Nuru Kenya is a non-governmental organization currently working in Migori County, Kenya. Nuru Kenya’s mission is to end extreme poverty in remote, rural areas of Kenya.

To this end, Nuru implements a holistic development model working with programs in Agriculture, Financial Inclusion, Healthcare, and Education.

Nuru Kenya has established cooperatives and is working towards strengthening those cooperatives so that they are effective in delivering services to its members.

The organization is therefore looking for a qualified candidate to fill the above position.

Employer: Nuru Kenya
Location: Isibania, Kenya
Job Type: Full Time, Contract
Duration: 1 year contract, renewable based on performance and availability of funding

Overview of the Job

The overall responsibility of the desired person will be to provide support for the cooperatives to become functional business entities.

Team Leader Job Responsibilities

• To carry out capacity needs assessment of the existing cooperative organizations in order to identify functional gaps which require strengthening
• Support development/ refinement of necessary tools required to train/guide existing and new cooperative societies.
• Organize local communities/groups into functional cooperative organizations
• Visit the existing and new cooperative societies on regular basis to provide trainings/guidance and track implementation
• Work with front line project staff and M&E Manager to collect baseline and progress data in order to inform on further support required
• Provide monthly and quarterly status reports
• Ensure all cooperatives are truly profitable; there should be a return on investment in the cooperatives
• Research and explore funding and investment opportunities for improving or expanding Nuru’s market linkage operations
• Develop and deliver curricula for rural cooperative capacity-building; including cooperative management, staffing plans, democratic leadership and cooperative business plan development
• Liaise with government cooperative development and marketing offices and resolve any policy and administrative issues that may arise
• Help Nuru Kenya and cooperative societies in setting up and maintaining accounting and record keeping systems with strong financial controls
• Research and locate markets for Nuru farmers’ produce and develop and implement strategy to link Nuru farmers & cooperatives to fair markets
• Ensure that there is continued compliance to cooperatives MOUs, By-Laws and Cooperative Act among other regulations
• Help Nuru Kenya and cooperative societies in setting up and maintaining accounting and record keeping systems with strong financial controls
• Create, execute and manage financial models that appropriately balance farmer welfare and organizational sustainability for Nuru Kenya’s market linkage and agricultural loan initiatives
• Responsible for creating program budget
• Conduct value chain analysis, assess market trends and advise management appropriately; end result is the sustainability of the cooperatives

Qualifications for the Team Leader Job

• University degree in cooperative Business, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness or related fields. Post graduate in related fields will be added advantage
• Over 5 years’ experience on in-depth understanding of Cooperative Organizational Development and working with community based organizations
• Thorough understanding of farmer group dynamics, business development and cooperative management.

Desired Competencies

• Knowledge in Cooperative management, Village banking, Group Savings & Loaning schemes
• Strong management skills and ability to guide and influence others
• Ability to evaluate challenges at farm level and work to coordinate implementation of the program
• Ability to achieve excellent results in training program
  practical knowledge on planning, implementation and management of cooperatives
• Ability to understand smallholder farmers dynamics in terms of food security and household incomes point of view
• Flexible with work schedules which may involve working extra hours in a dynamic environment
• Hardworking, result oriented and should possess social skills for initiating and managing relationships with stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills and presentation skills
• Should demonstrate conflict management/problem-solving abilities

Working Conditions

• Work will be performed both in the office and in the field. Some work is also expected from the computer at home during evenings and weekends during busier seasons.
• Remuneration: Commensurate with demonstrated skills and experience.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit their application; resume and cover letter supported by at least two known references.

Candidates to also attach a valid Certificate of Good Conduct, kindly quote your current and expected salary.

Complete your application in English, include your phone number, and email it to livelyhoodexpert@nuru.co.ke By COB 31st January 2017.

Please outline how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. Indicate the job title as the subject of your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Note: Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. We do not charge or accept money as a fee at any stage in our hiring process.

Nuru Kenya is an Equal Opportunity Employer, we give equal opportunity to all qualified candidates.