KENYA COUNTRY ASSOCIATE

Salary: Commensurate with experience and with local standards.
Education: Master (MA, MSW, etc.)
Location: Mombasa, Kenya
Posted by: Think Impact
Job Category: Human Relations, Management , Project management, Safety, Health and Resource Protection, Social Enterprise
Sector: Nonprofit
Last day to apply: January 22, 2011
Last updated: November 23, 2010
Type: Full time
Language(s): English
Job posted on: November 23, 2010
Area of Focus: Social Enterprise and Economic Development
ThinkImpact (www.thinkimpact.org), a Washington, DC-based organization, builds social businesses to end poverty. We host a 10-week Innovation Institute Scholars Program in rural Kenya and South Africa, taking America's brightest young social entrepreneurs to live and work with community entrepreneurs and identify and develop social innovations. Our scholars learn through an asset-based community development curriculum, and unleash the potential at the base of the pyramid creating jobs, products and services that change lives. Scholars are invited each year to compete for the ThinkImpact Fellowship through a social business plan competition. Fellows get mentoring and
support in our 9-month Impact Incubator and a fully-funded fellowship to return to the community for 1 year to build the social business with a community entrepreneur.

ThinkImpact currently seeks self-motivated, enthusiastic, hard-working individuals for the position of KENYA COUNTRY ASSOCIATE. This position is located in Mombasa, Kenya. In 2011, ThinkImpact will build its Mombasa Innovation Center, which the Country Associate will be responsible for establishing. The Innovation Center will include business development, university outreach and community liaison responsibilities.

Country Director’s Responsibilities

- Help ThinkImpact fellows with their business development; fellows and community entrepreneurs benefit from the advice of the Country Associate, including supply chain development, marketing strategies, financial management, cultural relations, etc.
- Act as a loan officer, distributing ThinkImpact micro-loans to community members
- Manage all country operations, including administrative and logistical tasks (running the office, managing the ThinkImpact bank account, handling financial reporting)
- Network with key institutions, individuals and organizations, building out ThinkImpact’s presence, as well as business relationships
- Research markets, industries, the social entrepreneurship sector within Kenya and Africa, etc.
- Manage Innovation Institute logistics, schedule and staff
- Coordinate meetings, payments and homestays with the communities

Country Associate’s Qualifications

- B.A. and M.B.A. (or similar)
preferred
- At least 3 years work experience
(abroad a plus)
- Experience living abroad,
preferably in Africa
- Knowledge of Kenyan culture and
customs required
- Knowledge of Swahili a plus
- Business experience: background
knowledge and practical experience in
business world
- Passion for social business
- Drive and organization for
community work, both on the ground
and in an office setting
- Experience in administrative
aspects of office work
o With emphasis on accounting,
scheduling, networking
- Willingness to break down cultural
boundaries; understanding of
intercultural communication
o Both assisting fellows in adapting
to Kenyan life/culture, but also adapting
to working with Americans
o Support for the immersion process
that Fellows undergo during transition
to life in Kenya (mentally and
emotionally)
• Ex.) Empathy for the stress,
distance from home, assisting in
learning the local ways
- Empathy for the communities’
needs and complex issues of daily life

Please submit a ONE PAGE cover letter, 1-2 page resume, and list of 3 references with Name, Title, Phone & Email to Rachel Gordon at jobs@thinkimpact.org. Email subject should read: Kenya Country Associate.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning immediately.
NO CALLS PLEASE.

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