Associate Coordinator, Product and Supply Job in Nairobi Kenya


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
 
Reporting To:Product Engineering Manager
 

Start Date: 1 May 2013

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
 
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.