Kenya Accreditation Service Vacancies

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Established in May 2009 under Legal Notice No. 55/2009. It is recognized by the Government of Kenya as the Sole National Accreditation Body which gives formal recognition to Certification Bodies (CBs), Inspection Bodies (IBs), and Laboratories (testing and calibration, proficiency testing providers) competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks.

Under the Kenya Accreditation Service Order 2009, the mandate of KENAS is to:-

• Develop, regulate and review the criteria or requirement for accreditation of conformity bodies;
• Accredit conformity assessment bodies;
• Open, maintain and update the register of accredited conformity assessment bodies;
• Design and issue identification numbers and certificates to all accredited conformity bodies;
• Publish in the Kenya Gazette all conformity assessment bodies that have been accredited within a particular year, annually;
• Promote the use of accreditation mark and certificate issued to accredited conformity assessment bodies;
• Promote competence and equivalence of accredited bodies;
• Establish and nurture relations and cooperation with regional and international accreditation bodies, persons, associations and organization that KENAS may consider desirable or appropriate in furtherance of the objectives and purpose for which KENAS is established;
• Promote accreditation as a means of facilitating regional and international trade and enhancing economic performance and transformation;
• Facilitate in the formulation of regional and international guidelines and standards to facilitate the accreditation process;
  
• Raise awareness on the importance and purpose of accreditation; and
  
• Promote KENAS as a sole National Accreditation Body in the scope of accreditation.

Vacancies To Be Filled

1. Deputy Directors (2 Posts)

A) Deputy Director - Finance And Administration

Reports to the Managing Director (MD).

Position Summary:

In a team based environment, the Deputy Director, Finance and Administration has overall responsibility to identify and implement strategies that benefit finance, HR/training, and communication in order to achieve the objectives of KENAS while ensuring compliance with all relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head the finance and Administration Department
• Oversee Human Resources, Procurement, Accounting, and Communication Divisions.
• Manage the financial, human, material and information resources of the organisation.
• Prepare strategic plans aligned to government guidelines
• Direct and control implementation of policies, systems and procedures
• Preparing annual operating and capital budgets.
• Regularly report on financial, human and material resource positions.
• Perform other related assignments as required and assigned by the MD.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Bachelors degree in Commerce/Business Administration
• Training in management Qualification as CPA (K)
• Experience in management of public and private institutions with diverse clientele. Demonstrated experience in leadership and team play
  
• Computer literacy in accounting systems
• Sound Knowledge of relevant government acts and regulations and policies.
  
• At least four years of progressive work experience, two of which must be in a similar position.

Added advantage:

• Possession of an MBA in Finance or Administration
• CPS (K)

b) Deputy Director - Technical Services

Reports to the Managing Director (MD)

Position Summary:

In a team based environment the Deputy Director, Technical Services has overall responsibility to identify and implement technical improvement strategies that benefit compliance, quality, service and cost across KENAS divisions namely Certification, Testing and Calibration, Health and Safety, Inspection and Verification ensuring compliance with ail relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head of technical department.
• Oversee Certification, Testing/Calibration, Health/Safety and Inspection/ Verification divisions.
• Prepare and manage technical and information plans and resources of the department to meet the organisation's objectives
• Establish and maintain relationships with conformity assessment bodies.
• Establish and maintain relationships with accreditation bodies, policies and procedures regionally and internationally.
• Ensure programs are designed and implemented to achieve approval from accreditation committee and other regulatory agencies.
• Work towards attainment and maintenance of mutual recognition by ILAC and IAF.
• Perform other related assignments as required and assigned by the MD from time to time.

The ideal candidate should have:

• A first degree in Medicine/Veterinary/Pharmacy/Science/Medical laboratory science/Engineering
• Training in management
• Registered by the relevant professional regulator
• Broad knowledge of inspection, certification and accreditation procedures and conformity assessment bodies.

Specific qualification and experience in one of the four divisions

• History of interaction with national, regional and international accreditation bodies.
• Qualification as an assessor/auditor with national, regional and international experience.
• Minimum 4 years of which 2 must have progressively responsible experience in the accreditation industry.

Added advantage

• Masters degree in the same professional line.
• Experience supervising, leading and directing groups with diverse technology and business backgrounds.

2. Assistant Directors (6 Posts)

A. Finance and Administration Department

1. Human Resource and Training
(1 Post)

Reporting to the Deputy Director, Finance and Administration (DD-F/A).

Position Summary:

In a team based environment, the Assistant Director, Human Resource and Training has overall responsibility to identify and implement strategies that benefit, HR/ training, in order to achieve the objectives of KENAS while ensuring compliance with all relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head the Human Resource and Training division.
• Advice management on HR and training issues
• Manage and develop the human resources of the organization.
• Prepare human resource strategic plans aligned to KENAS establishment and government guidelines
• Prepare and implement training strategic plans to meet the needs of the organization
• Develop, direct and control implementation of staff policies, systems and procedures
• Preparing staffing annual operating and capital budgets.
• Regularly report on human resource and training positions.
• Perform other assignments as required and assigned by the DD-F/A from time to time.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Bachelors degree in Business Administration (HRM) Knowledge in management
  
• Registration as Associate member of IHRM(K) Demonstrated experience in leadership and team play
• Computer literacy
• Sound Knowledge of Labor laws and the Employment Act
• At least three years of progressive work experience, one of which must be in a similar position.
• Post graduate qualification in a relevant field will be an added advantage

2. Communication and Public Relations
(1 Post)

Reports to the Deputy Director, Finance and Administration (DD-F/A).

