icipe
Vacancy: Bio-Innovate Finance and Administration
Officer
Ref. No.NRS/175/102016
icipe - African Insect
Science for Food and Health is a world-class research centre with a mission to
alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the
environment, and building the capacity of researchers and communities across
the developing world through the application of insect sciences.
icipe has a proud reputation
and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial
contributions to African food and health policy, delivered development outcomes
to rural communities, and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s
biological research capacity.
The Centre’s research
activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research
organisations, not only across Africa, but also the globe.
In addition, more than 150
graduate students and a number of postdoctoral fellows contribute to icipe’s
research portfolio annually.
The Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Programme is a regional initiative established in 2010 with support from Sida, Sweden to support bioscience research and innovation activities in eastern Africa.
It addresses regional
priorities in science, technology and innovation aligned with the AU-NEPAD’s
Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA), the science
agenda for Africa (S3A) and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP).
Bio-Innovate’s goal is to
improve productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers and
agro-processors in eastern Africa, while ensuring environmental sustainability.
It seeks to promote inclusive
growth by linking smallholder farmers to new market niches characterised by
sustainable and resource-efficient value chains.
The Programme brings critical
players from the public and private sectors together, to promote bioscience
innovation in six eastern African countries, namely Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
During its first
implementation phase (2010–2015), the Programme had the goal of mobilising and
deploying bioscience innovation systems to harness bio-resources in the eastern
Africa region, whereby innovations for sustainable utilisation, transformation
and integration of eastern Africa’s bio-resources would be discovered,
developed, intensified, and disseminated to promote regional economic growth
and development.
Phase II, hosted at the
International Centre of Insect Physiology (icipe), focuses on developing more
capacity and devoting more of its resources towards assisting innovation
projects move further along the innovation chain into the market.
For more information on
Bio-Innovate please visit: http://www.bioinnovate-africa.org/
icipe seeks to recruit a Finance and Administration Officer to work in the Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern
Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Programme.
The position is tenable in
Nairobi at the icipe Duduville Campus, and is available to commence
immediately.
This is a two-year contract,
with a possibility of extension after successfully completing a six-month
probation period of the first contract.
A competitive and generous
compensation package will be offered to the right candidate.
Only shortlisted candidates
meeting the itemised requirements will be contacted.
Overall Purpose of the Job: Reporting to the Programme Manager, the position holder will
take lead in providing financial management and administrative support to
ensure financial probity as well as efficient running of the programme
management office.
Responsibilities
- Provide administrative
support for the programme, ensuring the office systems run efficiently and
in a coordinated manner.
- Provide grant
management support, ensuring financial, procurement and administration
policies and procedures of the host institution are adhered to and also
meet donor criteria.
- Develop and
maintain proper financial systems that facilitate the recording and
production of accurate financial reports that meet host institution’s
internal control requirements.
- Assess
financial management capacities of potential sub grantees and conduct
capacity building activities in fund management as necessary.
- Support the
call processes and facilitate contracting and management of sub grantees
throughout the life of the programme.
- Conduct routine
financial activities, including management of financial data in the
accounting system, budgeting, asset management, and cash flow management
in accordance with financial policies and procedures and application of
generally accepted accounting principles.
- Ensure timely
disbursement of funds to sub grantees and financial reporting for
effective execution of projects’ activities.
- Review
financial reports from sub grantees for accuracy and compliance with
approved budget to feed into host institution’s financial system.
- Continuously
review financial management strategies, policies and procedures for
improvement.
- Develop and
maintain sound partner relationships with sub grantees for effective and
responsible project fund management.
- Develop and
implement financial reporting and monitoring tools for programme sub
grantees to use in the implementation of projects.
- Support other
programme monitoring and evaluation activities, including periodic review
and planning meetings, budget revisions.
- Prepare
financial reports on a periodic basis for donor reporting.
- Facilitate
external programme audits, including implementation of the recommendations
thereof.
- Support the
programme manager in resource mobilisation activities, including proposal
development and budgeting.
Requirements / Qualifications
- Masters degree
in business administration, project management or related discipline.
- A professional
qualification in accounting profession is highly desirable.
- At least 5
years relevant experience in programme management in an international
research or developmental NGO.
Core competencies
- Demonstrable
experience in administration and financial management of donor-funded
development programmes and/or projects.
- Knowledge of
results-based management processes is an added advantage.
- Proven
experience working with multiple projects with numerous partners.
- Excellent
record keeping and computer data management skills.
Other desirable attributes
- Result
Oriented/focused: Ability to consistently meet set goals.
- Focused and
goal oriented: Ability to direct others to perform set duties.
- Professionalism:
Application of ethics, principles, standards and expertise in all areas of
work.
- Integrity:
Honest, above reproach and appropriate in actions/behaviour and
transparent in conduct.
- Teamwork,
interpersonal relations: Ability to work in a team and with good
networking and interpersonal skills.
- Good team
worker: Working and relating with others in mutual support and respect
towards common goals and shared vision.
- Multi-cultural
fit and diversity: Ability to work effectively within a diverse and
multicultural environment.
- Innovation and
creativity: Ability to generate new ideas and ways of working to
continuously improve existing work processes, practices, and concepts.
- Willingness to
travel.
- Team player
with excellent coordination and organisational skills.
- Ability to
communicate effectively with a wide range of partners from multiple
disciplines and backgrounds.
- Ability to work
independently under pressure to meet tight timelines.
Reporting
This position reports to the
Programme Manager.
The selected candidate should
be available to start as soon as possible.
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted
up to 4th November 2016, or until the position is filled, whichever is earlier.
Interested applicants should submit:
(a) a confidential cover
letter,
(b) detailed CV with names
and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers),
and
(c) a statement illustrating
suitability against the listed qualifications/competencies/abilities, and
skills.
Candidates are required to apply online through: http://recruit.icipe.org