NGO Jobs in Nairobi Kenya - Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. 

Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. 

Mercy Corps is looking for committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following position.

Driver – Nairobi
 
Program / Department Summary: The Driver will work within the Logistics department of Operational Support structure, committed to provide reliable and compliant support to program activities in order to achieve efficient service to program beneficiaries.
 
General Position Summary: The driver will provide safe, transport services for MC program and support staff in the described AOR (Area of Responsibility). The driver will adhere to all traffic and MC safety rules and follow the transport guidelines required by the MC transport department.
 
Essential Job Functions:
  • Operate MC vehicles as assigned by supervisor;
  • Maintain vehicle log-sheets in accordance with MC policies/regulations;
  • Check the vehicle conditions after each trip/routinely – report needs and problems to transport management;
  • Adhere to all safety and communication protocols as advised by Mercy Corps and supervisor;
  • Responsible for the safekeeping of all vehicle equipment, tools, first aid kits, spares etc.;
  • Keep the vehicle ready, clean and on standby – ready for use at all times;
  • Assist, as required, with logistics in the office and guesthouse daily workloads;
  • Cooperate and be of assistance to staff and visitors – assist in troubleshooting potential problems during daily business;
  • Report all maintenance needs of the vehicle to transport management on a regular basis;
  • Undertake field assignments as assigned;
  • Work night on weekend shifts as assigned by Supervisor infrequently.
  • Adhere to all MC policies and procedures as outlined in MC policies and procedure manuals;
  • Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission in country of operation;
  • Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
 
Reports Directly To: Logistics and Procurement Officer
 
Works Directly With: Logistics and Procurement Officer, Operations department and all departments within Mercy Corps in Kenya.
 
Knowledge and Experience:
  • Valid driver’s license and experience driving 4x4 vehicles. 
  • Must respect and adhere to all safety and traffic rules. 
  • Basic understanding of English and fluency in all local languages is required. 
  • Knowledge of routes, duty stations, project areas, the NGO and diplomatic community is required. 
  • Proven driving skills a must and previous experience acting as a driver for an NGO or company is strong preferred.

Finance and Subgrants Manager, PROGRESS Programme - Wajir
 
Programme / Department Summary: The PROGRESS Finance and Subgrants (F&S) Manager will play a critical role in the successful implementation of a proposed multi-year project as part of DFID’s BRACED initiative (Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters). 

Mercy Corps anticipates a programme award under BRACED to implement the “Programme for Resilient Systems” (PROGRESS).

If awarded, PROGRESS will be comprised of a multi-partner consortium poised to deliver a 36-month initiative designed to build absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacity of more than 500,000 individual households in northern Kenya (Wajir and Garissa) and northern Uganda (Karamoja). 

The Kenya-based F&S Manager will play a key role in implementation of the entire program.
 
General Position Summary: The F&S Manager will provide leadership in management of the PROGRESS financial portfolio encompassing both Kenya and Uganda, and including the accountancy and financial reporting for the Mercy Corps PROGRESS field teams, as well as consortium partners. 

The F&S Manager will ensure regular review of program costs and operations to evaluate performance for value for money and recommend adjustments. 

