RTI International is an independent
organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research
that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000
people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of
multidisciplinary services. Universities in North Carolina founded RTI in 1958
as a centerpiece of the Research Triangle Park.
RTI is currently seeking to fill vacancies for the Kenya Crops & Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) Activity which is part of the Feed the Future program, America’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty.
In this regard, USAID is partnering
with RTI International on a 5-year cooperative agreement (KCDMS Activity) to
help increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and malnutrition in
Kenya. The project will also spur competitive, resilient market systems in
Kenya’s horticulture and dairy sectors.
RTI is currently seeking to fill vacancies for the Kenya Crops & Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) Activity which is part of the Feed the Future program, America’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty.
We are currently seeking applications
for the following positions:
Grants Coordinators –
Wote and Kisumu based
(2 Positions for each location)
The Grants Coordinators are
responsible for the management of the KCDMS Grant Program in 12 counties of
operations in Kenya.
They will develop Request for
Application (RFA) packages and manage the competitive selection process;
Provide guidance and training to grantees; Perform pre-award surveys of potential
grantees to assess financial, program, and organizational capabilities;
Maintain grants information management system; Reconcile financial and
technical reports; Conduct monitoring visits; and ensure all grants are closed
out
appropriately.
appropriately.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-Award Management
·
Support in the various stages of the
competitive selection process of grantees until completion
·
Carry out pre-award assessments for
prospective grantees to assess financial, program, and organizational
capabilities
·
Work with selected grantees to ensure
budgets are in line with programmatic, cost and KCDMS project priorities
·
Prepare grant award documents for
approval, this will include: grant agreements, budgets and negotiation
memorandums
Post-Award Management
·
Prepare cash requests for all grants
ensuring amounts requested are reasonable and within approved budgets
·
Review financial reports from
grantees to ensure financial compliance against approved grant budgets
·
Conduct regular disbursements and
expenditure reconciliations with Finance Office to ensure grant and finance
records are up to date
·
Conduct site visits and giving
feedback to grantees as appropriate on areas that requires improvement in their
systems and procedures
·
Track on a regular basis all
questioned and disallowed costs and follow-up on resolution of the same
·
Identify grantee financial training
needs and provide technical assistance where needed and assist in developing
training materials and resources for RTI International
·
Maintain and update hard copy grant and
work process files. The files should be clearly labelled and organized for ease
of reference
·
Maintain the Concept note and
business proposal (CNBP) tracker
Close-Out
·
Ensure that all project advances and
commitments are liquidated, and outstanding advances cleared for all grants
·
Prepare relevant close-out documents
for approval by the Grants Manager to include, close-out checklist, letters and
modifications to de-obligate residual funds where applicable
·
Work with the grantees to ensure that
all inventory/disposition documentation or in-kind acknowledgement forms are
obtained on close-out of all grants as applicable
·
Ensure grantees submit final project
reports and documents
·
Ensure that all grantees’ expenses
are correctly coded for booking
·
Coordinate to ensure that grantees
financial records are properly labeled and filed
·
Assist in review of grantees
invoices/reports
·
Assist in ensuring that financial
policy and procedures are followed by grantees
·
Carry out financial reviews for the
grantees reports
·
Contribute to monitoring and
evaluation, learning, and reporting and provide technical oversight and support
all data tracking by the in M&E staff of the sub-grantees with particular
attention to Grants Management
·
Contribute to Social Inclusion
activities in line with Grants Management
Any other duties as assigned
Qualifications
·
A university degree, in BCOM/
Business management. Master’s degree is an added advantage
·
Qualifications and/or experience in
project accounting, audit and grants management
·
3 years professional experience in
Grant Management, preferably with USAID
·
Excellent communication and
interpersonal skills
Social Inclusion Coordinator
Kisumu Based
(1 Position)
The
Social Inclusion Coordinator in collaboration with marketing and production
systems units will coordinate and participate in the Implementation of the
KCDMS marketing and production strategy and ensure that women, youth and other
marginalized groups benefit equally from the KCDMS Activity.
