Jobs at Women Educational Researchers of Kenya

• WERK seeks a Grants Manager for a Reading Champions project in Kenya. The purpose of the activity is to improve and sustain student learning through a resilient and accountable education system together with families, communities and other Kenyan partners. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world and demonstrate leadership, versatility, and integrity in their work. All candidates must possess a degree in a relevant field and English fluency is required. Experience in Kenya or East Africa is preferred.
• The Grants Manager will report to the COP and be responsible for all subaward management, particularly the youth grants. This individual will work closely with the Reading Specialist and the Finance and Administration Manager to manage all the subrecipients. The individual will also work closely with the COP to leverage private sector support for relevant Reading Champions activities.
• The primary responsibilities of the Grants Manager will encompass strengthening the grant function, particularly during the onboarding process for sub-grantees. This includes offering support in the review of budgets and narratives. Additionally, the Manager will be actively involved in the monthly review of financial reports submitted by active sub-grantees, which encompasses reviewing invoices for reimbursements and conducting field visits to physically verify financial documents. Furthermore, the Manager will provide on-the-job training to sub-grantees, addressing identified monitoring gaps, and may engage in various supportive assignments as required. The Manager will ensure monitoring and capacity building of the sub-grantees is extensively conducted to reduce risk in the mismanagement of the active signed agreements. This will also ensure necessary technical support is given to all sub-grantees. It will also help to fast truck the packaging of the grants package for client approval.

Responsibilities include:

• Facilitates capacity-building initiatives for sub-grantees by collecting necessary paperwork for the purpose of monitoring technical and financial alignment.
• Assists in the preparation and documentation of the grants award cycle for both grants, ensuring that the technical prerequisites required for capturing relevant information in the solicitation process are readily available.
• Provides support to sub-grantees in reviewing WERKs processing requirements and tracking tax reporting.
• Aids in reviewing sub-grantees’ budgets for accuracy and reasonableness, ensuring that budgets are well supported with precise budget narratives for onboarding purposes.
• Documents identified gaps during routine monthly and weekly monitoring to facilitate capacity-building efforts.
• Maintains a financial management filing system for Reading Champions project, including the accurate tracking of fund reimbursement, liquidations, and burn rates, and ensures there are no delays in fund disbursement.
• Collaborates with project teams to ensure that deliverables remain on schedule.
• Ensures that sub-grantees comply with periodic requirements as per grant agreement clauses.
• Establishes sound mechanisms in accordance with WERK’s policies and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to facilitate grant fund disbursement and the justification of expenses.
• Analyzes grantees’ funding requests and technical reports as needed.
• Provides support for day-to-day operational activities to ensure that the grants mechanism offers the necessary support to the project team.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s level degree in a related field from an accredited university.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience managing projects, preferably those related to early grade reading.
• Grants management experience, preferably in Kenya or East Africa.
• Experience building the capacity of local organizations to implement and manage development projects is highly desired.
• A proven ability to identify high-potential business ideas, demonstrated experience working collaboratively with youth and/or institutional and private partners, and experience implementing activities designed to leverage private investments to support development goals.
• Ability to write, communicate and prepare contractual documents and reports clearly in English.

The deadline for submission of applications is Friday 7th June, 2024

• WERK seeks a Chief of Party for a Reading Champions project in Kenya. The purpose of the activity is to improve and sustain student learning through a resilient and accountable education system together with families, communities and other Kenyan partners. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world and demonstrate leadership, versatility, and integrity in their work. All candidates must possess a degree in a relevant field and English fluency is required. Experience in Kenya or East Africa is preferred.
• The Chief of Party’s (COP) primary responsibilities will include providing overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the entire project and sub-grantees, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving the results defined in the award. The COP will be the principal point of contact for the project and is ultimately responsible for all contract management and implementation. S/he will be the primary liaison with the Donor on technical matters and expected to steer operations. The COP will be expected to identify issues and risks related to project implementation and suggest appropriate timely adjustments. The COP must be able to communicate WERKs ethos and comply with all organizational policies.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide overall strategic vision and leadership for project implementation including drafting project work plans and leading the successful implementation of annual work plans and budgets.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to sub-grantees partners on effective strategies to realize literacy levels.
• Put in place coordination mechanisms for effective project delivery among the sub-grantees.
• Foster integrated vision, coordination and synergy building with the government and other partners initiatives in target areas.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent for optimal performance.
• Manage team dynamics and staff well-being; provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for project and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
• Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies.
• Ensure all staff understand and adhere to WERKs policies and plans, and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Ensure program implementation in compliance with Donor standards, WERKs Policies & Procedures and aligned to acceptable financial & operational audit results.
• Ensure inclusion of cross cutting themes including gender, youth, conflict sensitivity, disability and social inclusion.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to Donor as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability.
• Ensure accurate and quality Annual Operation Plan (AOP) and Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for the program in place and utilized.
• Ensure accurate and quality Program Design Documents (PDD) are on file.
• Put in place effective monitoring and reporting systems to guide sub-grantees.
• Ensure the program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Provide oversight related to project results, reporting, analysis, and the use of strategic information to drive performance across the project.
• Actively identify, manage and mitigate issues and risks related to project implementation at the national and regional levels and propose risk mitigation strategies and solutions for project adjustments.
• Ensure the relevant project measurements (baseline, mid-term, end-line and any other study) are accurately and promptly conducted and results utilized to inform program management.
• Ensure effective use of resources, on-time delivery of project activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with Donor regulations and WERK policies and procedures.
• Work with MEL Manager to ensure effective reflection and learning forums and documentation of project success for internal and external communication.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and WERK branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Coordinate relationships with sub-grantees, including organization of review/planning workshops and coordination forums.
• Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with the Donor, WERK Directors, project teams, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Represent the project at meetings and events with the Donor, Government of Kenya, the business community, non-profits, and other stakeholders.
• Build and Maintain effective communications and pro-active relationships with partners including the county government and the donor.
• Collaborate with line ministries and departments in providing technical support and assistance to the program.
• Ensure that all sub-grantees are equipped with pre-requisite capacity to effectively deliver on their mandate.
• Coordinate advocacy and policy influence initiatives of the program at county and national level

