NGO Jobs in Nairobi, Kenya - GESCI

About GESCI: GESCI, the Global E-Schools and Communities

Initiative, is a non-profit organisation founded by the United Nations ICT

Taskforce. 

GESCI, with its headquarters in

Nairobi, Kenya, provides strategic advice and assistance to Governments in the

socio-economic development of their countries through the widespread

integration of technology for knowledge society development, especially in the

education, skills training, leadership and community development domains. 

Job title: Programme Manager, African Digital

Schools’ Initiative (ADSI)

Type:

 Fixed term contract, 5 years (2016-2020)

Deadline for applications:

 6:

00 pm. Monday 9th November 2015

Start date:

 1st February 2016

Location:

 Nairobi, Kenya

About ADSI:

 The African Digital Schools Initiative (ADSI),

funded by The MasterCard Foundation, is a 5-year initiative presenting a new

methodology to transform secondary schools into digital schools of

distinction. 

It is designed specifically to build

secondary-level student 21st century skills and teachers’ innovative practice

in a way that is responsive to the needs of the market place and to the

emerging knowledge economies and societies. 

The ADSI model is a phased approach

for digital whole school development in ICT use to incrementally move schools

and teachers towards transformative educational practice and quality student

learning outcomes. 

The blended learning model of

school-based and online professional development is furthermore a

cost-effective and sustainable model for educational transformation. 

The programme will be implemented in

collaboration with the Ministries of Education and their associated agencies in

Kenya, Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire.

Position summary:

 GESCI is seeking a dynamic, qualified and

experienced Programme Manager well-versed in managing complex large –scale and

multi-country programmes in the education and training field experience. 

S/he will lead, coordinate and manage

a programme team consisting of country project managers and project

coordinators based in three countries. 

S/he will work closely with key

designated GESCI specialists, other experts and partners to design, develop and

professionally project- manage the programme and its activities. 

S/he will be a pro-active leader,

experienced and capable of project-managing the programme; who is capable of

the early identification and communication of any issues effecting project

non-performance or any potential problems and to propose solutions to resolve

them in the context of a complex and challenging work environment that will

require creativity and innovative approaches. 

The Programme Manager will report to

the Director of Programmes.

Main responsibilities

• Work with the GESCI executive leadership and
  
  key staff to operationalise the GESCI vision of building secondary-level
  
  student 21st century skills and teachers’ innovative practice through
  
  digital whole school development


• Provide overall leadership, coordination and
  
  management to the programme team, partners and stakeholders


• Develop, implement and monitor financial and
  
  resource plans to ensure and to facilitate effective and efficient
  
  execution of programme activities


• Develop and maintain collaborative working
  
  relationships with the Ministries of Education and their relevant agencies
  
  in the three countries, with other relevant partners, stakeholders and
  
  staff


• Together with GESCI specialists, international
  
  experts and country partners design and develop comprehensive plans and
  
  activities to operationalise and implement the digital whole school
  
  development using ICT as an enabler


• Develop and implement a monitoring, evaluation
  
  and learning framework and plans to continuously monitor programme
  
  implementation to inform adjustment and strategic decision-making.

Key Requirements:

Education and professional qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Project
  
  Management/ Organizational Management or MBA with Project Management focus
  
  , or


• Master’s degree or higher in
  
  Education/ICT/E-Learning with professional certificate and demonstrated
  
  experience in Project Management.


• A minimum of 5 years successful experience in
  
  project management of large-scale programmes/projects.

• Excellent leadership, organizational and time-
  
  management skills and demonstrated ability to manage complex, large-scale
  
  projects and multi-cultural teams


• Demonstrated leadership skills in planning and
  
  directing processes, programme components, and external consultants


• Experience with project management tools,
  
  software and techniques


• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, plan
  
  and implement long term plans and strategies to enhance programme
  
  activities and ensure effective implementation


• Ability to work independently and to
  
  coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating priorities


• Proven ability to collaborate with, oversee,
  
  direct and guide teams and to manage multiple partners and stakeholders


• Knowledge and experience of developing
  
  financial plans and managing budgets


• Ability to assess risk and anticipate, plan
  
  for and adapt to changing work environments


• Excellent analytical, prioritizing and
  
  problem-solving skills


• Attention to detail and the ability to ensure
  
  goals and objectives are met per the agreed programme deadlines


• Excellent oral, written and listening
  
  communication skills and ability to work in multi-cultural and diverse
  
  environment


• Demonstrated ability to work independently and
  
  take initiative.


