GVEP International Deputy Regional Director Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Position: Deputy Regional Director

Based: Nairobi, Kenya

Reporting to: Africa Regional Director

Background: GVEP (Global Village Energy Partnership) International works to increase the effectiveness of energy product/service providers by supporting micro, small and medium enterprises to strengthen, expand and diversify their businesses, and improve their ability to raise capital and scale-up. 

To do this, GVEP provides high-quality financial, technology, engineering and project management services.  Over seven million people have benefited from our programmes in Africa. 

GVEP’s head office is in London, comprising eight people.  The Africa Regional Office is in Nairobi and provides leadership for five African countries in which GVEP currently has its operations which are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Senegal.  There are about 80 staff in Africa.  

GVEP has grown rapidly in the last three years, and is in changing and developing its organizational processes and systems, amongst other things to enable our country teams to make the transition from project offices to fully empowered and equipped country offices. 

A key responsibility of this post is contribute to this change.

The African Regional Director (ARD) is responsible for the five country teams, a regional Programme Management Unit, plus various specialist functional staff, all of whom, in various ways, contribute to the delivery of projects. 

The purpose of the position: The Deputy Regional Director (DRD) role is a senior level position responsible for supervising, strengthening and managing the operations portfolio in the organization. 

Reporting to the Africa Regional Director, the incumbent will be responsible for planning, supervising and controlling the delivery of HR and Admin, Finance, ICT and Procurement services.  

The (DRD) will provide senior level support to the ARD, with both internal- and external-facing responsibilities.  

Internally, the DRD will help drive change within the organization, develop the human resources strategy for the organization, and support the development of a strong finance management system in the regional and country offices

The DRD will from time to time be asked to represent the organization in meeting key regional stakeholders (donors, partners, and governments), supporting Country Managers in their business development efforts, and providing support on media and communications activities.

Key Roles and Responsibilities of this position

• A member of GVEP’s senior leadership team who will play a key role in shaping the organisation’s culture;


• Supports ARD in development of strategy for and delivery of organisational change, including capacity development of country and regional teams, mentoring of country managers, delivery of changes to functional processes;


• Manages the day-to-day operational activities of the Support Functions (i.e. Human Resources, IT, Finance and Procurement Functions), with close collaboration with the functional heads in London as necessary;


• Directly responsible for managing the Support Functions’ operational budget, including developing annual budgets, and managing expenditure in line with budget, and supporting the ARD in managing the wider Africa regional budget; 


• Will ensure finance, procurement and HR policies are kept up to date and are understood and followed by Africa-based staff;


• Able to deputize for the Africa Regional Director in any context


• Help manage growth and change within GVEP, as new projects come on stream and others end;


• Help build a coherent culture and sense of mission in GVEP based on the organisation’s values;


• Provide support to ARD as directed, to enable ARD to fulfill her direct responsibility for management of regional activities and budget;


• Direct responsibility for performance of Support Functions staff;


• Ensure systems of knowledge sharing and professional development exist within and across teams.

Requirements / Competencies

• Experience with leading, growing and changing an organisation in Africa;


• Prior exposure to matrix management desirable;


• Demonstrable success in managing a large team of staff to achieve results;


• The ability to manage in diverse cultural environments and bring people together;


• Energetic, enthusiastic , positive outlook;


• Experience of operating context in Africa;


• Qualifications in energy or business management, MBA or equivalent;


• Commercial experience preferred; high level of financial competence


• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills;


• Strategic problem solver, pragmatic and results oriented;


• Committed leader with strong people management skills;


• Strong ethical and professional values;


• Team player, capable of working effectively and productively with other managers;

How to Apply:
 

Qualified candidates should apply via email with a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience, details of current and expected salary, a daytime phone contact and the names of three professional referees to recruitment@gvepinternational.org  not later than 15th April, 2015. 
 

GVEP International is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin or disability