We are Hiring: Chief Operations Officer, Programme Manager and Accountant

Posted on 30th September 2021 by ADMIN KWCA

Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) is seeking talented, passionate and committed individuals to join our secretariat team working to deliver our Strategic Plan and support programs and activities designed to catalyse the conservancy network in Kenya.

KWCA is looking to fill the positions of a Chief Operations Officer, Programme Manager, and Accountant. The positions are on contractual basis, based in Nairobi with frequent travel to the field.

About KWCA

KWCA is a national membership representative body and voice of conservancies in Kenya. Our role is to support and catalyse the conservancy movement by connecting, informing, convening and representing conservancies and other key stakeholders in a shared effort to make wildlife conservancies thrive in Kenya. More information about the organisation can be found at www.kwcakenya.com

Chief Operations Officer

Role

The Chief Operations Officer is key member of the KWCA leadership reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. The COO is responsible for executing the organisation management, human resources and administration functions and overseeing operational roles. The position is key in ensuring the internal control environment is effective and works to deliver the organisations strategic objectives, in compliance with organisational policies/procedures donor’s deliverables and partners requirements. S/he will facilitate strong partnership collaboration and compliance, resource mobilisation and drive administrative and people management excellence to ensure a strong and credible KWCA.

Duties and Responsibilities;

1.Finance

Provide oversight and guidance on KWCA’s financial management, budgeting, technical and financial reporting, audit and compliance, legal and statutory requirements and documentation;
Drive effective financial strategy and operations for KWCA ensuring compliance with relevant standards of financial management ;
Provide financial oversight by setting up and enforcing risk management and control frameworks that allows for empowerment while guaranteeing appropriate levels of control and oversight at all levels;
Ensure that sound financial and accounting systems are in place, including the implementation of proper financial controls and procedures;
Provide leadership and oversight of annual budgets aligned to KWCA approved organisation strategy and programme work plans;

2. Human Resources

Lead all strategic, operational and human resource roles and systems, including strategic planning, performance management, talent management, professional development, recruitment and onboarding, workforce planning, policies development and implementation, employee relations, engagement and wellbeing;
Lead in development of, implementation and review of organisational policies ensuring compliance, guidance and interpretation by staff, and ensuring organisational policies and systems are aligned with corporate best practices and government and other requirements;
Regularly review the organisational systems and procedures with a view of making them efficient and cost effective;
Foster people management and support KWCA to be a driven and enjoyable workplace that lives the values of the organisation;

3. Fundraising

Implement and regularly review KWCA’s fundraising strategy and advice the CEO on best and most effective resource mobilisation efforts to ensure sustainability of the organisation;
Manage donor funds and evaluate utilisation and optimal reporting per agreed contracts and service level agreements;
Represent KWCA in development partners meetings and participate and maintain good relationships with other stakeholders together with the programme teams;
Make follow up of and with partners to drive continual improvement and continued partnership support;

4. Strategy

Lead in KWCA’s strategic planning, organisation work planning, strategic plan review and annual impact reporting;
Maintain an oversight role of KWCA’s risk management strategy and guide on effective mitigation plans and activities;
Ensure that the organisation complies with all legal and regulatory requirements;
Perform any other duties as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies:

An advanced degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance and Accounting, Organization Management or related field from a recognised university;
At least 10 years professional experience with extensive experience in operations leadership role, with demonstrated success in managing teams, office operations, and budgets at a national level;
A deep understanding of Finance, Human Resource, Administration and Compliance models;
Proven knowledge and experience of the not-for-profit sector, preferably of environmental non-government organisations, or in governance, legal and regulatory compliance related roles;
Demonstrated ability in strategic planning, performance management enforcement in organisation policies, applicable laws and compliance;
Proven leadership, interpersonal and financial acumen with excellent capacity to manage human and financial resources;
Eagerness to work in a dynamic and demanding environment and help grow an enabling culture of innovation and performance;
A Certified Public Accountant of Kenya – CPA(K) desired but not a requirement;
Experience with developing and delivering shared goals;
Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing and evaluating strategic plans;
High level negotiation, facilitation as well as interpersonal and influencing skills and the capacity to develop and maintain strong relationships across KWCA networks and with external partners;
Good organisational and planning skills are essential;
Strong interpersonal, superior oral and written communication and presentation skills, and ability to work under pressure.

