Local Government Officer Job in Kisii, Kenya


Industry:    Nonprofit/International Development/Agriculture/Microfinance
Function:   
 Local Government Officer 
Employer:    One Acre Fund
Job Location:    Kisii, Nyanza
Commitment:    Long Term Career Position

Organization Description

One Acre Fund is an agricultural NGO in Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi that is innovating a new way of helping farm families to achieve their full potential. 

One Acre invests in farmers to generate a permanent gain in farm income. 

We provide farmers with a "market bundle" that includes education, finance, seed and fertilizer, and market access. 

Our program is proven impactful – every year, we weigh thousands of harvests and measure more than 100% average gain in farm income per acre.  We are growing quickly. 

In six years, we have grown to serve over 100,000 farm families with more than 500 full-time field staff in Kenya.

Job Description
 

One Acre Fund is a rapidly growing organization; increasing the number of sub-locations, districts, and members we serve in each year.  

We are seeking a local government officer to serve as: a point of contact for local Ministry of Agriculture officials; an administrator for reports and meetings; a resource for risks and issues involving officials. 

They would begin engaging with local government through district meetings and forums (DAC, DDC, and DSHF) in Nyanza, and develop relationships that support the field activities of One Acre Fund.

This role would report to the government relations analyst and demonstrate a strong understanding of local government structures, have an interest in agriculture, be prepared to travel regularly in Nyanza, and be an effective communicator. 

The role requires someone with IT skills and an undergraduate degree.

Primary Duties of the Local Government Officer
  • Arrange new district introduction meetings and attend government meetings across Nyanza
  • Analyse and report on new county local government structures in the agricultural sector
  • Track risks and issues emanating from officials that affect 1AF’s operations and coordinate resolutions
  • Report back to operations staff on local government relations, including risk/issue reporting
  • Maintain key local government official contacts database and track interactions
  • Be a resource on, and point of contact for, the Ministry of Agriculture in Nyanza
  • Coordinate 1AF involvement in district shows and agricultural sector functions
  • Host local and national stakeholders for regular field visits
If you have skills and experience in these areas please highlight them on your cover letter and resume.

One Acre Fund invests in building management and leadership capacity. 

We provide constant, actionable feedback delivered through weekly mentorship and regular career reviews. 

We also have regular one-on-one meetings where we listen to and discuss career goals, and work collaboratively to craft roles that each person can be passionate about. 

Qualifications

We are seeking professionals with a minimum two years of work experience, some of which will have been in or with government institutions. 

S/he will demonstrate a long-term passion for agricultural development in Kenya and will be familiar with the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Nyanza. 

We are looking for extraordinary candidates that are organised and proactive; please only apply if you fit these criteria:
  • Undergraduate degree from a recognised academic institution
  • Minimum C+ in KCSE or equivalent
  • Work experience in a demanding professional environment such as government, business or NGO’s
  • Demonstrated computer skills in email, internet usage, Microsoft Office
  • Strong written and oral communicator with good attention to detail
  • A willingness to commit to living in Kisii for a long-term position
  • Leadership and management experience at work or outside of work
  • Proven ability to set and meet targets
  • Fluent in Kiswahili and English
  • Passionate about serving smallholder farmers
Please highlight the following skills if you have them
  • Experience working in agriculture and/or rural development
  • Experience in dealing with government officials at local and national levels
  • Experience in producing neat and timely reports for internal and external audiences
  • Experience in communications across project teams, including coordination of meetings and memos
Timeline: Resumes should be submitted by Friday 18 January. We will begin interviews in January and plan to make an offer in February to begin immediately.

Compensation: Competitive Salary with Performance Based Incentives

Benefits:
 NSSF and NHIF, airtime and small transportation allowances

Career development:
 Twice annual career reviews and constant feedback. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development.

One Acre Fund is an equal opportunity employer. 
 

To Apply

Email your cover letter and resume only to kenyajobs@oneacrefund.org (Subject line: Local Government Officer + the place you heard of the position) and include salary expectations. 

Applicants who do not comply with this requirement will not be considered.