NGO Jobs in Nairobi Kenya - Mercy Corps


Mercy Corps was awarded a 3-year program under USAID’s Yes Youth Can initiative, covering six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Nairobi and Coast. 

This program aims to appropriately empower Kenyan youth (18-35yrs) to strengthen their socio-economic and political stakes through youth-led and managed initiatives and institutions. 

The program will in the first three years provide sustainable financial and skills development assistance to approximately 200,000 youth through a variety of youth-identified social and economic community development projects.

Mercy Corps is seeking to recruit a Senior Manager – Youth Policy & Leadership reporting to the Chief of Party, Yes Youth Can! National Program. 


The position will be based in Nairobi.

General Position Summary
 
Working under the direction of the Chief of Party, the Senior Manager-Leadership and Youth Policy will lead the organizational strategy of the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA) and the strategic direction of the Yes Youth Can Think Tank. 

Through these related activities, this person will create structures to support youth across Kenya to better understand the issues of Kenyan youth, inform policies, use this information to advocate for better youth policies at the county, regional and national levels, and help develop future leaders in Kenya. 

This person will work closely with the NYBA leadership and mentor them in how to be effective leaders that use transparent and accountable practices to represent youth across Kenya. 

This person will be the main point of contact for the Think Tank Board, and work with them on developing ways to best influence youth policy in Kenya, as well implement a fundraising strategy so that the Think Tank is sustainable post program. 

This person will also develop partnerships with various governmental, academic and research institutions to expand the reach of the NYBA and the Think Tank.

For this position, Mercy Corps requires good enterprise acumen; management skills, writing, verbal and representation skills; and ability to work independently, as well as collaborate with team members. 

The Senior Leadership and Youth Policy Manager must maintain professional communication with Mercy Corps staff, partners, youth groups and USAID during execution of his/her functions. 

The Senior Leadership and Youth Policy Manager will be based in Nairobi with travel to implementing sites in six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central Province, Nairobi and Coast as required.
Essential Job Functions

Leadership Development

  • Develop an organizational strategy for the NYBA so that it becomes a sustainable institution
  • Develop a leadership development strategy for the 50 NYBA members
  • Liaise regularly with the NYBA
  • Mentor NYBA and role model strong leadership skills
  • Manage staff in organizing NYBA events
Strategic Focus
  • Develops a partnership to incubate Think Tank
  • Works directly with the YYC N Advisor and Board on the strategic direction of the Think Tank
  • Develop partnerships with government and research institutions
  • Writes or outsources the writing of policy briefs and research reports
  • Updates the NYBA website with relevant research, events, and related information
  • Organizes events on research that is relevant to youth policy
Advocacy
  • Organizes policy discussions/forums/town halls at the National, Regional and County  level
  • Works with Advocacy Manager to help youth bunges organize advocacy campaigns at the county level with an eye to devolution
  • Organizes events with Leadership Manager and Advocacy Manager between youth bunges and relevant legislators and Ministries.
Communications
  • Works with the Technology Team to leverage SMS and other technological innovations to disseminate policy information
  • Works with the Communications Manager to release policy briefs to relevant news outlets
Knowledge, Experience & Skills:
  • Master’s degree in a relevant field.
  • Seven years of related work experience
  • Experience in organizational and leadership development
  • Knowledge of Kenya politics and governance policies, and be able to extract how that affects the youth
  • Experience working with multiple stakeholders, including youth, government, donors, and research institutions, etc.
  • Experience balancing multiple projects and observing tight deadlines.
  • Managing people, both direct reports and as an advisor.
  • Training and curriculum development
  • Experience influencing public policy
  • Demonstrated experience and skill in information analysis and writing comprehensive and high quality studies  
  • Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards increasing youth voice in policy making
  • Prior project management experience and strong organizational skills
  • Ability to leverage ICT for leadership development and advocacy
  • Excellent oral and written English skills
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. 

Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

To Apply:
 
Interested candidates who meet the above minimum requirements should submit an application including a cover letter, detailed CV listing three professional references (including your current/latest supervisor), and expected remuneration by 4.00p.m. Thursday, 2nd May, 2013 to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.  

