Senior Technical Advisor / CICan Representative – Kenya

Job Summary

Reporting to the Manager of Operations, Caribbean and Anglophone Africa, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA)/CICan Representative will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and will lead the effective implementation of the Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET program.

Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET is a 5-year (2019-2024), $50 million project, implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and funded by Mastercard Foundation. The program has a strong focus on increasing the equitable participation of girls and women, youth and vulnerable populations in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The program works with 27 CICan member colleges who are leading across 18 institutional and thematic partnerships with 25 Kenyan TVET institutions and key government agencies, working in different counties in Kenya. The project has over 20 employees, based in both the main office in Nairobi as well as in different regions in the country. This is a flagship project for the Ministry of Education in Kenya, the Mastercard Foundation and CICan.

The Kenya-based STA/CICan Representative will be the designated CICan representative in Kenya and will represent CICan to, and collaborate with, key stakeholders in Kenya (government, employers, institutions, civil society, the private sector, and other projects and donors). The STA performs a variety of highly complex tasks, including providing technical and policy advice to the MOE, TVET agencies and other partners in Kenya and supporting CICan members in their activities in the program.

The STA/CICan Representative will be expected to perform effectively at both policy and operational levels. Travel in Kenya and to Canada will be required.

The STA will supervise the work of the Kenya-based program staff. The STA will work closely with the Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET staff in Kenya and in Canada to ensure the overall quality delivery of project activities in Kenya. The STA/CICan Representative ensures synergy and coordination between Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET and CICan’s Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training Program (KBEST).

The STA/CICan Representative will have the following specific responsibilities:

• Act as main point of contact with the Mastercard Foundation team in Kenya;
• Represent CICan in Kenya with, inter alia, the Ministry of Education and related agencies, other government departments, TVET institutions, private sector and civil society stakeholders, and representatives from donors and other development partners;
• Support the establishment and maintenance of effective relationships between Canadian and Kenyan partners and support the implementation of their institutional and thematic partnerships;
• Provide input in setting the agendas for the program’s various committees including the Program Steering Committee (PSC), the Program Technical Committee (PTC) and the Partnership Program Committee (PCC). Chair/facilitate the PTC and PCC meetings. Participate in other meetings and committees as required.
• Ensure project implementation is aligned with MOE policy priorities;
• Supervise directly and indirectly the Kenya-based program staff, providing direction and mentorship and ensuring annual staff performance reviews. Oversee and participate in effective recruitment that respects CICan and Government of Kenya policies and regulations;
• Ensure the strategic and effective implementation of the program, with a focus on results, the efficient use of program resources and the management of risk;
• Provide technical support to ensure the effective implementation of the program, including in the program’s institutional and thematic partnerships between Canadian and Kenyan TVET institutions and in other project consultancies;
• Provide technical and policy advice to MOE, TVET agencies and other partners;
• Ensure strong linkages between industry and TVET institutions both virtually and with periodic visits to those institutions;
• Ensure the full integration of gender equality in the program, including across all project activities;
• Ensure the excellence of the program’s monitoring, evaluation and learning strategy;
• Ensure the effective implementation of strategic program communications for audiences in Kenya, Canada and elsewhere.
• Provide technical input on annual work plans, quarterly financial and technical reports and annual budgets;
• Co-lead, with the STA for the KBEST program, in the overall management of CICan Operations in Kenya, including the implementation of administrative tasks including but not limited to banking, travel approvals, assistance for incoming and outgoing visas, RFPs and contracting, expense approvals, and legal matters.
• Provide information as required by CICan and Mastercard Foundation.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned

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Minimum Requirements

• Full fluency in English and Swahili.
• Kenyan citizen or legally permitted to work in Kenya. Note: CICan will not provide a work permit or sponsor individuals.
• At least Bachelor’s Degree in a related subject area (international development/cooperation, project management, business administration, or similar);
• At least 7 years’ experience in management of complex programs, initiatives, or departments. At least 3 of those years should be in the management of international development programs, preferably in the TVET sector;
• At least 5 years’ experience in skills training or TVET in the public and/or private sector with expertise in such areas as teacher training, competency-based education and training (CBET), prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR), curriculum development, gender in TVET, and leadership and management training;
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing teams;
• Experience working in and/or with the Canadian college/institute system and network;
• Knowledge of and experience with the Kenyan TVET system and stakeholders is highly desirable;
• Practical experience working in partnership with industry and TVET at a systems level to influence policy and build effective training solutions to meet industry needs;
• Practical experience with monitoring, evaluation and learning in an international development context;
• Demonstrated experience applying gender equality concepts in an international development context;
• Strong experience working with budgets and with financial management;
• Demonstrated leadership and problem-solving capacity in cross-cultural settings and participatory management context;
• Strong writing, reporting and presentation skills;
• Demonstrated ability using Microsoft Office Suite.

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Desirable Requirements

• Ability to speak and understand French.

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Core Competencies

To be successful in this position you will be able to exhibit our core competencies:

Agility: We thrive in a complex environment that requires nimbleness and adaptability, and we anticipate and respond to changes with quick and resourceful actions.

Inspiring Others: We motivate individuals to strive for excellence and commit to common goals and purposes, as we create a sense of self-efficacy, resilience, and persistence in others.

Integrity: We treat others fairly and respectfully, and we further the standing of the organization and its relationships of trust with our members and other stakeholders.

The Nairobi office is a hybrid environment with employees working from both home and the office.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV with three references as one PDF file not exceeding 8 pages to email address recruitment@ke.collegesinstitutes.ca with the title on the subject line, Senior Technical Advisor/CICan Representative. The deadline for receiving applications is January 19, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Phone calls or in-person visits will not be accepted. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

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