Programme Director: MENTOR Initiative Jobs in Kenya

The MENTOR Initiative is a “not for profit”, charitable, non-governmental organisation devoted to reducing death and suffering from malaria in humanitarian crises.

The MENTOR Initiative is currently providing ongoing emergency support to the most vulnerable communities in Haiti, Liberia, Angola, Kenya, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eastern and Southern Chad.

Closing date: 06 Jul 2010
Location: Kenya – Garissa

Responsible to: Operations Director HQ
Start Date: 15 July 2010

Duration: one year with possibility to renew
Terms: 3500-4000USD/month, 17USD/day In-Country Living Allowance, Return Flight, shared accommodation, insurance.

Detailed tasks:

The Program Director will be overall responsible to ensure programme implementation of the Comic Relief Special Initiative, a four-year programme that aims to build sustainable and effective malaria control for vulnerable communities in North Eastern Kenya.

Programme Implementation

* Ensure that the Comic Relief Special Initiative for malaria control in Garissa is delivered with high quality, and achieves the agreed objectives and impact in line with the grant agreement.

Fund Raising and Grant management

* Liaise with Comic Relief and other donors (as relevant), in consultation with HQ, to advance program ideas, solicit funding and other support and share information on the status of programmes.
* Ensure that relevant regional proposals are drafted in a timely and professional manner in a format consistent with The MENTOR and donor guidelines and are reviewed and approved by HQ prior to official submission by HQ (or locally if agreed by HQ).
* Oversee the management of grants including the appropriate expenditure of funds.
* Assure timely grant reporting.
* Generate grant proposal budgets based upon an overall operating budget in standard format.

Financial Management

* Ensure timeliness and completeness of financial reports to HQ as required.
* Ensure timeliness and completeness of requests for funds disbursement to HQ.
* Ensure that financial resources are cost effectively utilized to implement activities in accordance with budget and allotments issued.
* Oversee a complete record updating of funds allotted and available for disbursement.
* Ensure regular and ongoing use of a basic budget management tools to monitor and manage the use of agreed budgets over the time scale of the planned activities to avoid funding shortfalls against the programme’s approved cost planning.

Human Resource Management

* Overall line management of senior team members while ensuring their effective management of programme staff.
* Oversee the recruitment of all team members in accordance with Kenyan Labour Law.
* Review and amend the Kenya internal regulations for MENTOR team members in accordance with Kenyan Labour Law.
* Traning and management of all administration, logistics and finance team members.
* Ensure adherence to The MENTOR Initiative contracts, guidelines and internal rules.
* Implement and develop (as needed) local staff policy in line with national Labour Laws.
* Coordinate actions related to the administration of human resources activities ensuring consistency in the application of The MENTOR Initiative rules and procedures and local labour law.
* Ensure the effective implementation of staff performance reviews in a timely manner.
* Oversee timely and appropriate personnel action, staff servicing and compliance.

General Administration

* Ensure effective administration of all programme areas working with the relevant international and national team members with delegated responsibility for office administration, IT, procurement, customs clearance, Government requirements, etc.

Security and Safety

Garissa is an area where security can at times be challenging. This post must:

* Ensure that existing security and safety policies and practices are reviewed monthly and on an ad hoc basis whenever a security incident occurs for the MENTOR Initiative.
* Ensure that all team members are trained and updated regularly in security and safety practices.
* Ensure good relations and coordinate with local authorities, police, other national security authorities, NGOs and UN security networks.
* Responsible for overall security of international and national team members and any visitors to the program.

Logistics

* Responsible for local procurement, fleet and equipment procurement and maintenance of all said assets.
* Responsible for overseeing and monitoring asset management.
* Responsible for the warehouse, stock control consistent with established MENTOR protocols and procedures.
* Oversee the logistical filing system to include all equipment manuals, maintenance schedules and logs documentation e.g. way bills. It does include the setup of a complete, transparent and detailed asset use and management.
* Monitor and maintain all communication equipment – ie. HF, VHF and internet and installation of these when necessary. Assure the proper use and training of all The MENTOR Initiative Staff in the use and respect of communication equipment and procedures.
* Establish relationship with other agencies working in the area for an MoU to use HF radio frequencies.
* Ensure that all communication with field teams and bases occurs daily. Monitor the respect of procedure when moving anywhere in the country and field locations.
* Daily coordination of transport activities by road, and air if needed, as per the daily programme activities.

Communications and Authorizations

* Report to HQ (France and UK) in a timely and thorough way on contextual issues affecting The MENTOR staff, programs, assets; (weekly reporting etc.).
* Obtain prior HQ authorizations for any new donor agreements, local policies, and commitments of The MENTOR Initiative resources beyond approved limits.
* Assure that proper channels of communication are maintained and respected. Regularly consult with HQ on all matters of significance to the programme and staff affairs.

Representation

* Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with partners, donors, host government and relevant Ministries, other humanitarian agencies, as well as staff.
* Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with the Ministry of Health in Garissa and at a national level.
* Pursue responsible media coverage of events, issues and programs related to MENTOR’s programme working closely with the Comic Relief media team.
* Actively pursue coordination and working relationships with other NGOs and international organizations.

Other MENTOR Support Roles

* Support MENTOR Initiative international training courses from time to time, in mutual agreement with the Director.
* Work with HQ team to provide technical support for activities planned in Somalia as part of a technical support agreement for Global Fund implementing partners with Unicef Somalia.
* Possible transfer from Kenya to another MENTOR programme (or HQ) to take up a similar senior technical or general management role in mutual agreement with the Director.

Qualifications

* Minimum 3 years of experience working in complex humanitarian missions
* Post Graduate Qualification in public health, medicine, communication, management, political science, public administration or similar
* Prior experience working in insecure areas
* Strong finance and logistical skills including proven experience in security and safety policies and practices
* Fluent in English
* Proven experience in program coordination, multicultural team management and capacity building
* Excellent report writing skills
* Experience working with donors and public authorities
* Knowledge of northeast Kenya a plus

How to apply

Please send a CV and letter of motivation with contact information of three recent line managers to personnel@mentor-initiative.net.