Position Summary:

In a team based environment, the Assistant Director, Communication and Public Relations has overall responsibility to identify and implement strategies that benefit communication and public relations, in order to achieve the objectives of KENAS while ensuring compliance with all relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head the Communication and Public Relation division
• Advice management on Communications and PR issues
• Manage the communication resources of the organization.
• Oversee information exchange with the public to ensure customer satisfaction
• Prepare communication and public relations strategic plans aligned to government guidelines
• Direct and control implementation of communication policies, systems and procedures
• Preparing communication annual operating and capital budgets.
• Regularly report on communication and public relation positions.
• Perform other assignments as required and assigned by the DD-F/A from time to time.

The ideal candidate should have:

• Bachelors degree in Communications, PR or Marketing
• Knowledge in management
• Demonstrated knowledge of interaction with media
• Registration as Associate member of relevant professional body Demonstrated experience in leadership and team play Computer literacy
• Sound Knowledge of communication laws and regulations
• Post graduate qualification in a relevant field will be an added advantage
• At least three years of progressive work experience, one of which must be in a similar position.

B: Technical Services Department

Certification
(1 Post)

Reporting to the Deputy Director, Technical Services, (DD-T/S).

Summary:

In a team based environment the Assistant Director, Certification has overall responsibility to identify and implement improvement strategies that benefit compliance, quality, service in the certification division, ensuring compliance with all relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head of Certification division.
• Advice management on Certification issues
• Prepare and manage certification plans and resources of the division to meet the objectives of the organization
• Establish and maintain relationships with certification bodies.
• Develop, direct and control certification programs, policies, systems and procedures
• Prepare annual operating and capital budgets for the division.
• Regularly report on certification matters.
• Perform other assignments as required and assigned by the DD-T/S from time to time.

The ideal candidate should have:

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant Scientific discipline.
• Knowledge in management
• Registered by the relevant professional regulator
• Knowledge of certification and accreditation procedures and certification bodies.

Qualification as an assessor/auditor

• Minimum 3 years of which 1 must have progressively responsible experience in the accreditation industry.
• Post graduate qualification in a relevant field will be an added advantage

2. Testing and Calibration

Reporting to the Deputy Director Technical Services,(DD-T/S).

Summary:

In a team based environment the Assistant Director, Testing and Calibration has overall
responsibility to identify and implement testing/calibration improvement strategies that benefit compliance, quality, service at the testing and calibration division, ensuring compliance with all relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head of testing and calibration division.
• Advice management on Calibration issues
• Prepare and manage calibration plans and resources of the division to meet the objectives of the organization
• Establish and maintain relationships with calibration bodies.
• Develop, direct and control calibration programs, policies, systems and procedures
• Prepare annual operating and capital budgets for the division.
• Regularly report on calibration matters.
• Perform other assignments as required and assigned by the DD-T/S from time to time.

The ideal candidate should have:

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant Scientific discipline.
• Knowledge in management
• Registered by the relevant professional regulator
• Knowledge of calibration/testing and accreditation procedures and certification bodies.

Qualification as an assessor/auditor

• Minimum 3 years of which 1 must have progressively responsible experience in the accreditation industry.
  
• Post graduate qualification in a relevant field will be an added advantage

3. Inspection and Verification
(1 Post)

Reporting to the Deputy Director Technical Services,(DD-T/S).

Summary:

In a team based environment the Assistant D rector, Inspection and Verification has overall responsibility to identify and implement inspection/verification improvement strategies that benefit compliance, quality, and service at the inspection/verification division, ensuring compliance with all relevant and necessary regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Head of inspection and verification division.
• Advice management on inspection and verification issues
• Prepare and manage inspection and verification plans and resources of the division to meet the objectives of the organization
• Establish and maintain relationships with inspection and verification bodies.
• Develop, direct and control calibration programs, policies, systems and procedures
• Prepare annual operating and capital budgets for the division.
• Regularly report on inspection and verification matters.
• Perform other assignments as required and assigned by the DD-T/S from time to time.

The ideal candidate should have:

• A Bachelors degree in a relevant Scientific discipline.
• Knowledge in management
• Registered by the relevant professional regulator
• Knowledge of inspection/verification and accreditation procedures and certification bodies.
• Qualification as an assessor/auditor
• Minimum 3 years of which 1 must have progressively responsible experience in the accreditation industry.
• Post graduate qualification in a relevant field will be an added advantage

Terms and Remuneration

Competitive remuneration packages will be offered to the successful candidates..

Posting

Applicants should submit their application including their Curriculum Vitae and copies of both academic and professional certificates, stating their current position, remuneration and three (3) professional referees, in both soft and hard copies, and send them to reach the undersigned on or before 5 p.m. on Friday 29th April 2011.

The Chairperson Board of Directors
Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS)
P. O. Box 47400 - 00100, Nairobi
Kenya

Applications to be dropped in person to KENAS offices located on Popo Road off Mombasa Road, South C, inside Kenya Bureau of Standards.

Electronic copies should be sent to: chairpersonkenas@gmail.com