Qualifications:

• A Masters level-degree in education, social sciences or related field from an accredited university.
• At least 10 years of experience in managing teams and implementing education programs in developing countries, preferably in the implementation of a reading program of similar technical complexity.
• Demonstrated exemplary management, supervision, communication and international skills to ensure internal coherence among diverse team members and productive relations with the GOK, donors and the international community.
• Excellent knowledge of education sector in Kenya.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Good understanding of gender and diversity issues and commitment to addressing inequalities in all the key areas of responsibility
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Youth Groups, other partners, private sector, government officials, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong systems thinking and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture with ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities with ability to relate to people at all levels
• Ability to write, communicate and prepare reports clearly in English.
• A proven ability to identify and negotiate partnerships opportunities is desired.
• Previous experience in Kenya or East Africa is highly desired.

Please send your CV and cover letter to the email address jobs@werk.co.ke or hand delivered to our
office located on 1171 Argwings Kodhek Road, House no 4. In the subject line, please indicate the
position title to which you are applying. Finalists will be contacted. The deadline for submission of
applications is 18th June, 2024. For more information on WERK, please visit Women Educational Researchers of Kenya Careers

The deadline for submission of applications is Friday 7th June 2024

• WERK seeks hire a communications officer for the Reading Champions project. The purpose of the activity is to improve and sustain student learning through a resilient and accountable education system together with families, communities and other Kenyan partners. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world and demonstrate leadership, versatility, and integrity in their work.
• The Communications Officer will implement a communications strategy reflective of the donors Communications, Branding, and Marking Guidelines for the life of the activity. S/he will source and develop project communications including fact sheets, success stories, press releases, social media content, narratives for short videos, speeches, and other communications as requested. S/he will develop and maintain continuous engagement with local, national, and international media. S/he will maintain communications resources for the project and work with the monitoring and evaluation team to ensure that impact data is used regularly for key communications. S/he will support the development of all activity reports. S/he will work with the project team to ensure the activity has high-quality visual assets that will showcase the activity for diverse audiences.
• The Communications Officer will support the implementation of the Reading Champions project branding strategy and ensure all branding and marking for the activity is compliant. S/he will work closely with the project team to develop an outreach strategy to engage with other donor activities and stakeholders and publicize the activity interventions and results at national and county levels. This may include organizing press releases, media attendance, and communications for all events in collaboration with the donor and partners. S/he will engage with partner counterparts and ensure the fidelity of all activity communications. S/he will disseminate key communications about activity results to the donor, stakeholders, and the general public following the donor and WERKs guidelines. This is a full-time position based in Nakuru County, with travel to Kilifi and WERKs headquarter office in Nairobi.

Responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing a communications strategy for the Reading Champions Project, to include creative product ideas and dissemination channels (may include working closely with local artists to develop communications for a diversity of audiences);
• Sourcing storylines and developing communications such as fact sheets, success stories, press releases, social media content, narratives for short videos, speeches, and other communications as requested;
• Developing and maintaining continuous engagement with local, national, and international media;
• Identifying and working with high-quality photographers and videographers to build visual assets;
• Supporting the development of monthly, quarterly, and annual project reports;
• Supporting the organization of and communications materials needed for events;
• Collaborating with WERK secretariat and project team to develop and adapt social media posts and success stories for national and county level audiences and build out key products;
• Collaborating with Chief of Party and other project staff to develop slide deck presentations;
• Building and maintaining a vibrant social media presence;
• Coordinating with Chief of Party and WERKs head office, and the donor Communications Manager to ensure materials are following the donors branding and marking guidance;
• Coordinating with stakeholders and partners to ensure fidelity of all Activity communications;
• Contributing to the design and implementation of the activity’s learning agenda, including the cross-cutting Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approaches.
• Any other duty as may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a similar field is required.
• 5 to 7 years of directly relevant communications experience required, preferably working for a national organization or agency.
• Established contacts with local and national media (newspapers, television, radio, etc.);
• Demonstrated ability to work with different teams, including donors, international staff, local project staff, consultants, and government officials;
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and work well under pressure;
• Proven experience coordinating, managing, and collaborating with a range of individuals in diverse contexts, including working with various artists, event coordinators, monitoring and evaluation teams, and partner communications staff;
• Strong interpersonal skills and excellent oral and written communication skills in English required;
• Strong creative skills; relationships with high-quality artists in a variety of mediums, a plus;
• Strong proficiency in the use of MS Word, PowerPoint; proficiency in Adobe Acrobat or InDesign or other graphic design tools a plus;
• Experience in developing content for social media, including Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook;
• Experience in photography, a plus;

Apply Here

Please send your CV and cover letter to the email address jobs@werk.co.ke or hand delivered to our
office located on 1171 Argwings Kodhek Road, House no 4. In the subject line, please indicate the
position title to which you are applying. Finalists will be contacted. The deadline for submission of
applications is 18th June, 2024. For more information on WERK, please visit Women Educational Researchers of Kenya Careers