S/he
will be responsible for ensuring implementation of marketing and production
programs and will collaborate with other members of the project team to scale
up activities to promote and meet the needs of women, youth and other
vulnerable populations.
Key Responsibilities
·
Coordinate and work with component teams
to integrate women, youth and other marginalized groups in project activities
especially marketing and production systems
·
Work closely with the M & E unit
in the respective regions to ensure that social inclusion data is collected,
and all assessment/analysis information is used to manage project
implementation
·
Support the development of targeted
social inclusion (women & youth) capacity building interventions through
identification of BDS support, mentoring and coaching of youth led and women
led agribusinesses
·
Identify, develop and facilitate
implementation of strategies to increase understanding among young people and
women about profitable business opportunities across entire value chains,
reducing stigma and misconceptions about entering the agricultural sector.
·
Participate and contribute to project
activities organized by other components and ensure full participation and
integration of women and youth in those activities including B2B meetings,
field days, policy dialogues, etc.
·
Facilitate and Support development of
youth led and women led agribusiness database to facilitate implementation of
Social inclusion interventions and strategies
·
Support project, county staff, and
implementing partners in their understanding of social inclusion strategies in
the market system; and ensure all activities incorporate appropriate inclusion
considerations
·
In liaison with Regional Manager,
develop relationships and collaborate with other USAID funded programs working
on mainstreaming women and youth in market systems and agricultural value chain
projects in the areas of coverage
·
Assist private sector partners in
developing and implementing social inclusion into their activities through the
KCDMS activity
·
Collect and share learnings, success
stories and best practices related to social inclusion in market systems
·
Participate and contribute towards
program surveys, assessments, reviews and reporting while ensuring social
inclusion considerations
·
Represent the social inclusion
component in meetings and stakeholder forums within the project coverage area
·
Compile weekly, and quarterly reports
·
Support Nutrition sub component at
the regional level
·
Contribute to grants management with
particular attention to social inclusion
·
Contribute to monitoring and
evaluation, learning, and reporting and provide technical oversight and support
all data tracking by the in M&E staff of the sub-grantees with attention to
social inclusion
·
Any other duties as assigned
Qualifications
·
Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy,
Agricultural Economics or Agribusiness with 6 years’ experience.
·
Master’s degree in the same field
will be an added advantage
·
Minimum of 3 years’ experience or
equivalent combination of education and experience in mainstreaming social
inclusion, working with women and youth in development programs
·
Experience in social inclusion
activities is an added advantage
·
Experience in marketing and
production systems will be an added advantage
·
Excellent communication and
interpersonal skills
Finance Specialist
Nairobi Based
1 Position
The
Finance Specialist 1 is responsible for coordinating grants and accounting
procedures of the KCDMS Activity.
S/he
supports the project by working closely with the Finance and Grants teams. S/he
is aware of, and adheres to USAID’s and RTI’s financial, procurement and grants
procedures. S/he will be expected to undertake other finance related activities
within the department.
Key Responsibilities
Under
the direction of the Senior Accountant, the Finance Specialist will:
·
Provides leadership to Grants
management process and payables
·
Review expenses and reports before
they are booked into QuickBooks
·
Respond to and perform audit
functions for the grantees
·
Perform budget Vs expenses analysis
·
Any other duty as may be assigned
Qualifications
·
Master’s degree with at least 1-year
relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years’ experience
·
CPA qualification or equivalent
required
·
Prior grants, audit and budget
management experience is required
·
Project accounting, auditing and
budget proposal preparation will be an added advantage
How to Apply
To
apply, please email your cover letter and CV to hrapplications@nb.rti.org by
28th December 2018.
Applicants
must include the POSITION TITLE and PREFERRED LOCATION in the subject line of
the email.
Please
do not attach copies of certificates.
We
regret that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Please Note: RTI
International does not use agents or require any form of payment in the
recruitment process.
We
are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V