Managing Director (Fixed Term) Ndhiwa Community Empowerment and Development Project – National NGO

Team Kenya’s implementation partner in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay is recruiting!

Job Title: Managing Director for Ndhiwa Community Empowerment and Development Project (NCEDP) – Full time

Reports To: NCEDP Chair of the Board of Trustees

Supported By: Team Kenya

Direct Line Management for: Enterprise Director, Education Programme Manager, Learning Resource and Finance Manager

Location: Ndhiwa, Kenya

Deadline for submission of applications is 12noon EAT, 30th November 2020

About Ndhiwa Community Empowerment and Development Project (NCEDP – Twende Pamoja):

Ndhiwa Community Empowerment and Development Project (NCEDP) is a grassroots Kenyan NGO based in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County. NCEDP is the registered name, and we operate under the community name of ‘Twende Pamoja’. NCEDP works in collaboration with Team Kenya, a UK-based CIO, to educate girls, empower women and transform communities in this rural part of western Kenya. Together these organisations have transformed the lives of over 5,000 young people and their families in Ndhiwa since 2004. The aim is for NCEDP to grow and develop into a strong, independent Kenyan NGO, able to sustain its activities with less direct financial support from its main collaboration partner organisation, Team Kenya. To achieve this, NCEDP and Team Kenya have committed to an intensive transition plan which includes capacity building and training to ensure NCEDP has the knowledge, skills, procedures and processes to be both more autonomous and to successfully continue to deliver a range of projects. It is our intention that NCEDP will be one of the leading women-led organisations working at grassroots level in Kenya. This role will be integral in supporting this transition.

NCEDP’s core values are Integrity, Collaboration, Empowerment and Respect.

Currently activities are divided into the following areas:

1. Success for Girls in School – to enable girls to reach their potential free from violence and abuse

2. Advocacy for Safe Communities – to improve understanding of the rights of girls and women and an appreciation for the roles they play in the community

3. Economic Empowerment and Food Security – to provide families with the means to support themselves so that all children can attend school

Main Purpose of Job:

The Managing Director is a fixed term contract position which will provide intensive support to the development of NCEDP and its employees during this period of transition, initially for 24 months dependent on performance and funding availability.

The Managing Director will be responsible for the continued delivery of NCEDP’s vision, mission and strategic goals, ensuring all programme of activities remain in line with the policies of the Government of Kenya and relevant laws and regulations. Additionally, the post-holder will identify and pursue opportunities for NCEDP to further develop and grow, in alignment with our commitment to women’s development and leadership.

We are looking for a candidate with outstanding leadership and communication skills, who will foster innovation, help to build effective teams, partnerships and networks, and encourage on-going staff development to motivate and strengthen the organisation’s resilience in the face of change. As an organisation committed to improving the lives of women and girls in Ndhiwa, South-Western Kenya, it is important that the candidate has a track record of advocating on gender issues and has an understanding and commitment to the development of female leadership across the organisation and within our communities.

Person Specification

Essential Experience:

• Proven track record of leading organisational strategy and development, specifically successfully leading organisations through a period of change

• Experience of working collaboratively to design and implement both strategic and operational plans.

• Strong budgeting, financial and risk management experience.

• Strong human resource management experience including diverse teams, and working with international and local partners and consultants.

• Training and experience in leadership, managing change, project delivery, education, community development, or a combination of these.

• Experience of delivering training and the ability to adapt training materials.

• Experience in creating a learning environment within an organisation.

• Proven experience in child and vulnerable adult safeguarding activities.

• In-depth knowledge of the root causes of gender inequality, and a passion for supporting girls to realize their potential.

• Be educated to degree level, hold a diploma in a relevant field, or have a comparable level of professional experience.

Desirable Experience:

• Minimum 5 years experience in a community development setting, including managing teams, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and project reporting, for donors ranging from smaller trusts and foundations to DFID or USAID.

• Experience of liaising with local and national stakeholders, and with ministry level stakeholders.

• Understanding of the use of digital solutions for development.

Essential Skills and Attributes:

• Personal commitment to inclusive education, meaningful participation and women’s empowerment

• Strong understanding of and sensitivity to issues surrounding SRGBV.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of international best practice on education and community engagement.

• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills

• Highly motivated, resourceful, adaptable, and able to self-manage a demanding workload.

• Able to think and plan strategically, and translate strategy into actionable plans for team members.

• Team player, with proven leadership skills, able and willing to understand the perspectives of others.

• Personal commitment to nurturing and developing team members.

• Creative, adaptable, and plans accordingly, as well as able to explain his/her perspectives to others.

• Possess cultural and interpersonal skills to allow you to support and interact with stakeholders and beneficiaries from a variety of backgrounds, and respect for their lived experience.

• Strong financial skills, including preparation and management of budgets.

• Competent computer skills, proficient in Microsoft Office, Zoom, Skype, Dropbox, Google Drive and the ability to support others to use new technology.

Desirable Skills and Attributes:

• Proactive and able to identify and pursue opportunities for organisational growth.

• Ability to communicate with a range of audiences.

• Ability to create high quality proposals and budgets.

• Understanding of the local context in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County.

• Fluent in Dhuluo

• Fluent verbal and written English

Key Responsibilities

Strategic:

• Lead on revision and further development of NCEDP strategy, budget and operational plans, working closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Management and ensuring alignment with local and national priorities.

• Liaise with the NCEDP Board of Trustees to ensure appropriate governance and strategic direction of the organisation, with support from Team Kenya

• Work with Team Kenya to deliver on the Transition Plan to strengthen and develop NCEDP.

• Raise the profile of NCEDP locally and nationally with donors and other NGOs/CBOs

• Act as an Ambassador for NCEDP locally, nationally and globally and keep informed of global, national and local developments and movements relevant to NCEDP strategy

• Identify funding needs and opportunities, and work with the Board of Trustees and Team Kenya to secure funding for NCEDP

• Promote a culture that reflects the organisations’ values, encourages good performance, and rewards productivity.

• Supply regular reports to the NCEDP Board of Trustees and fulfil all duties required as Secretary to the Board.

Organisational:

• Provide overall leadership and be responsible for the organisation’s administration, financial management, human resources and programme delivery, ensuring compliance with all legal, statutory, donor and regulatory requirements.

• Further develop Staff Development Plan and ensure delivery of effective and efficient human resources functions including recruitment of new staff, supporting staff personal development plans, conducting performance appraisals, and developing and leading on a Staff Welfare Plan, with support from the NCEDP Board and Team Kenya.

• Undertake Staff Skills Audit and Organisation Health Check to map areas for support

• Develop and lead on a capacity development plan, with support from the NCEDP Board of Trustees and Team Kenya

• Provide leadership, guidance and direction for the Senior Management Team ensuring they develop leadership skills and remain motivated and dedicated to achieving the organisational objectives and goals, with a particular focus on women’s professional development.

• Responsible for financial oversight, including setting annual budgets, providing support and sign-off to programme budgets, monitoring budget versus actuals on a monthly basis, adherence to NCEDP financial policies and procedures, verification of supporting documents for expenditure, ensuring the prudent management of the organisation’s resources and excellent stewardship of donor funds.

• Responsibility for financial and risk management – maintain oversight of risks and changes in the internal and external environment that affect the organisation and take appropriate actions as required to reduce and mitigate risks

• Responsible for ensuring all operational manuals, policies and procedures are reviewed regularly (at least annually) and remain fit for purpose.

• Development of external communications plan, with support from key staff and volunteers

• Lead on visits from donors and cross-cultural exchange visits, ensuring visitors are well-briefed and the purpose of such visits are clear.

• Responsible for Safeguarding

Programmes:

• Work with senior programme staff to ensure successful design, delivery and quality of all NCEDP programmes in line with organisational strategy, and donor requirements

• Establish mechanisms for listening to the views of beneficiaries on the organisation’s performance

• Lead an updated Needs Assessment within the community, with support from Team Kenya.

• Develop new projects and donor proposals, with support from Team Kenya

• Prepare management reports for submission to the NCEDP Board and to support donor reporting

• Ensure effective Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, with support from Team Kenya

• Working with the programmes team, produce an annual review and impact report detailing achievements, challenges and successes

Carry out any other duties as requested by NCEDP Board in line with the organisation vision and mission.

Salary is in line with the NCEDP salary scale, representing a fair wage within the local region.