Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, May 28, 2020 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Fauna & Flora International (FFI) saves species from extinction and habitats from destruction, while improving the livelihoods of local people. Our guiding principles are to work through local partnerships, act as a catalyst for change, make conservation relevant and base decisions on sound science. Founded in 1903, FFI is the world’s longest established international conservation body; our conservation work, and impact, spans the globe.
Africa Programme
Working closely with local partners, FFI currently operates in 13 countries in West, Central, East and Southern Africa, and is implementing a range of projects focused on species and habitat conservation, biodiversity planning, protected area management, institutional development and capacity building, sustainable use and community-focused wildlife management initiatives.
Kenya Programme
FFI has supported wildlife conservation and management in Kenya in some shape or form since our foundation in 1903, but opened an office there exactly a century later, when it supported a community-led initiative in Northern Kenya working to develop capacity and self-sufficiency of community conservancies and natural management covering >44,000km2. At the same time and in a similar manner, we supported Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Alongside continuing support of the Northern Rangelands Trust and Ol Pejeta Conservancy today, FFI’s portfolio within Kenya includes both marine and terrestrial work, focusing on flagship species such as Black rhinos for example but also natural resources management and social assessments across many sites. The marine work in Kenya has ambition to secure marine coastal habitat from Somalia to Tanzania, recognising how Kenya’s coast is home to endangered marine species, extensive coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
The long-term goal of FFI’s Kenya programme is to be, and to be recognised as, a valued partner in the conservation of Kenya’s biodiversity, working with and supporting government and other local and international partners. There are four main strategies:
• Supporting the conservation and management of Kenya's biodiversity
• Supporting the national and international recognition of Kenya’s biodiversity
• Support to specific Conservation Areas in Kenya
• Supporting Kenya to achieve gains for biodiversity and local people when engaging with business, infrastructure and development
The Opportunity
Building on the achievements and relationships established in Kenya to date, FFI is seeking a Country Manager to ensure the effective management and oversight of FFI’s in-country programme and local partnerships. The successful candidate will have the strategic vision, leadership and administrative skills to lead and develop the programme and partnerships with local NGOs, private sector and government ministries in Kenya, with responsibility for project oversight and representation for FFI. S/he will have extensive experience of working closely with government agencies, NGOs and donor agencies, and will have excellent communication skills and the demonstrable ability to engage effectively at all levels of government, civil society and with community-based organisations. The role requires a skilled and credible communicator who is confident in developing and managing relationships at senior level with all relevant stakeholders, including donors and funders, colleagues both in country and in Headquarters and across the world.
Strong leadership and people management skills are essential to the role in order to take responsibility for the operational management, implementation and development of FFI’s conservation strategy and programme in Kenya, ensuring a professional and motivated team, composed of in-house and in-country partners, that delivers effectively against project aims, objectives and timelines.
S/he will have a proven track record in operational, project, grant and financial management along with fundraising, experience in institutional development and capacity building and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the statutory and regulatory frameworks within which FFI operates in Kenya, as well as a commitment to organisational and legal compliance. S/he will have a degree or equivalent training or experience in a relevant discipline such as wildlife and/or forest and/or marine, social sciences and substantial experience in a related role.
Job Summary
To ensure the effective development, management and implementation of FFI’s Kenya Programme of work. The role will be responsible for overall management of the programme, including overseeing implementation of activities, expenditure of the programme and project budgets in line with FFI and donor compliance; management of the country office; HR management; and all internal and external reporting. The role will be required to strengthen internal systems and operations, and develop external relationships that enable FFI Kenya to deliver impactful conservation action through the creation and maintenance of a healthy project and funding pipeline. .

