Somalilandsun – The Rift Valley Institute invites applications for the following posts in London and Nairobi.
• Operations Manager in the RVI regional office in Nairobi, Kenya
• Programme Coordinator for the Nairobi Forum, in the RVI regional office in Nairobi, Kenya
• Assistant Programme Officer in the RVI regional office in Nairobi, Kenya
• Director of Finance and Human Resources in the RVI head office in central London
The Rift Valley Institute is a growing non-profit organisation working in the fields of research, education and advocacy to bring local knowledge to bear on development issues in Eastern and Central Africa. The RVI’s institutional culture is characterized by intellectual rigour, lean management, innovative programming, professional adaptability, cultural diversity and long-term commitment to the communities of the region. The work of the Institute includes action-oriented field research, support for local educational institutions, management of training seminars and field courses, and open-access print and digital publication in multiple languages. The Institute’s expanding programme offers unusual opportunities for career development. There are RVI offices in the UK, Kenya, South Sudan and North America. (www.riftvalley.net)
Operations Manager, Horn of Africa and East Africa (Nairobi-based)
The RVI Operations Manager in Nairobi is the lynch-pin of the Institute’s projects in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Somaliland and other countries in Eastern Africa. The responsibilities of the post include the following: overall administration and financial management of the expanding RVI Nairobi office in Kileleshwa, Nairobi; logistical and financial management of the Institute’s operations in the region, including training courses and long-term research projects; and general support to the head of the office (the RVI Regional Director for the Horn and East Africa) and other Nairobi-based RVI staff and consultants. Human resource management will be an important part of the job. Candidates for this post must have relevant multi-year experience working in a management capacity with an international organization in Eastern or Central Africa. They will need to have excellent English-language writing skills, fluency in at least one other language spoken in the region, competence in book-keeping and a high degree of computer literacy, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software and the Mac operating system. The Operations Manager will report to the RVI Regional Director. The salary is negotiable, according to individual qualifications, experience and domicile. Applicants for the post should have legal residency and the right to work in Kenya. Interviews for this post will be held in March.
Full job description is available on www.riftvalley.net.
Programme Coordinator, Nairobi Forum (Nairobi-based)
The Nairobi Forum is an innovative programme providing a new space for critical discussion of political, economic and social issues in Eastern and Central Africa, with an initial focus on Somalia. The Institute seeks an ambitious Coordinator to take the programme forward. The work of the Forum involves research publications, seminars, workshops and public events tackling a range of themes, from electoral processes and military interventions to new economies in the region, hybrid states, minority rights and threats to cultural heritage. The programme is at an early stage of development and the Coordinator will have an opportunity to shape it for the future. The successful candidate will work with the head of the RVI’s Nairobi Office (the Director for the Horn of Africa and East Africa), to develop and run the programme, liaising with the Executive Director of the RVI and the Publications and Public Relations Manager in London. The Coordinator will also support the development of other new projects and programmes in the region and assist with the Rift Valley Institute’s field training courses. The post requires entrepreneurial energy, analytical flair and intellectual leadership. The successful candidate will need skills in management, networking, writing and editing, fund-raising and public communication. Fluency is required in at least one of the languages spoken in Eastern and Central Africa, in addition to English. A record of scholarly publication or commentary on the affairs of the region is also desirable. An appropriate career background would be in news media, academic research, social activism or publishing. The post involves travel in Eastern and Central Africa and elsewhere. Applications are welcome from residents of Eastern African, from members of the diaspora, and from citizens and residents of countries in Europe and North America who are ready to relocate. Salary and benefits offered will be according to professional experience, individual qualifications, seniority and domicile. Interviews will be held in March.
Full job description is available on www.riftvalley.net.
Assistant Programme Officer, Horn of Africa and East Africa (Nairobi-based)
The project officer will join a small, hard-working team in the RVI Regional office in Nairobi. Speed, reliability and flexibility are the keys to this post, and there are promotion prospects for the right candidate. Work will include office administration, assistance in management of the Institute’s field training courses, digitisation of documents, event management, and relations with the RVI’s suppliers and consultants. Essential aptitudes and skills include the following: fluency in professional written English; command of at least one of the other languages spoken in Eastern Africa; and a high degree of computer literacy, including mastery of Microsoft Office. The RVI is a learning environment where staff need to be ready to acquire new skills fast. Candidates should have previous experience working with an international organization. The Assistant Programme Officer will work closely with the Programme Officer and report to the head of the Nairobi Office (the RVI’s Horn and East Africa Regional Director). Minimum salary KSh 1,000,000 p.a., according to qualifications and experience. Applicants for this post must have legal residency and the right to work in Kenya. Interviews for the post will be held in Nairobi in March.
Full job description is available on www.riftvalley.net.
Director of Finance and Human Resources (London-based)
This is a senior post in RVI’s London office, central to the life of the Institute. As Director of Finance, the successful candidate will be responsible for global administration of the Institute’s financial affairs, interaction with the RVI’s accountants and auditors, reporting to funders, and line-management of RVI finance officers and managers (in London and other offices). As Director of Human Resources, he/she will be responsible for the recruitment and welfare of staff and consultants, for management of individual employment contracts across the RVI network and for relations with the RVI’s body of Fellows. In both roles the Director of Finance and Human Resources will work with the RVI Programme Director (currently acting Finance Director) and the RVI Regional Director for the Horn and East Africa. He/she will report to the RVI’s Executive Director. Relevant professional qualifications and experience at a senior level in the financial management of a small or medium-scale organization are essential prerequisites for this post; experience working with an international NGO in an African country is highly desirable. A competitive salary will be offered to the right candidate. The post is London-based, with some travel to East Africa. Interviews will be held in March. (The deadline for this post has been extended from December 2012.) Applicants for the post must have the right to reside and work in the UK.
Full job description is available on www.riftvalley.net.
To view the Full job descriptions and application process visit www.riftvalley.net.
