Job Title: Associate Coordinator, Product and Supply
Ref No: DSW-2013.03.04
Location: Nairobi
Deadline: 12 April 2013, applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Start Date: 1 May 2013
About Dispensers for Safe Water
About Dispensers for Safe Water
Each year, over 1.8 million children under the age of five die
from diarrhea, a leading cause of which is unsafe drinking water.
DSW is an entrepreneurial team tasked with scaling the Chlorine
Dispenser System (CDS) – a proven innovation for dramatically expanding access
to water treatment at extremely low cost.
DSW’s work is growing rapidly – we currently serve 640,000 people in Kenya, our primary country of operations, and plan to reach 5 million in the next 5 years.
Our program has global reach – we have piloted the CDS and
forged key partnerships in 8 other countries, with plans to reach millions in
each of the most promising new contexts.
Our work is based on strong proof of CDS impact – a randomized
controlled trial in Western Kenya demonstrated a six-fold increase in the
number of households treating their water with chlorine.
Such a dramatic expansion in safe water usage will prevent over
1.4 million cases of diarrhea and 1,300 child deaths each year once we reach
our Kenya target of 5 million people served.
About the Position
Reporting to the Product Engineering Manager and working closely
with other members of DSW’s management team as needed, the Associate Coordinator,
Product and Supply position is a key leadership role for the DSW.
The Associate Coordinator will be part of the program’s
mid-level management team, playing an important role in leading dispenser
supply and logistics management at Nairobi, supporting product development
activities and contributing to the overall chlorine dispenser safe water
intervention in Kenya and Uganda.
About Innovations for Poverty Action
The DSW initiative began and was incubated within IPA - a
rapidly growing, global organization with operations in over 40
countries.
IPA designs innovative, cutting-edge approaches to solving
development problems, rigorously evaluates these programs and works to scale-up
programs with proven impact.
As the program grows, DSW is establishing a new organization
which will provide a platform for long-term scale and sustainability of CDS
operations.
Responsibilities and Roles
Responsibilities and Roles
Dispenser Workshop Management
- Overall
management of the chlorine dispenser assembly workshop
- Coordinate
assembly of chlorine dispenser hardware within quality standards,
including hiring and management of workshop staff
- Oversee
workshop finances – including management of petty cash, quarterly budget
projections, and internal financial management and billing for chlorine
dispenser hardware
- Take
overall responsibility for managing workshop inventory and maintaining
appropriate security and insurance on the same
- Mentor
junior staff to ensure focus on efficiency and quality
- Act
as a liaison between management and staff to make sure priorities are
aligned and objectives are achieved
Product Engineering Support
- Coordinate
engineering trials on dispenser hardware toward achieving improvements in
the product design
- Offer
general support to product development activities within Nairobi
- Coordinate
with local suppliers on production of sample parts
Procurement and Sourcing
- Facilitate
procurement of goods and services required to assemble and supply chlorine
dispensers, ensuring a high value to the program and compliance with
relevant procurement policies
- Coordinate
with DSW’s clearing agents to ensure proper and expedient import and
export of dispenser components, from overseas and within East Africa
- Manage
relationships with DSW suppliers overseas and within Kenya, including
quality control of all goods purchased (on-site in Kenya and remotely
overseas)
Logistics Coordination
- Compile
projections for quarterly chlorine refills as per program needs and ensure
timely shipment to DSW field offices in Kenya and Uganda
- Compile
projections for chlorine dispenser hardware needs, coordinate timely
import and procurement of components
- Coordinate
timely fulfilling and shipment of assembled parts to DSW field offices
based on orders from program teams
Qualifications, Experience and Skills (Required)
- Bachelor’s
degree or diploma, ideally in procurement, logistics, mechanical
engineering or a related field
- Experience
managing key supplier relationships
- Excellent
organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
- Strong
communication skills and experience working in a fast-paced and a
cross-cultural environment
- Strong
computer literacy, including proficiency with MS Word and Excel
Qualifications, Experience and Skills (Desired)
- Experience
in manufacture, assembly, procurement and/or logistics
- Experience
working with customs, cargo handling and forwarding
- An
understanding of supply chain management
- Supervisory/managerial
experience
- Ability
to read technical drawings
- Contacts
within and knowledge of the manufacturing industries in Kenya
Desired Attitude
- Independent,
proactive and willing to take initiative
- Enthusiastic
to take on a role with significant responsibility while developing
personally and professionally
- Keen
to quickly step into a position in a fast-paced, rapidly-growing program
- Motivated
by the program's high potential for widespread impact on global health
- Interested
in a work environment that is flexible, creative, and constantly changing
- Demonstrations
of enthusiasm and commitment in the discharge supply and logistics duties
If you are interested, please follow the instructions
below:
Please send a cover letter and detailed CV, 3 references,
daytime phone number(s), and email address.
Your CV should include your scores or grades and other measures
of academic achievement, and details about any relevant work experience.
Applications must be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org - please ensure that the subject line reads: “Assistant Coordinator, Product and Supply”-NBI, REF NO: DSW-2013.03.04.
All applicants will be considered for this position.
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for an
interview.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will
be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature
and level of the work being performed by the Associate Coordinator, Production
and Supply.
The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all
possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to
amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as
necessary.
Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from
an applicant.
Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed
above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the
organization.
Please direct questions to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org.