CIAT Project Management Assistant Job in Nairobi Kenya

International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
 

Recruiting a Project Management Assistant for IITA
 

IITA is an international non-profit research-for-development (R4D) organization created in 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). 

IITA’s R4D is anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa and develops agricultural solutions with partners to tackle hunger and poverty by reducing producer and consumer risks, enhancing crop quality and productivity, and generating wealth from agriculture.
 

CIAT, on behalf of IITA is seeking to recruit a Project Management Assistant with the main responsibility of monitoring and execution of projects and follow up with HQ Project Administration Office (PAO) to ensure that project payments to partners are executed in a timely manner.

Main responsibilities include:

• Work with the project accountant in monitoring project execution and providing feedback to the project coordinator on the status of the project advising on action to be taken with regard to project extensions, budget reallocations and any other action.
• Following up with HQ PAO to ensure that project payments to partners are executed in a timely manner
• Follow up with project partners in collaboration with PAO and Project Coordinator to ensure timeliness in submission of financial and technical report
• Working with the Project Coordinator and Finance office in compiling donor reports while complying to donor reporting templates and liaising with PAO to ensure timely submission of the same
• Management of N2Africa project data and information as required.
• Maintaining project portfolios on soft and hard copies.
• Assuming responsibility for other administrative functions such as planning project meetings, drafting letters/reports, scheduling appointments and coordinating travel arrangements.
• Assisting the Project Coordinator with the administrative duties that falls within the project

The candidate shall have the following competencies, skills and experience:

• A bachelor’s degree preferably in a business related field
• Diploma in project management
• Good understanding of budgeting and financial management procedures
• Knowledge of project management software
• Very good knowledge of database applications, spread sheets, word processing, MS office applications, and ability to learn new applications quickly
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in project administration
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Must be able to work independently with little supervision
• High level of computer skills, ability to handle financial and accounting systems including knowledge of Oracle and ability to learn new applications quickly.

Terms of employment:
 

The position is nationally recruited, will be based at IITA Offices in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The contract will be for two years period, subject to a probation period of three (3) months, renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

How to Apply:
 

Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees. 

All correspondence should be sent to ciatkenyainfo@cgiar.org and should clearly indicate “Project Management Assistant” on the subject line. 

Applications and CV’s should be saved as one file using the applicant’s last name and first name for ease of sorting.

Closing date for applications: 3rd March 2014

All applications will be acknowledged; only short listed candidates will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about us at:
http://www.ciat.cgiar.org