Operations Associate

Education: Bachelor (BA, BS, etc.)
Location: Kilifi, Coast, Kenya
Posted by: KOMAZA
Type: Full time
Language(s): English
Job posted on: October 1, 2010
Area of Focus: Economic Development, Environment and Ecology, Farming and Agriculture, Poverty and Hunger, Social Enterprise and Economic Development
Sector: Nonprofit
Last day to apply: November 1, 2010
Last updated: October 17, 2010
KOMAZA is an award-winning non-profit social enterprise working to end rural poverty by developing economic opportunities for smallholder farmers living in Africa’s infertile and drought-prone regions.

Founded in 2006 and based in Kenya, our innovative grassroots model dramatically boosts household income for rural families by equipping them with resources, knowledge and market linkages to produce high-value climate-appropriate crops on their previously degraded land.

WE ARE HIRING: an early-career (2-3 years experience) business, development, agricultural or environmental professional with operational experience to help aggressively scale field operations.

Industry: Social Business / International Development / Start-Up / Non-profit
Function: Crop Production
Commitment: 1 year minimum, 2 years preferred
Location: Kilifi, Kenya
Compensation/Benefits: Associate-level (see below)
Application Deadline: 1 November 2010
Start Date: 1 February 2011 at the latest

THE ROLE
As an Operations Associate, you will design and implement systems tools and processes to enable KOMAZA to continue growing efficiently and effectively. You will:
• Collaborate closely with Operations Team and Field Staff:
Capture “on-the-ground” needs and best practices consulting with field staff to understand field challenges and bottlenecks to build out effective and efficient systems
• Design systems and processes to enable KOMAZA operations:
Design and implement procedures and processes that will ensure a smooth-running field extension system that is efficient and adaptable as KOMAZA scales
• Design operational tools to support overall operational goals:
Create easy-to-follow project, logistics, and human capital management documents and checklists to build an operational model that can be transferred to local staff ownership
• Capture lessons learned for optimal operational “blueprint” for future rural cells:
Create supporting documents (written content, photos, diagrams) that will train staff and empower an operations director to build out operations in a new rural cell (this is a mission-critical and complex long-term project)
• Inform field staff management decisions:
Troubleshoot day-to-day operational challenges, and develop tools to optimize field staff efficiency, occasionally directly overseeing a field project to ensure high-quality execution

Field Component:
This role, while based in the Kilifi town office, will have a field component – which can be challenging but highly rewarding. This work will involve: long, dirty and uncomfortable bus/motorcycle rides, basic rustic facilities, work in areas far from any infrastructure (stores, electricity, paved roads), hours spent outside in the equatorial sun and heat. KOMAZA will soon commence construction on its first dedicated field operations office in Ganze, which will facilitate any fieldwork.

QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will possess:
• Education:
A top performing academic background with a bachelor of science in agriculture, forestry, business management or a related field
• Relevant work experience:
2+ years experience in project/operational management or consulting in either business, agricultural development, forestry, conservation, or a related field. Work experience in a role that involved a significant, operational component: significant project management or other leadership in an operational role, staff management
• Operations work experience:
Evidence of ability to excel in role with focus on field-based operations, ability to recognize logistical necessities, plan scalable systems around field based realities, and foresee problems
• Strong organizational skills:
Ability to balance multiple projects, work across all aspects of operations, and take ownership of projects to achieve targets in a highly independent capacity
• Strong team orientation:
Collaborative work ethic and ability to perform on a multidisciplinary team and across multiple departments
• Analytical thinking -at a high and granular level:
Excellent problem-solving skills and business judgment; ability to think “big picture” (e.g. milestone setting to plant with 10,000 farmers) and dig into details (e.g. how to quickly get 100 barrels to farmers with no vehicles and poor road infrastructure)
• Strong communication skills and commitment to:
Being personable yet persistent; building consensus and influencing decision-making; adapting to local cultural norms and communication styles given close collaboration with local staff
• Commitment to excellence:
Dedication to producing high-quality work and executing tasks with great accuracy and systematic attention to detail
• Patience and a sense of humor:
Please see KOMAZA recruiting website for a more detailed description of important “fit” criteria

Preferred:
- Kiswahili
- Work experience in a role that involved: significant project management or other leadership role, staff management
- Work/volunteer experience in a developing country
- Experience or understanding of agriculture/forestry and knowledge of plant production and agro-ecology

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Associates
In their first year, Associates receive a monthly stipend AND the following benefits:
• Food and housing
• Travel stipend covering arrival and departure flights and visa costs (or equivalent compensation for East Africans)
• Comprehensive international health insurance (or equivalent compensation for East Africans) including immunizations

The starting package provides for a comfortable standard of living in Kilifi, Kenya. For Associates who work for more than one year, compensation and benefits will increase significantly. This is a career-track role in international development and social business, offering significant opportunities for advancement as KOMAZA continues to grow.

Analysts
Analysts receive a food and housing stipend that provides for a comfortable standard of living in Kilifi, Kenya. Travel, health and personal expenses are not covered, though costs are generally low (e.g, a one hour bus ride from Kilifi to Mombasa costs 100 KSH/1.25 USD). Analysts who perform well may be eligible for Associate compensation and benefits (see Associate job description on komaza.org/recruiting for details).

Please apply directly through our website at www.komaza.org/recruiting.

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