• Proficient with Excel, Word, MS Project and
  
  other project management applications as required


• Excellent professional references (minimum of
  
  3)


• Proficiency in English and French will be a
  
  distinct advantage.

Personal qualities and traits:

• Innovative and creative thinker


• High-grade interpersonal skills to ensure a
  
  consistently positive and productive team dynamic


• Must understand and be aware of other team
  
  members’ scope of responsibilities and be willing to mentor, guide and
  
  coach them as required


• Must be a patient and good communicator who
  
  can function in an organization employing a multi-national staff, and
  
  whose programme sites and teams are geographically disbursed across 3
  
  countries and 2 working language groups (English and French)


• Seeks to identify and communicate potential
  
  problems and propose solutions


• Must have the flexibility to deal rapidly with
  
  numerous and often simultaneous problems which require a wide range of
  
  complexity and priorities

Job title: African Knowledge Exchange (AKE) Project Manager
 

Type: Fixed

term contract, 1 year
 

Deadline for applications: 30th

October 2015
 

Start date: 11th January 2016
 

End date: 30th December 2016
 

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Position summary:

 GESCI is seeking an experienced Project Manager for

the African Knowledge Exchange (AKE) Project which focuses on digital creative

media (DCM) skills and enterprise development together with the up-skilling of

creative and artistic youth to enable them to work and participate at industry

standard in the development of the digitally- enabled enterprise arena. 

The Project Manager will possess a

Master’s degree or higher in Technical and Vocational Skills and/or Enterprise

Development or related/relevant fields with international and African

experience in managing youth skills and enterprise development

initiatives. 

S/he will be conversant with the

processes of establishing a “start-up” and the associated enterprise supports –

financial and advisory – that currently exist in Kenya. 

S/he will lead and manage a team of

local and international expert tutors in the preparation and delivery of the

interdisciplinary areas of Animation, Games and Apps development, Music and

Sound Creation and Production, and Writing and Storytelling that will upskill

youth to industry standard levels required for employment or enterprise

development. 

The Project Manager will report to

the Director of Programmes and is expected to work with key designated GESCI

internal specialists to carry out the assignment.

Principal responsibilities: 

• Work with the GESCI executive leadership and
  
  staff to operationalise the GESCI vision of the creative digital media
  
  industries utilising appropriate technologies and tools to provide new
  
  opportunities for employment and enterprise development 


• Together with international expert and local
  
  tutors and industry partners, design a cohesive, high quality,
  
  interdisciplinary and future-orientated digital creative media youth
  
  development programme that could serve as a model for youth skills and
  
  enterprise development


• Create and maintain strategic partnerships and
  
  networks with the creative media industries, research institutions,
  
  relevant government agencies, potential employers, innovation hubs and DCM
  
  entrepreneurs


• Provide leadership and successful management,
  
  coordination, implementation and monitoring of project activities.

• Master’s degree or higher in Technical and
  
  Vocational Skills and/or Enterprise Development or related/relevant fields


• Proven professional track record and
  
  competence in the development, implementation and evaluation of successful
  
  youth skills and enterprise development programmes


• Demonstrated and successful Project Management
  
  expertise and ability to use Project Management tools.

• Excellent proven project management, planning
  
  and financial management skills 


• Excellent written, presentation, listening and
  
  verbal communication skills 


• At least five years’ international work
  
  experience in a leadership/managerial capacity in youth skills and
  
  enterprise development, preferably in African or developing
  
  countries 


• Analytical, problem solving and team building
  
  skills 


• Experience and competencies in working in a
  
  multicultural environment


• An entrepreneurial and innovative mindset


• Good time management and organisational skills
  
  to prioritise workload and meet tight deadlines


• Excellent professional references (minimum of
  
  3).

How to apply:

Please submit your detailed CV and proof of credentials along with a cover

letter specifying why you qualify for this position to Patti Swarts, Director

of Programmes, GESCI, to the following e-mail address: patti.swarts@gesci.org

by 30th October 2015. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be

notified

To apply Applications and updated CV should be submitted to

patti.swarts@gesci.org