Mercy Corps Business Officers Jobs in Kenya

Business Officer

5 Positions

Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central province, Western province, Nairobi

Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1 billion in assistance to people in 82 nations.

Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, the agency's unified global programs employ 3,500 staff worldwide and reach 9 million people in more than 40 countries. Over the last five years, more than 90 percent of the agency's resources have been allocated directly to programs that help people in need.

Mercy Corps has recently been awarded a 3-year program under USAID’s Yes Youth Can initiative, covering six regions in Kenya: Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Nairobi and Coast.

The core of this program is The Tahidi Youth Fund (TYF), which will be a youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed financial facility to support local solutions for community economic development as it grows in value.

This program aims to appropriately empower Kenyan youth (18–34 years) to strengthen their socio-economic and political stakes through youth-led and managed initiatives and institutions.

The TYF will in the first three years provide sustainable financial and skills development assistance to approximately 200,000 youth through a variety of youth-identified social and economic community development projects.

General Position Summary

Working under the direction of the Grant Coordinator, the Business Officer will ensure field-level and institutional compliance with the TYF grant operations manual and any other additional guiding policy under this program..

This position will work with other Business Officers and other stakeholders in a designated geographical area of operations, in order to engage directly with qualifying Youth Bunges (which are mobilized by the Yes Youth Can-Regional projects) to provide Community Development Grants The Business Officer will execute a standardized grant application process and procedure in a transparent, client friendly manner.

The Business Officer is a key function in fraud prevention and grant management at the field level.

Essential Job Functions

• Engage directly with qualifying Youth Bunges in an efficient, transparent, client-friendly manner in order to provide Community Development Grants to Youth Bunges.
• Provide qualifying Youth Groups with all information regarding the processes, policies and procedures of applying for a TYF Community Development Grant. Specifically highlighting the role and responsibility of the Youth Group.
• Work in a respectful, transparent manner with the Youth Groups by creating an environment in which the Youth Groups are provided an equal space and opportunity to lead the grant application process in conjunction with the TYF Business Officer.
• Drive a client-friendly “front office” service delivery process to all Youth Bunges that are engaged.
• Work with the field Finance Officer to ensure smooth disbursement of funds to the Youth Bunges.
• Ability to provide minimal technical assistance across a variety of areas such as: agriculture, light manufacturing, horticulture, technology etc. etc.
• Work with the TYF team to gradually and effectively utilize information from the data base for future strategic planning of the fund from the 3rd year of operation.
• Ensure proper filing of all hard copy documents and correspondences of clients.
• Maintain a client file for all Youth Groups who apply for a TYF Grant.
• Oversee effective communication and conduct outreach to all TYF potential clients on procedures for accessing funds, including time frames.
• Present monthly fund updates to TYF management team.

Supervisory Responsibility:

Accountability Reports Directly To: Grant Coordinator

Works Directly With: Relevant Field Level Colleagues and Mercy Corps Kenya Head Office Team

Knowledge and Experience:

• Five or more years of work experience with increasing responsibilities. Solid experience from the private sector preferred
• Experience implementing, monitoring and managing Community Development projects at the field-level
• Bachelor's degree in economic development, or development related filed is preferred. A professional grant making training is desirable
• 2 years’ experience in grants making and management especially under a USAID grant.
• Experience in identifying and managing fraud within the NGO, public or private sector preferred
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Advanced computer skills in MS Office programs, particularly Excel
• Excellent oral and written English skills
• Previous hands-on experience implementing a program of a large community projects portfolio
• Thorough understanding of project management cycle
• Proven project management experience

Success Factors

• Zero tolerance for fraud
• Demonstrated understanding of multiple business environments
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and communicate effectively with team members to ensure achievement of overall program objectives
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and communicate effectively with target clients to ensure achievement of overall program objectives
• Proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results
• Even temperament and a good sense of humor are appreciated
• Commitment to transparency, accountability and compliance with donor, organizational and national policies and regulations
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor and characteristic to the position

Living/Environmental Conditions:

The position will be based in one of the five regions in Kenya: Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, or Nairobi with 75% field travel.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before January 6, 2012, 10:00 AM a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org

Applicants must clearly indicate on the email subject “Application for the position of Business officer”.

Applications without this subject heading will be disqualified.

Please do not attach any certificates.

(Only qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)

http://myjobtube.blogspot.com/ for Kenyan Jobs and Jobs in Kenya