Job Description
Overall purpose
Reporting to the Project Manager, the Project Associate will provide technical expertise to develop SME businesses.
The associate is responsible for identifying, selecting, and supporting the business to process, market and sell safe and nutritious food to consumers in Isiolo and Marsabit counties.
Tasks and responsibilities
Strategic and technical overview
• Support all aspects relevant to the contracts and procurement process, including the prequalification, preparation, assessment of applications and award of purchase orders/contracts including contracts
administration
• Conduct pre-grant and post-grant due diligence to project’s shortlisted businesses.
• Conduct regular visits to grantee working location to verify actual status.
• Support the Nawiri Manager with E-contracting tool process, including initiate and follow-up with contracting parties and respective contract approvers, signing of contracts uploading all necessary documents to share point in liaison with legal team.
• Support the business in product development and market expansion,
• Ensuring updated information on payments in relation to the fund portfolio.
• Support the Nawiri manager with project baselining and monthly data collection from grantees that would feed into the defined M&E indicators, as well as reporting to project stakeholders including donors.
Project Management
• Participate and contribute to development and implementation of project work plans
• Provide assistance to the project manager by monitoring the project progress against project workplan and budget.
• Collect, document, collate and analyse project data for monitoring and management information purposes.
• Responsible for maintaining crucial project documents which track project progress.
• Identify any potential issues or risks that could affect the progression of the project. Work with the Project Manager to identify potential solutions.
• Conduct regular monitoring of the activities conducted under the project by partners
• Follow up with partners and prepare timely monitoring reports with findings and recommendations.
• Provide support for the timely submission of high-quality reports, success stories and other documents as
per organizational procedure and donor requirements.
• Preparation of monthly updates and organizing time bound meetings with project stakeholders.
• Contribute to quarterly reports, activity-specific reports, and drafting of project success stories.
• Plan, coordinate and organize time-bound project site visits.
• Providing support to the project manager in organising key events planned under the project.
• Comply with and implement according to Nawiri’s various policies, e.g., gender, diversity, environmental and
safeguarding etc.
Key organizational relationships
• Reports to Nawiri Project Manager
• Close collaboration with the Nawiri Program consortium partners and GAIN Kenya team.
• Liaises regularly with GAIN Programme Services Team and Knowledge Leadership teams.
• Government, Donors, NGOs, Private Sector, Academia, and others
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Competencies
• Thorough familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, and project scheduling computer applications.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently.
• Good communication skills
• High level of professionalism and integrity
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment, expert problem solving, and creativity.
Experience
• Good experience in Agri-food sector in Kenya.
• Good experience in business development, especially business planning.
• Experience in finance (especially SME finance and grant funding management), office management, documentation.
• Experience conducting auditing and/or due diligence (financial, legal, and operational).
• In depth knowledge of full contract management process from requisition, sourcing, tendering, analysis, award, documentation and close out.
• Strong understanding of supply chain analysis desirable
• Experience working in a public/private partnership environment desirable.
• Private Sector experience desirable
• Experience working in the ASAL areas desirable.
Education
• Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Entrepreneurship & SME Management, and/or equivalent work
experience.
• Diploma or equivalent certification in project management or business administration is highly desirable.
Other requirements
• Fluent written and verbal English
• Local language proficiency desirable.
• Must be willing and able to travel.
WHAT GAIN OFFERS
• Flexible working hours
• Friendly working environment
• Professional development opportunities
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