Programme Manager

Role

The Programme Manager will steer strategic leadership and oversight of all programmes in line with KWCA’s strategic plan with the aim of delivering high level impact results. S/he will be responsible for the overall programme design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of programme activities and ensure effective programme team and resource management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Programme Management

Provide leadership in programme design, planning, management and implementation to the programmes team towards achieving programme objectives;
Review and ensure alignment of programme priorities, strategies and plans to the overall organisation goals and plans and ensure programme activities are inter-linked and consolidated;
Work together with the financial team and lead in proposal developments
Coach, mentor and provide leadership to the programme team ensuring effective performance management and delivery of programmes;
Provide support to KWCA’s landscape level conservancy associations on programme management to enhance organisational capacity;
Represent the organisation in various programme related network and alliance meetings, events and forums at county, national and international levels to strengthen KWCA’s relationships;
Put in place effective capacity building initiatives/activities to drive skill and competency levels of programme teams in order to fully support the achievement of the programme strategy;

2. Monitoring & Evaluation

Lead in the development and implementation of KWCA M&E policy and strategy and ensure compliance;
Replace/introduce new M&E systems if needed, as well as implement new and more efficient data collection processes with regional conservancies;
Lead the organisational knowledge management processes ensuring learning is well documented and best practices are tracked for knowledge sharing;
Oversee effective internal and external project reviews and evaluations and provide assistance to consultants in conducting project reviews, evaluations and other M&E related activities depending on donor requirements and resources;
Ensure quality and timely submission of quarterly, annual or required programme performance reports as per desired KWCA and donor standards and guidelines;
Lead in tracking, updating and validating data ensuring its accurate, reliable and timely;
Ensure data is well captured, organised in KWCA’s M&E and programmes system, analysed and findings and project results summarised for dissemination to donors;
Facilitate continuous M&E training for programme team and landscape conservancy associations;
Liaise with the communication officer to document programme successes stories, case studies, programme snapshots and updates for relevant communication and fundraising activities;
Perform any other duties as instructed by the Chief Executive Officer.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies:

Advanced degree, environment and natural resource management and other related studies, social sciences, monitoring and evaluation, project management or related discipline. An advanced certificate in M&E is an added advantage;
At least 10 years of total experience, and notable experience in managing programmes and programmes teams, including the design and implementation of M&E at national level;
Demonstrated ability to conceptualise, plan and implement strategic initiatives within a not for profit sector and particularly within the context of community conservation, natural resource management, development, and/or other related fields;
Knowledge and understanding of conservancies is desirable;
Experienced in development partnerships, fundraising, donor management, government and international relations in the country;
Demonstrable experience in building effective partnerships and coalitions with a variety of stakeholders;
Program development and program and financial management skills are essential;
Good interpersonal skills with the ability to network and to develop and maintain strong relationships at the local, county, national and international levels;
Ability to travel frequently in remote locations;
Strong interpersonal, superior oral and written communication and presentation skills, and enhanced multitasking abilities;
Strong training and facilitation skills.

Accountant

Role

The Accountant is responsible for supporting the Senior Accountant with the day to day running of the Finance & Administrative Function. S/he will provide effective support in financial management, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audit and compliance, grant management and administrative services. The Accountant shall be assigned various donor accounts which s/he will oversee while ensuring requisite compliance standards as stipulated within policy and procedures both for KWCA and as governed by law and regulations for financial and donor management and reporting.

Duties & Responsibilities

Prepare financial reports efficiently and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS (, International Accounting Standards (IAS) and other relevant donor requirements for review by Senior Accountant;
Adhere to financial management procedures and controls to ensure consistency with KWCA standard operating procedures and the relevant development partners and government policies;
Maintenance of general ledgers, which entails keeping records up to date with current financial transactions;
Support in organisational and programmatic budgets development and reporting;
Facilitate adherence to the organisational accounting policies;
Ensure compliance with financial and auditing requirements;
Support in preparation and execution of external audits as may be assigned;
Ensure transactions are booked to the correct budget lines;
Ensure financial reports from landscape conservancy associations supported by KWCA are sufficiently documented and as per the grant documents;
Reconciliation of banks and ledger accounts, payroll payments and vendor’s accounts;
Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Senior Accountant.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Competencies:

An Undergraduate Degree preferably in Finance, Business Administration, Commerce, Accounting, Economics, or any other relevant field
CPA Part 3;
At least five (5) years of experience in a Finance and/or Accounting function, preferably from non for profit sector;
Excellent knowledge and demonstrated experience in use of Quick Books Accounting system;
Good knowledge of basic accounting procedures;
Excellent knowledge and demonstrated experience with MS office package software applications with advanced skills using Microsoft excel;
Ability to effectively communicate financial information to non-finance staff;
Highly self-supervised and ability to meet deadlines;
Good interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;
Relevant knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, internal controls procedures, and financial management;
High level of integrity and confidentiality;
Attention to detail and accuracy.

Application

Interested candidates can submit their CVs and cover letter to [email protected] citing the exact position in the subject line on or before Friday, 22^nd October 2021. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. KWCA is an equal opportunity employer.

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