Your email should bear the title: “SENIOR MANAGER-YOUTH POLICY & LEADERSHIP” on the subject line. 



Advocacy Manager reporting to the Senior Manager – Leadership & Youth Policy. 

The position will be based in Nairobi.

General Position Summary
 
Working under the direction of the Senior Leadership and Youth Policy Manger, the Advocacy Manager will work with the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA) to support their advocacy efforts. 

This person will support youth across Kenya to better understand the issues of Kenyan youth and help youth use evidence to advocate for better youth policies at the county, regional and national levels, and help develop future leaders in Kenya. 

This person will work closely with the NYBA leadership and mentor them in how to be effective advocates for youth policies. 

For this position, Mercy Corps requires strong knowledge of advocacy efforts in Kenya; writing, verbal and representation skills; and ability to collaborate with team members and the NYBA. 

The Advocacy Manager must maintain professional communication with Mercy Corps staff, partners, youth groups and USAID during execution of his/her functions. 

The Advocacy Manager will be based in Nairobi with travel to implementing sites in six regions in Kenya; Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central Province, Nairobi and Coast as required.

Essential Job Functions
  • Helps youth Bunges organize advocacy campaigns at the county level with an eye to devolution
  • Organize workshops at the county/regional level for Bunges to design their own youth-led advocacy efforts.
  • Works with the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA) leadership to leverage other advocacy efforts to promote the interests of youth
  • Engages youth on various policy dialogues to help them have up-to-date information and construct more effective policy arguments.
  • With the Senior Youth Policy and Leadership Manager, organizes policy discussions/forums/town halls at the National, Regional and County  level
  • Organizes events between youth Bunges and relevant legislators and Ministries.
Knowledge, Experience & Skills:
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
  • 5 years’ experience in advocacy and organizing advocacy campaigns.
  • Knowledge about Kenya policies, and be able to extract how these policies affect youth
  • Experience working with multiple stakeholders, including youth and government
  • Experience balancing multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Training others and developing curriculum on advocacy
  • Experience influencing public policy
  • Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards increasing youth voice in policy making
  • Ability to leverage ICT for advocacy
  • Excellent oral and written English skills
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. 

Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

To Apply:
 
Interested candidates who meet the above minimum requirements should submit an application including a cover letter, detailed CV listing three professional references (including your current/latest supervisor), and expected remuneration by 4.00p.m. Thursday, 2nd May, 2013 to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.  

Your email should bear the title: “ADVOCACY MANAGER” on the subject line. 




Digital Organizer & Content Manager reporting to the Senior Communications Manager. 

The position will be based in Nairobi.

General Position Summary
 
This person will report to the Senior Communications Manager and be stationed primarily in Nairobi.  They will expand NYBA’s online presence, interacting directly with each of the departments to execute the communications & messaging plan for the month prepared by the Senior Communications Manager.  

They will work directly with the Graphic Designer to prepare info-graphics on the project for public consumption. 

This person must also have an intense appreciation for the science of messaging, not just be a youthful internet face.  

In this vein, the Digital Organizer will be responsible for crafting the communications for the advocacy efforts of the NYBA and Think Tank. 

Understanding tactics of persuasion in communications is key in this regard as well as community organizing in a digital medium. 

The job-holder will need to have a firm understanding of the Kenyan political and social context and be conversant in issue advocacy communications as well as community organizing practices and the principles of ‘earned media’.