The Finance and Subgrants Manager will be responsible for programmatic compliance with Mercy Corps standard operating procedures as well as compliance requirements with donor rules and regulations.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Implementation:
  • The F&S Manager works under the guidance and supervision of the Kenya Finance Director and with direct interaction with the PROGRESS Programme Director, Managers, Consortium Members and the Mercy Corps Home Office Finance Team. 
  • The F&S Manager is expected to be an integral part of the senior management team in-country and work closely with the management, technical and operations field and country teams in Kenya and Uganda.
  • Support the Program Director in managing all financial operations of the project, including accounting and reporting, cash management, and budget management.
  • Provide direct oversight of the PROGRESS subgrants and finance team. Manage financial operations and financial reporting of PROGRESS. 
  • Provide monthly management reports to the Country Director and Program Managers, including expenditures by fund and country, sub grantee reporting and other financial information, in a timely and accurate manner.
  • Participate in developing of annual fiscal year budgets with the Finance Director and Country Directors and implement grant budgeting and forecasting systems with Program Managers
  • Ensure that the project financial operations are in compliance with all DFID and Mercy Corps policies and procedures
  • Ensure that monthly transactions are reviewed and entered in the General Ledger accurately and on timely basis
  • Assist with monthly review and reconciliations of balance sheet accounts (receivables, payables, advances, bank & cash reconciliations, etc.) and all the PROGRESS related expenditures.
  • Review PROGRESS related payment documents, national staff payroll and other supporting documents ensuring their compliance with the local laws, donor regulations and MC Kenya internal policies.
  • Be prepared to respond to any budgetary and financial inquiries from the donor, consortium members and Mercy Corps senior management within East Africa and home office in Edinburgh, Scotland.
  • Prepare monthly cash flow projections and request funds from the home office.
  • Provide financial advisory on overall strategic program decisions.
  • Oversee and coordinate management of sub-grant agreements and financial management of sub-grants
  • Review and track expenses and proper documentation as per Mercy Corps procedures and donor requirements for record keeping and accountancy
  • Responsible for processing of sub-grants and issuance of payments, transfers and transactions between PROGRESS consortium members as well as locally engaged partners.
  • Oversee pre-award and post-award activities include asset control, timely reporting and contract fulfilment to check against payment
  • Work with PROGRESS program team to verify and track budget and expenditures vis-à-vis sub-grant awards and ensure proper reporting, documentation and overall deliverables are reviewed by Senior Management and signed off on prior to issuance of payment.
  • Ensure consistency across sub-grantees on basic provisions and highlight issues that could be viewed as bias or discrepancies.
  • Provide regular reports on progress, issues, recommendations that need to be considered for operational adjustment
  • Work with Mercy Corps Kenya and Uganda Finance Directors to conduct ad-hoc audit review of PROGRESS field operations
  • Other financial and subgrant tasks as required
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:  
  • Work with the PROGRESS Senior Management, M&E and finance staff in Nairobi and home office to ensure that PROGRESS deliverables are aligned with value-for-money objectives and that financial milestones are proportionate to program milestones.
Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building: 
  • Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of personnel at all levels. 
  • Implement, and ensure all staff are effectively using, the performance planning and management system, establishing performance expectations and regularly providing constructive feedback. 
  • Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that supervisory staff do the same. 
  • Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Program Support Operations:
  • Ensure that PROGRESS financial systems are efficient and are based on smooth-running infrastructure that facilitate timely and efficient program implementation. 
  • Provide regular review of field operations to ensure cost-effectiveness and provide guidance on improved operational practices for value-for-money.
Security:  
  • Work with field office management teams to establish financial reporting and management systems that ensure the safety and security of PROGRESS financial resources including cash assets and records.
Organizational Learning: As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Supervisory Responsibility:
 Direct supervision of Finance Officers.
 
Accountability: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
 
Reports Directly To: Finance Director based in Nairobi, Kenya
 
Works Directly With: Kenya and Uganda Country Directors, PROGRESS programme team, finance and subgrant staff in Nairobi, Kampala, Wajir and Karamoja, and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Knowledge and Experience:
  • A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.
  • Professional accounting certification highly preferred
  • At least four (4) years of professional experience managing financial and administrative aspects of large international development projects, preferably DFID-funded projects
  • Significant experience managing and supervising financial and administrative personnel
  • Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet
  • Commitment to excellence in financial systems and management, and commitment to identifying and combatting fraud and corruption, and ability to train staff in the same
  • Strong analytical and computer skills, with emphasis on budget and financial analysis and advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel. Fluency in the English Language, excellent communications and interpersonal skills
Success Factors:
 
The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:
  • A strong team player, with good communication and diplomatic skills.
  • Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
  • Excellent analytical and information management skills.
  • Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
  • Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
  • Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
  • Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
  • A focus on building staff capacity.
Somalis are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit applications on or before 5th January 2015, by 4.00pm, containing a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org

The email subject line must clearly quote the job title and location being applied for. 

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified. 

Please do not attach any certificates.

(ONLY qualified candidates who meet all the essential required qualifications will be contacted for interviews)


NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.