In conjunction with the Finance and Administration Manager, review and update the organizations Internal Controls and ensure full compliance.
• To ensure timely monthly close-out procedures in the accounting system are carried out.

 iii. Audits

• To support Annual Audits for the Project, both External and donor to ensure completion within agreed timelines.
• To ensure maintenance of audit reports and documentation at the project office and follow up of recommendations for full closure.
• Ensure Partner/project audits are completed within agreed timelines.
• To support the payroll preparation and payment of all payroll related costs
• Follow up with procurement department on going procurement.

Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting or Finance or related field from a registered/Accredited University
• Fully qualified in the accounting profession with a recognized institute (ACCA, CPA (CPA (K), and CIMA.)
• 5 years of experience in a role with Accounting and Finance responsibilities, and three years USAID experience.
• Computer literacy with proficiency in spreadsheets and accounting software.
• Good knowledge of any accounting software preferable NetSuite
• Must have a high level of integrity.
• An enthusiastic individual with outstanding problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail—the ability to analyze data and proactively identify and address issues.
• Proactive self-starter with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Team player with good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Passionate about social impact

 TERMS OF SERVICE:

This is one year (1) performance based renewable contract.

 Commencing date: As soon as possible.

 Applicants should submit certificates and testimonials by sending their resume and a statement of interest to [email protected] with “USAID – HERO Project (Position Name) in the subject line.

To be received not later than

14^th August 2023