Mercy Corps Business Officers Jobs in Western, Central, Nyanza, Coast and Rift Valley Kenya

Position Description
 

Vacancy Announcement 
 

Business Officer Positions to based in Western, Central, Nyanza, Coast and Rift Valley
 

Program / Department Summary

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 is implementing 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 a 

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 (15-30yrs) 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 Regional Manager, 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 County Youth Bunge Forums and Youth Bunges (which are mobilized by the Yes Youth Can-Regional projects) to provide Community Development Grants, micro investments, and other programs. 

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 Bunges with all information regarding the processes, policies and procedures of applying for a grant from the TYF Youth Grant Fund, specifically highlighting the role and responsibility of the Youth Bunge.
• Work in a respectful, transparent manner with the County Youth Bunge Forums by creating an environment in which the County Bunges are provided an equal space and opportunity to lead the grant application process in conjunction with the TYF Regional Manager.
• Support the Youth Bunges and County Bunges in becoming stronger, more sustainable youth institutions.
• 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.
• 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 database 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: Regional Manager
 

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

Knowledge and Experience:

• Five or more years of work experience with increasing responsibilities in private, NGO or government sector.
• Experience implementing, monitoring and managing Community Development or Youth Leadership projects at the field-level.
• Demonstrated skills in outreach, meeting facilitation, and public speaking.
• Bachelor's degree in economic development or development-related filed is preferred. Professional grant making training is desirable.
• Two or more years of experience in grants making and management, especially under a USAID grant, is preferred.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 positions will be based in Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Coast or Nairobi; up to 40% field travel within the designated region of responsibility is required.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

To Apply:
 

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit an application on before 3rd August at 4.00p.m to Hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org

Applications must include: cover letter, and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor). Cover letters should indicate geographic availability.

Please submit with subject heading: “Application for the position of Business Officer Based in ……….”. Applications without this subject heading will be disqualified. 

Please do not attach any certificates. 

(ONLY Qualified short-listed candidates will be contacted)

(shortlisting will be done as the applications comes in)