Project Officer-Kenya Project

IDLO seeks a Project Officer for a consultancy based at its Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Consultant will be the principle point of contact between the DLO headquarters and the Kenya field project and be responsible for HQ backstopping and management oversight of the Kenyan project “Supporting the Kenyan Implementation Process”.
This consultancy position will expected to last for a period of eighteen (18) months. The Project Officer will be working under the direct supervision of the Manager, Field Operations Unit in Rome and in close collaboration with the Field Program Manager in Kenya.

The principle tasks will include:

Project Management and Support to the Field Team

-Act as a focal point for information flow between project team and Headquarters/Rome;

-At all times have a clear idea of project status, progress and problems, in order to be able at short notice to brief management or donors, both orally and through regularly updated summary status reports;

-Responsible for ensuring timely identification, screening, interviewing of applications;

-Processing Human Resources approval for applicants selected by the Field Program Manager and corresponding with new hires regarding all necessary and requested information;

-Process, update and maintain a file on the project; including registries of all technical documentation—such as MOUs, CV, contracts or training schedules—to be made available to project team and management when needed;

-Communicate regularly with the Project Finance Unit to help build accurate financial forecasts and to flag any urgent budgetary issues to the project staff and management;

-Follow-up on all project work-products (e.g. weekly reports) and channel to the appropriate unit (e.g. Human Resources, Finance, Communications etc);

-Provide technical support and guidance to the project team, and provide input to narrative reports and publications;

-Communicate all important information relating to the project to the supervisor, especially flagging issues which require prompt decision making;

-Be responsible for narrative reporting to the project donor, meet as needed with the donor for briefings on projects status; and

-Be available for periodic visits to the field to support the Field Program Manager and project team.

Research and technical support

-Conduct research on new legislation, legal doctrine and publications relating to the project and provide project staff with all relevant information;

-Conduct research on political, economic and social events relating to the project and provide project staff with any relevant information;

-Respond to external information/research requests;

-Provide technical input into the development of new projects with the Field Program Manager and Program Development and Compliance Unit; and

-Build networks and liaise with other international stakeholders conducing similar work in the field, and provide project staff with appropriate contacts and information.

IDLO seeks a Project Officer with a true interest and passion for the Organization’s mission as well as for the importance of its operations in Kenya. The candidate will have a demonstrated experience in program management tools and terminology, and professional experience of minimum 2 years in administration of grant funded development programs.

He/She will have a Law degree, preferably from common law jurisdiction, knowledge of Constitutional Law and constitution-making processes will be an advantage. The ideal candidate will also have experience and proven knowledge of the Kenyan legal and political system and the relevant institutions. The successful candidate will also possess excellent research skills, cultural sensitivity and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with staff, colleagues and project stakeholders, and foster relationships based on mutual respect and trust. Ability to work in a team and be able to adapt to a multi-cultural environment is necessary.

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency or a strong working knowledge of Swahili languages is advantageous. Experience working in East Africa, and especially in Kenya, is highly desirable. The successful candidate will be required to commence in June/July 2011. First review of applicants will start as of June 15th 2011.

Apply online via: www.idlo.int/jobs