Project Team Leader Job in Nairobi Kenya


Position Title: Alternative Basic Education Project Team Leader

Supervisor’s Title: Operations Director
 
With technical oversight from Education Technical Advisor

Department: Education

Duty Station: Nairobi with frequent travel to Dadaab, Garissa, Fafi and Lagdera Districts
 
Start Date: 1st October, 2012

Background
 
In 2011, an estimated 3.8 million people in Kenya were affected by drought, many living in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) and about 144,000 drought -affected Somalis (of which 60,000 were children) fled to Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camps. 

This influx challenged the already constrained education services in the camps with just 40% enrolment rates, an increasing drop-out rate especially amongst girls, and the decreasing transition rate from primary to secondary schools. 

CIDA agreed to fund a three year project to assists the host communities in Lagdera and Fifo and refugees in all Dadaab camps in order to contribute to the improved learning outcomes for girls and boys in these marginalized and drought-affected areas of Kenya.

Primary Purpose:  
 
The Alternative Basic Education (ABE) Project Director will be responsible for ensuring high-quality execution of the CIDA funded project activities in both the host community and refugee camps.  The ABE Project Director’s main responsibilities will be 

1) providing overall strategic guidance on all project components to achieve results on time according to approved annual detailed implementation plans ensuring delivery of project activities in a smooth, coordinated manner; 

2) managing project costs following approved budgets and in compliance with all relevant agreements and policies;  

3) managing the Project Steering Committee to ensure effective communication between CIDA, UNICEF, UNHCR, GOK and other stakeholders;  

4) advocating the Ministry of Northern Affairs, Ministry of Education and other government of Kenya institutions for adherence to Nomadic Education Policy; and 

5) collecting and disseminating learnings from this initiative by appropriate methods. This position will be line managed by Operations Director but receive technical support from the Kenya-based Education Technical Advisor and guidance from Toronto-based Education Advisor.

Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Travel frequently to all implementation sites to liaise with staff, community leaders, local governments and beneficiaries to ensure continued participation and support for the project.
  • Provide strategic guidance and technical support, supervision and leadership to implementation staff and partners; Design programme learning and build staff capacity and confidence to provide quality programming for children and youth for early childhood development, basic primary education, alternative youth education. Support and guide interventions to ensure quality, timely programme delivery.
  • Manage financial aspects of the program including budgets, expenditures and ensuring effective use of financial and human resources.   Coordinate with the Finance Director and field grants officer to review financial performance analysis, ensure timely resolution of financial discrepancies and support preparation of financial projections as needed.  Ensure compliance with donor agreements and relevant country legislature requirements.
  • Oversee preparation of annual detailed implementation plans; monitor performance against work plan deadlines, ensure accurate data collection on performance indicators and prepare reports on achievements and results according to agreed timelines.
  • Collaborate and coordinate with other education stakeholders to ensure alignment with the Dadaab Education Strategy and effectiveness of programming, consult with relevant stakeholders including UNHCR and UNICEF.
  • Manage national level relationships with MoE and the Ministry for Northern Kenya to develop strong commitments to ABE project success. Establish working relations with Northern Kenya Education Trust and the Nomadic Education Commission. Provide leadership in the identification and capacity support to MoE officials at the local level.
  • Provide the linkage between national level policy and implementation practice; generate evidence for good practice documentation; share with County Government planning committees for the development of County Education Strategies and broader  dissemination.
  • Manage the Project Steering Committee to ensure effective timely communication and information dissemination between CIDA, UNCIEF, UNHCR, GOK entities and other stakeholders.
Background and Experience:
  • Masters or advanced degree in education with specialization in nomadic education, early childhood development, alternative basic education or education in emergencies.
  • Ideal candidates will have at least five years work experience in international development projects in post-emergency setting.
  • Minimum seven years senior project management field experience with proven donor reporting, compliance and grant management experience, and superior human resource management skills leading diverse teams in harsh environment.
  • Experience leading diverse stakeholders, and ability to understand and bridge diverging communication styles and agendas in order to reach common goals.
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors:
  • Self-starter; takes ownership of deliverables and drives project results while building strong collaboration with and regularly seeking input from partners and other project staff
  • Comfort interfacing with diverse stakeholders including high-level policy makers and project beneficiaries. Demonstrated ability to engage in national level policy advocacy and campaigns.
  • Strong writing skills, including reports, proposal development, resource materials
  • Superior financial management of large education program budgets
  • Resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to get results under pressure; willingness to live and work in a remote and difficult environment
  • Political and cultural sensitivity, awareness of gender issues, with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy. Motivates others while identifying with mission of SC
If you meet the above requirements, please send a cover letter and your detailed CV indicating your current salary with current contacts of three referees including immediate supervisor addressed to: 

The Recruiting Manager,
Save The Children, 
Kenya Programme 

email: jobskenya@scuk.or.ke not later than  7th September, 2012. 

Quote the job title on the subject line. 

Due to the urgency to fill this position, shortlisting will be done as CVs are received.

Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Save the Children recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal employment opportunities and the protection of children from abuse.