REACH Senior GIS Manager_Nairobi

Position: REACH Senior GIS Manager_Nairobi

Department: REACH

Contract Duration: Fixed

Location: Nairobi Kenya.

Starting date: Jan 2022

Background:

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organisations have a strong complementarity formalised in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

Country profile Somalia and Horn OF AFRICA

REACH’s Horn of Africa mission covers multiple different crises across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya and has been operational since 2012. Primarily this mission provides information management support to humanitarian actors in a complex environment through assessment capacity, GIS services and support to Cluster IM practices.

The projects within the region are as varied as the different contexts in each of the three countries. Within the region the need for expert database and GIS resource fluctuates between countries and therefore through establishing a regional database and GIS function REACH aims to provide regular surge support to all countries when needed and have robust capacity building plans for data analysis and GIS created from this central team.

The management of this shared resource will fall under the Data/GIS Manager who will be responsible for ensuring the technical backstopping for the region, robust capacity building plans and managing allocation of resource to each of the countries.

Assignment

Under the line management of the Inter-Sectoral Unit Research Manager, the Senior GIS/Data Manager will be responsible for supervising the GIS/Data unit for Somalia mission. He/she will also be responsible for the technical backstopping of GIS and Data within the HoA region, the allocation of resources across regional teams (through regional SMT) and specific Data/GIS support if needed.

This includes the for the application of geographic information systems, including relevant aspects of research design, support in designing data collection tools, ensuring (spatial) data quality, geo-spatial analysis, drafting of maps, and (as relevant) production of web maps and information management systems. The Senior GIS Manager will provide technical inputs in all stages of the research cycle. He/she ensures an efficient and transparent use of resources required for project implementation. This can include the direct supervision of GIS teams. He/She will also be responsible for developing and implementing a continuous capacity building program for national and international team members, and (when relevant) for providing trainings to partners.

Functions

1. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• In coordination with the country coordinator for Kenya/Somalia/Ethiopia the incumbent will be responsible for managing the resource allocation of spare capacity within the region for database and GIS officers. Resource allocation will be based on priority as determined within Regional SMT and ultimately by the Kenya/Somalia & Ethiopia CC.


• The incumbent must ensure that requests for resource from the central team are accurately estimated (as far as possible) in terms of complexity and effort, and that the appropriate resources are allocated to each request. It will be the responsibility of the incumbent to determine the process for tracking resource allocation and progress on each request. The incumbent’s will be expected to volunteer their own effort in supporting these requirements and initially still support the Somalia Intersectoral Unit.



• It will be the responsibility of the incumbent to work with the country coordinator to ensure that this regional team is adequately equipped to deal with requests from the countries, and that wherever possible peaks of effort are anticipated.**2. DATA AND GIS – STRATEGY AND TECHNICAL BACKSTOPPING**




• It will be the responsibility of the incumbent to write and deliver a high-level technical strategy for data and GIS which must include:




• Capacity building plan for existing database officers




• GIS/data innovative processes/approaches




• Map and analyse secondary data in coordination with the assessment officer(s);Contribute to draft assessment ToRs with a specific focus on the analysis plan, and related mapping, as well as data management plan.




• Support the development of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, ensuring GIS requirements of research cycle/assessment are met.




• Anticipate knowledge gaps prior the execution of the Research Cycle.




• In coordination with relevant assessment officer(s), support construction of quantitative sample.

3. SOMALIA ISU - DATA MANAGEMENT, CLEANING AND ANALYSIS

• Ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded.


• Conduct vector & raster-based spatial analysis on collected data, using appropriate tools for each use-case


• Ensure that data and its spatial analysis are validated by IMPACT HQ before product drafting stage.


• Development and maintenance of country-level databases for the consolidation of all assessment-related and GIS data in country;


• Ensure data backstopping and management;

4. SOMALIA ISU - DRAFTING OF PRODUCTS

• Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate GIS products, which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines.


• Ensure that all GIS products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release.


• When relevant, in close coordination with IMPACT HQ, support the regular maintenance and update of web GIS products.


• In coordination with the CC/CR, liaise with IMPACT HQ on the procurement of UNOSAT services and satellite imagery.

5. SOMALIA ISU - EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• In support of the assessment team, link with relevant partners to consult and involve them in the GIS components of a research cycle.


• Promote an active use of datasets, GIS products and research findings by partners and the broader humanitarian community for their decision making.


• After validation by line manager, support the presentation of research findings through GIS inputs to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact.

6. SOMALIA ISU - PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• In close coordination with line management, finance and grants colleagues, monitor and regularly update the use of GIS-related assets, financial and human resources, in full compliance with IMPACT’s guidelines; this includes maintaining an oversight of budget availability and expenditure for GIS-related activities.


• Ensure that GIS-related project deliverables and requirements are tracked, met, and complied to.

7. DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION

• The GIS/Data Senior Manager will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes, ensuring full compliance with IMPACT’s data protection policy and SOPs. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT

Protection mainstreaming

• Promoting of and adhering to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy and guidelines (for site residents, ACTED staff, partner agencies, casual labours etc).

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATION

• Master degree in a relevant discipline (Geography, Geomatics, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Management Systems, Statistics, Mathematics, etc.). Or, Bachelor’s degree in GIS or related discipline with additional relevant work experience;


• 5 years of experience in GIS/Database/Remote sensing, preferably in humanitarian context;


• Experience in conducting research;


• Proficient knowledge of QGIS/ArcGIS;


• Excellent skills on cleaning and analysing large datasets required;


• Strong skills in Excel required (R software an asset);


• Strong management skills/experience (communication, problem solving and coordination);


• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;


• Ability to work independently;


• Written and spoken fluency in English required.

How to apply

Qualified Kenyan Nationals with the required skills are invited to submit their applications accompanied by detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter as a single document i.e. with the cover letter being on the first page and the CV starting on the second page, detailing three work related referees and contacts to kenya.jobs@acted.org and received on or before 5.00PM on 06 January 2022 with the subject line as; APPLICATION FOR SENIOR GIS MANAGER. Note that Applications sent without this exact subject line will not be shortlisted.

Due to the urgency of the position, shortlisting will be done a rolling basis.

Please note that only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ACTED will at no stage of recruitment process request candidate to make payments of any kind. Further, ACTED has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment.

ACTED is committed to protecting beneficiaries within our programmes from exploitation and abuse and any kind of misconduct. ACTED has specific policies, including PSEA and Child Protection, which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, beneficiaries, consultants and other stakeholders and has zero tolerance towards misconducts. Any candidate offered a job with ACTED will be expected to sign ACTED’s organizational Policies and Code of Conduct as an annex to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

ACTED is an Equal Opportunity Employer.