Essential Job Functions
  • Contribute in the development of a Communication strategy and work plan that includes media strategy covering overall program messaging.
  • Draft press releases and responding to media enquiries. 
  • Produce issues-based print stories, photos, videos, blogs, etc that communicate YYC!N results.
  • Taking minutes during status meetings and daily rapid meetings.
  • Manage video production and editing of in-house videos and uploading them on Mercy Corps website.
  • Contribute to the development of printed communication materials, including editing images/photos and layout and ensure they are captioned.
  • Lead in updating PFF profiles on social networks (Facebook, YouTube) with information about project activities and events.
  • Lead in the organization and updating of photo library and creation of video library
  • Compiling monthly Public and media relations activity reports
  • Provide editorial support to colleagues for reports, case studies, articles, and presentations;
  • Provide ongoing technical support and advice to Mercy Corps local partners.
  • Works with the respective managers to release policy briefs to relevant news outlets.
Knowledge, Experience & Skills:
  • Bachelor’s degree in media studies.
  • Five years of related work experience in communications for development set up
  • Good experience in the use of social media and digital technology at large
  • Excellent knowledge of Kenya politics and governance policies
  • Creative and highly articulate in the use of media to further organizational and social goals.
  • Able to train others on media issues.
  • Experience influencing public policy
  • Demonstrated experience and skill in information analysis and producing comprehensive and high quality reports, stories, and documentaries.  
  • Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards increasing youth voice in policy making via social media.
  • Good knowledge of project management coupled with strong organizational skills
  • Ability to leverage ICT for programming success.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. 

Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

To Apply:
 
Interested candidates who meet the above minimum requirements should submit an application including a cover letter, detailed CV listing three professional references (including your current/latest supervisor), and expected remuneration by 4.00p.m. Thursday, 2nd May, 2013 to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.  

Your email should bear the title: “DIGITAL ORGANIZER & CONTENT MANAGER” on the subject line. 

Senior Communications Manager reporting to the Chief of Party, Yes Youth Can! National Program. 

The position will be based in Nairobi.

General Position Summary
 
This person will report to the head of the Chief of Party and spearhead all the communications from the project.  

They will be able to network with local, national, and international press with ease and should have a firm understanding of the role of digital communications in dealing with our target demographic.  

This person will set the narrative for all 5 aspects of project communication.  

S/he will liaise with other departments in planning meetings and deploy field staff to follow up on stories as necessary and directly manage a team of two and get input from other members of the Digital Innovations Team, particularly the Graphic Designer.  

Eventually this position will be expected to manage both the Communications and the Digital Innovations teams. 

The job-holder will need to have a firm understanding of the Kenyan political and social context and be conversant in issue advocacy communications as well as community organizing practices and the principles of ‘earned media’.

Essential Job Functions
The Senior Communications Manager will lead in the following:
  • Communication to National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA) on current events and opportunities.
  • Communication to USAID on program updates and narratives around deliverables.
  • Communication to potential donors and partners for the project.
  • Communications on behalf of and with the NYBA leadership to youth-at-large.
  • Communications on behalf of and with the NYBA leadership to Kenyan public. 
  • Works with the Technology Team to leverage SMS and other technological innovations to disseminate policy information.
  • Works with the respective managers to release policy briefs to relevant news outlets.
Knowledge, Experience & Skills:
  • Master’s degree in print media.
  • Seven years of related work experience in communications for development set up
  • Advanced experience in the use of social media and digital technology at large
  • Excellent knowledge of Kenya politics and governance policies
  • Experience working with multiple stakeholders, including youth, government, donors, and research institutions, etc.
  • Creative and highly articulate in the use of media to further organizational and social goals.
  • Good manager of others, both direct and indirect reports.
  • Able to train others on media etiquette.
  • Experience influencing public policy
  • Demonstrated experience and skill in information analysis and producing comprehensive and high quality stories and documentaries.  
  • Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards increasing youth voice in policy making via social media.
  • Good knowledge of project management coupled with strong organizational skills
  • Ability to leverage ICT for programming success.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit to a field posting. 

Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

To Apply:
 
Interested candidates who meet the above minimum requirements should submit an application including a cover letter, detailed CV listing three professional references (including your current/latest supervisor), and expected remuneration by 4.00p.m. Thursday, 2nd May, 2013 to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.  

Your email should bear the title: “SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER” on the subject line. 

Applications without this subject heading will not be processed. 

Please do not attach any certificates. 

We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

You are invited to read more about Mercy Corps in our website www.mercycorps.org