Parliamentary Strengthening Project Jobs in Kenya

Parliamentary Strengthening Project Jobs in Kenya

The Parliamentary Strengthening Project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the British Department for International Development (DfID), and implemented by the State University of New York's Centre for International Development, seeks qualified candidates for the various positions below.

The Project works in partnership with the National Assembly to support Parliament's various institutional development activities.

The successful applicants, to be based in the Nairobi SUNY Kenya office, will be hired as contract employees and will report to the SUNY Kenya Country Director and Project Chief of Party (COP).

Deputy Director & Senior Program Officer CSO Liaison

Functions and Requirements of the Position:

Under the direction of the COP, the incumbent will help to develop, implement and monitor technical program activities, including in area(s) of expertise. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, training seminars, workshops and the production of technical reports for the staff and Members of Parliament. The incumbent will also support and monitor the performance of Project technical consultants.

The incumbent will need to establish good working relationships with the Members and staff of Parliament, Government of Kenya officers and civil society organization representatives.

The incumbent must be a team player, and comfortable working with Project staff, professional associates and clients of all ranks. The incumbent must understand and support the partnership methodology of the Project.

The incumbent will carry out any other duties as assigned by the COP.

Desired Qualifications:

• Kenyan citizen with five or more years experience interacting with politicians and government officials, including those in high office.
• Ability to deal fairly and evenly with all political parties and factions in Kenyan politics, and a reputation for doing so.
• Advanced degree and professional training in desired substantive area(s) e.g. politics, economics, law.
• Relevant professional accomplishments including a) program development, implementation and monitoring (with USAID, DFID or other international organizations a plus) and b) organizing and leading training seminars and workshops.
• Superior understanding of and ability to communicate clearly the activities of the National Assembly and issues of Kenyan politics to Project staff members, local and international consultants and others.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (English and Kiswahtli) with experience and demonstrated competence in public speaking.
• Ability to work under minimum supervision and perform under pressure, e.g. to prepare written reports and public presentations on short notice.

2. Grants Manager

Functions and Requirements of the Position: The Grants Manager is being hired to manage a small grants programme that SUNY will be undertaking to enable Kenyan Civil society organisations support the work of the Kenya Parliament.

Reporting to the Finance and Administration Manager, the Grants Manager will:-

• Oversee the grants review and selection process, ensure selected projects meet their contractual obligation to deliver quality services according to USAID regulations and requirements, and report results across the program to USAID and other stakeholders.
• Provide management leadership for the grant award process, including development of Request for Applications (RFAs), coordinate and participate on the proposal review panel to score and select grant recipients to ensure they meet the objectives and comply with USAID rules and regulations.
• Coordinate the procurement process with the Finance Department to issue the grant awards and serve as principal contact for all grant applicants and other potential partners, developing RFAs, frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents and responds to additional requests for information.
• Supervise and serve as the liaison between the grantee organizations and the USAID Parliamentary Support Program to ensure contractual obligations for the projects are met and to process contractual actions such as deliverables, and modifications.
• Coordinate the quarterly reporting process when each grantee project submits requests for reimbursements, and reports financial status, monitoring and evaluation data and a narrative report on progress.
• Will conduct site visits to selected grantee organizations to directly observe project implementation, provide project management support, train on USAID rules and regulations
• Compile and report information which is shared with USAID on a quarterly basis and is utilized to fulfil regular information requests from other government agencies or offices.
• Maintain operations manual to document the process for each grant cycle. Compile and organize all grant materials.
• Organize and maintain all project documents and files related to grant process and individual grantee activities.
• Maintain and update specific project and related correspondence files, tracking and status sheets, and databases.
• Assume additional responsibilities of a programmatic/financial/administrative nature as position may require.
• The incumbent will carry out any other duties as assigned by the COP.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree/Training in Finance and/or Accounting.
• At least 5 year(s) of relevant experience required in program management and support, ideally including managing a grants program.
• Thorough knowledge of and at least three (3) years experience working with, USAID rules and regulations.
• High level computer literacy with excellent knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software applications required (Word Perfect for Windows and/or MS Word, MS Excel).
• Ability to initiate and implement activities with minimal oversight and supervision, assess priorities, and competently complete a variety of activities with a high level of accuracy and timeliness;
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and communication skills combined with problem-solving skills;
• Proven ability to concurrently handle and prioritize multiple tasks for multiple projects; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Excellent communications skills, including writing and editing facilities;
• Strong cross-cultural and interpersonal skills; ability to interact effectively with a variety of people and organizations;
• Strong financial management skills, knowledge of auditing practices and principles required
• Stress tolerance

To Apply:

Prepare a one-page cover letter summarizing your interest in and qualifications for the position you are interested in and append a brief CV.

Forward this by email to suny@sunykenya.org addressed to The Country Director, Parliamentary Strengthening Project, SUNY Kenya.

Applications will be accepted until 22nd October 2010.

Following application reviews, short-listed candidates will be notified. Only those who qualify for these high level positions should apply. No phone calls please. Any form of canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.

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