Specific Duties:
Programme Development and Fundraising
• Under the direction of the Director of Operations, Africa and Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa, lead and facilitate strategic planning for the Kenya programme, in line with FFI’s business plan and strategy
• Keep the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa apprised of conservation issues and strategic priorities for FFI in Kenya
• In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa ensure that the Kenya programme and all projects are well resourced, meet business need and have credible future pipeline options, including but not limited to:
o Developing and inputting to project concepts and proposals, in line with approved strategic plans
o Identifying and developing opportunities to raise funds for projects with partners
o Engaging with the Finance Business Partner, Africa to ensure proposals reflect staff and overhead cost recovery
• Promote FFI’s work in Kenya to external donors, diplomatic and development agencies, NGOs, corporate for-profit entities and all other relevant bodies
• In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa and other relevant FFI staff and partners, ensure FFI programme and projects in Kenya have an up to date Theory of Change that includes a robust M&E framework
Partnership Development
• In line with agreed strategies, proactively develop and manage key relationships and partnerships in Kenya, subject to satisfactory due diligence where relevant, in order to maintain and enhance the local programme of work and to maximise the effective delivery of FFI’s Kenya strategy
• Ensure the consultation and inclusion of appropriate stakeholders in the design and implementation of all FFI project activities in Kenya
• Support the building of organisational and technical capacity of in-country partners to implement the elements of their institutional mission that overlap with FFI’s strategic plans
• Liaise as necessary with government agencies, NGOs and FFI in-country staff to promote, facilitate and engage in relevant policy and regulatory processes at the most appropriate levels
• Lead on the development and negotiation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with partners, in consultation with Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa and in accordance with FFI documentation and FFI’s Delegation of Authorities
Programme Representation
• Represent FFI at key fora, meetings and workshops and develop FFI’s profile in Kenya as required
• Ensure membership of relevant fora and associations to support and further the work of the Kenya programme
Programme Management
• Supervise the Finance & Administration Manager, Kenya, and maintain oversight of, and accountability for required legal and financial administration processes, registrations and insurances to ensure the legal compliance of FFI’s operations in Kenya
• Act as the legal representative of FFI in Kenya as appropriate
• Ensure effective administration of FFI’s operations in Kenya, including:
o Development and implementation of in-country systems, policies and procedures, that accord, to the extent possible, with FFI institutional systems, policies and procedures and Delegation of Authorities
o Compliance with national and institutional Health & Safety policies and procedures
• Supervise the Kenya team and in collaboration with the Finance Business Partner, Africa, maintain oversight of, and where relevant, lead on accurate financial management of all FFI Kenya projects
• In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa, and other FFI staff as relevant, ensure compliance with Kenyan employment legislation, including:
o Managing recruitment of international and in-country staff and consultants, ensuring necessary visas, work permits etc. are secured
o Ensuring national contracts comply with local labour laws, FFI’s Delegation of Authorities and, to the extent possible, with institutional HR practice
o Ensuring tax, social security and other mandatory systems are in place in compliance with local labour and tax laws
o Ensuring the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa and HR Department, Cambridge is aware of all liabilities arising from labour law that might impact on staffing and budgets
• Remain informed of arising issues such as security and health & safety within the Eastern Africa region and communicate issues of concern swiftly to Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa, advising of potential impact on staff, operations, projects, finances and funders
• In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa, develop strategies to manage impacts caused by issues such as security and health & safety, including to staff, partners, donors and other appropriate stakeholders
• In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager Eastern Africa, lead the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to mitigate potential risk to FFI operations and staff within the Kenya programme

Skills Essential
• Excellent project management skills with proven experience in project design, development, implementation and evaluation
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with ability to motivate and performance manage individuals to achieve results
• Proven ability to develop, maintain and leverage partnerships for work at scale, including governments, national and local NGOs, community groups and businesses
• Excellent financial management and numeracy skills, including budgeting and reforecasting
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with ability to present, negotiate and persuade at all levels with confidence and credibility
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili (spoken and written)
• Exceptional prioritisation and time management skills, with ability to work to multiple deadlines
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook and Excel

Knowledge and experience
Essential
• MSc degree in a related field (e.g. conservation, marine ecology, rural development, project management) and at least 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Substantial professional experience in conservation programme development and management
• Experience managing teams to deliver complex projects, including non-direct line management relationships i.e. partners
• Proven fundraising record, with experience nurturing and managing donor relationships
• Proven grant management experience
• Experience working with Kenyan institutions in management/conservation of natural resource
• Understanding of the statutory and regulatory frameworks within which to operate
• Experience working with government agencies, communities and community-based organisations, partner NGOs and for-profit entities
Desirable
• Familiar with current macro-level development projects in the Lamu area, for example the Lamu Port and South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) programme
• Experience in institutional development and capacity building

Behavioural qualities
• Commitment to FFI’s mission and vision
• Commitment to organisational and legal compliance and responsible management of donor funds
• Rigorous and diligent approach to work
• Demonstrated willingness to think creatively, to problem-solve, and to try new approaches
• Ability to represent FFI in politically sensitive or unsettled contexts
• Team player, demonstrating ability to seek out and harness the views and contributions of others
• Ability to build positive personal and organisational relationships
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment

Job Education Experience: Not Specified

Work Hours: 8

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Job application procedure
Applications, consisting of a covering letter explaining why you feel you should be considered for this post, a full CV (tailored to the role as advertised, highlighting relevant experience and achievements) and contact details for two referees (who will not be contacted without your permission) should be sent electronically.
Please mark your application ‘Country Manager, Kenya’ and indicate in your application where you saw this position advertised.
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 21 June 2020, with interviews likely to take place during the week commencing Monday, 6 July 2020.
Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

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