KOMAZA Operations Associate Job in Kenya

KOMAZA is a non-profit social enterprise helping families overcome rural poverty by developing sustainable economic opportunities for smallholder farmers living in East Africa's infertile and drought-prone regions.

Wanted: Early-career (2-4+ years experience) business, development, agricultural or environmental professional with operational experience to help aggressively scale field operations for a young, international NGO

Overview

Industry: Social Business / International Development / Start-Up / Non-profit

Employer: KOMAZA

Position: Operations Associate

Commitment: 1 year minimum, 2 years preferred

Location: Kilifi, Kenya

Comp/Benefits: Associate-level (see below)

Start Date: 25th May 2011 preferred

The Role

As an Operations Associate, you will design and implement systems tools and processes to enable KOMAZA to continue growing efficiently and effectively.

You will:

• Collaborate closely with Operations Team and Field Staff
• Design scalable tools to support overall operational goals
• Capture lessons learned to optimize operational “blueprint” for future rural cells
• Create supporting documents (written content, photos, diagrams) that can be used at a variety of staff levels (field, office)

Operations Associates are given significant responsibility and must be able to deliver high quality projects in a demanding and sometimes challenging environment. The typical Operations Associate is the project owner of up to 4 projects and is involved in several others. Projects vary depending on organizational needs and experience.

Example projects include:

• Crop Production: Developing an Integrated Pest Management Program to be used by field staff to minimize pesticide use (and costs) without affecting tree health
• Logistics: Researching and identifying a cost effective and operationally appropriate water delivery system for planting
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Developing and implementing a tree growth data capture program. Analyzing and reporting data to inform planting and harvesting decisions.
• Value Capture: Investigating the coastal wood market and securing customers for our first harvest while building relationships. Initiating a mobile wood processing program to build organizational capacity. Piloting scalable processes for harvesting and farmer payment.
• Strategic: Developing tree growth models that can be used to inform operational decisions
• Research and Development: Research nursery production, form partnerships with industry experts and use this information to develop an operational nursery on our experimental farm to serve our internal needs.
• Training: Developing an operational manual for field staff that can be used as a reference document during training and work in the field
• Field Component: This role, while based in the Kilifi town office, will have a field component that can be challenging but highly rewarding. This work will involve: long, dirty and uncomfortable bus/motorcycle rides, basic rustic facilities, work in areas far from any infrastructure (stores, electricity, paved roads), hours spent outside in the equatorial sun and heat. KOMAZA will soon commence construction on its first dedicated field operations office in Ganze, which will facilitate all surrounding fieldwork.

Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet the following criteria will not be considered:

• Education: A top performing academic background with a bachelor of science in agriculture, forestry, business management OR equivalent work experience.
• Relevant work experience: A minimum of 2+ years experience in project/operational management or consulting in either business, agricultural development, forestry, conservation, monitoring and evaluation or a related field. Evidence of ability to excel in a role with focus on field-based operations, and ability to plan and implement scalable systems based upon logistical necessities and field-based realities.
• Strong organizational skills: Ability to balance multiple projects, work across all aspects of operations, and take ownership of projects to achieve targets in a highly independent capacity.
• Team-oriented: Collaborative work ethic and ability to perform on a multidisciplinary team across multiple departments and willing to take on whatever task is required of the organization.
• Analytical thinking – at high and granular levels: Excellent problem-solving skills and business judgment; ability to think “big picture” (e.g. milestone setting to plant with 10,000 farmers) as well as dig into details (e.g. how to quickly get 100 barrels to farmers with no vehicles and poor road infrastructure).
• Strong communication skills and commitment to: Being personable yet persistent; building consensus and influencing decision-making; adapting to local cultural norms and communication styles given close collaboration with local staff.
• Impact-focused: Must be committed to KOMAZA’s vision through the development of an efficient, evidence-based and financially-sustainable organization
• Patience and a sense of humor: Please see KOMAZA recruiting website’s FAQ section for a more detailed description of important “fit” criteria.

Preferred:

• Kiswahili
• Work/volunteer experience in a developing country (strongly preferred)
• Experience or understanding of agriculture/forestry and knowledge of plant production and agro-ecology

Compensation and Benefits

This is a career-track position with potential for further professional growth and increased responsibility within the organization. The ideal candidate will have project management experience and be committed to international development and living in Kenya for a significant period of time.

The salary is low, but will provide for a comfortable standard of living in Kenya. Opportunities exist for promotion and significant increases in compensation for high performers.

Benefits include: international medical insurance including emergency evacuation, Kiswahili lessons, food and housing (or equivalent stipends), flight to/from country of origin.

East African citizens provided with equivalent compensation in lieu of benefits.

How to apply

  Click Here

Closing date: 25 Mar 2011