Career Opportunities in M-KOPA Kenya

About M-KOPA Solar: M-KOPA Solar, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, is the global leader of "pay-as-you-go" energy for off-grid customers.
 
Since its commercial launch in October 2012, M-KOPA has connected more than 200,000 homes in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to solar power, and is now adding over 500 new homes each day.

The success of M-KOPA (M= mobile, KOPA= to borrow) stems from making solar products affordable to low-income households on a pay-per-use installment plan. 


Customers acquire solar systems for a small deposit and then purchase daily usage "credits" for US $0.45, or less than the price of traditional kerosene lighting. After one year of payments customers own their solar systems outright and can upgrade to more power.
 
All revenues are collected in real-time via mobile money systems (such as M-PESA in Kenya) and embedded GSM sensors in each solar system allow M-KOPA to monitor real time performance and regulate usage based upon payments. 

This connected design means that M-KOPA is processing vast amounts of data (i.e. over 10,000 mobile payments per day) via the company's proprietary cloud platform, M-KOPAnet.
 
As of May 2015 M-KOPA employs over 650 full time staff across East Africa and sells through a network of 1,000 direct sales agents. It has also commenced licensing its technology to partners in other markets.
 
M-KOPA has been recognised for its pioneering business mode and scale, notably winning the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize, being selected as the top New Energy Pioneer at the 2014 Bloomberg New Energy Finance awards and earning the 2013 FT/IFC Excellence in Sustainable Finance Award.

M-KOPA is seeking:
 
Position Title: Inventory Analyst
 
Position Start: As Soon As Possible
 
Reporting to: Head of Data
 
Overall Purpose: The objective of this position is to ensure availability of accurate inventory data and reporting to support the Business in stock control and inventory efficiencies.

Role Profile

Key Accountabilities
 
Process Excellence: Operational Efficiency & Risk Management
  • Produce timely reports for the sales force to be used during stock takes
  • Ensure the different sales people are always aware of their system stock levels using SMS, and assisting in resolving queries arising thereof
  • Support the inventory & field audit teams during reconciliation and audit processes
  • Perform thorough research and document inventory discrepancies using all available resources to identify root causes and suggest possible solutions
  • Report on inventory levels across all stock points, with the objective of meeting sales needs with no overstock
  • Produce timely reports for the warehouse team to prepare dispatches for stock, including components and marketing materials
  • Identify and assist in the development of requirements for enhancements to internal inventory systems, particularly on M-KOPAnet
  • Perform continuous analysis to seek and implement improvements in the inventory reconciliation processes and the efficient use of inventory resources
  • Maintain up to date information on stock losses coordinating with the inventory, field audit, sales and HR teams on next steps for recovery
Planning & Organization
  • Maintain an inventory activities calendar with relevant dates, and report according to the same
  • Produce regular housekeeping reports to allow for an accurate measure of the status of both successful and failed processes in inventory data capture processes.
Customer Excellence: Internal/External Customer Engagement & Relationship Management
  • Coordinate with Inventory & Logistics and Agent Care teams to ensure timely and accurate updating of system entries.
  • Coordinate and work closely with all inventory & logistics team in resolving any outstanding unidentified and un-reconciled stock figures and timely escalation of potential errors.
  • Work closely with internal and external IT Operations in ensuring timely resolution of stock related reconciliations on the system.
  • Conduct ad hoc reconciliation of stock in hand and stock in the system in coordination with Service centers and Agent care.
  • Conduct timely reporting and regular escalation of key stock related issues to the supervisor
  • Conduct root cause analysis and resolve simple to medium complexity stock related problems across numerous processes and systems
Incumbent Requirements
  • Good understanding of the inventory & logistics process; best practices and procedures
  • Strong communication skills 
  • Strong analytical and presentation skills 
  • Strong Excel & database analysis skills 
  • Ability to manage own work load and meet aggressive deadlines and deliverables 
  • Persistence with problem solving and solution recommendation 
  • Outcome Focused and Result Oriented 
  • Excellent interpersonal and business writing skills 
  • Experience of working in a complex business environment 
  • Strong understanding of IT systems and quality assurance processes 
  • Ability to adapt to changing priorities, workload and tasks 
  • Attention to detail 
  • Ability to work well in a team environment under demanding and stressful conditions
  • Fluency in English & Swahili
To Apply: To apply, send an updated detailed copy of your CV and a cover letter expressing why you feel you would be an excellent candidate for the role to careers@m-kopa.com with the subject EV-DIA-0615

Position Title: Business Analyst
 
Location: Nairobi
 
Position Start: ASAP
 
Contract: Permanent
 
Reporting to: Head of Platform
 
Overall Purpose: Collaboratively designing solutions to meet business and user needs.

Role Profile
Key Accountabilities
  • Collecting, understanding and analyzing operational objectives by studying business functions; gathering information; evaluating output requirements and formats.
  • Documenting all business requirements in a clear and concise manner
  • Engaging business users and the technology team in order to prioritize system feature requests
  • Engaging business users and the technology team in design of M-KOPA’s systems with a view to maximizing value for all involved
  • Ensuring the user experience in M-KOPA systems is optimal
  • Developing new business processes that have an impact on M-KOPA’s systems and making improvements on existing ones
  • Suggesting improvements to M-KOPA’s systems by studying current practices and conceptualizing solutions to challenges arising
  • Developing user documentation and training manuals
Incumbent Requirements
 
Education: 
  • Preferred: Technology Related Degree
Experience: 
  • Required: At least 2 years in a similar position
Knowledge / Skills:
 
Required
  • Strong analytical and problem solving skills with an attention to detail
  • Strong analysis skills which will include business process modelling (BPM), use cases and data modelling
  • Experience in the development and implementation of standards, procedures and guidelines to support operational processes
  • Self-motivated with the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage own time with changing priorities in an agile environment
  • Nothing short of excellent oral and written communication skills
  • A results oriented individual who thrives working in a fast paced environment
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with a willingness to go the extra mile to assist other team members
Beneficial
  • Working in an Agile environment
  • Prior experience working on UX modelling
Remuneration: Competitive covering a monthly salary, performance bonus and medical benefits reflective of the candidate’s experience and skills.
 
To Apply: To apply, send an updated detailed copy of your CV and a cover letter expressing why you feel you would be an excellent candidate for the role to careers@m-kopa.com with the subject EV-SEBA-615
 
Please Note: Due to the large number of applications received by us, we regret that you will not be contacted unless you are short listed for the post and invited for an interview. 

Therefore, if you have not heard from M-KOPA within 4 weeks of the date of the deadline your application, you should assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.


This measure has been taken in the interests of efficiency and cost effectiveness and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.