Kenya National Biosafety Authority Vacancies

Our Client, the National Biosafety Authority, is one year old since its establishment under the Biosafety Act 2009.

The Authority is now in the process of establishing its human capital capable of effectively carrying out its mandate of exercising general supervision and control over transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with a view to ensuring safety of human and animal health as well as the provision of adequate level of protection of the environment.

The Authority recently carried out an in house organizational structuring.

This has resulted with some vacancies existing to be filled by the most qualified, professional and dynamic individuals.

Chief Executive Officer

Ref: NBA/CEO/001

This is the senior most position in the Authority reporting to the Board of Directors. The overall purpose of the job is to effectively manage the affairs of the Authority as per the established mandate. This management position will include finance mobilization, external networking, infrastructure development and maintenance.

The position will demand extreme vigilance and commitment to activities involving GMOs in food, feed, research, industry, trade, and environment all over the country and a strong awareness of GMOs matters in global engagement.

The ideal candidate will therefore be required to be a mature and responsible person who has the ability to think strategically, has the ability to inspire and motivate staff, has high energy and self-drive, has good public relations and networking capabilities, demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in quality, responds promptly to customer needs as per the rules on response time, is willing and able to work for long hours and under pressure, is a team player and has good communication skills and has excellent financial awareness.

The candidate should be performance oriented ready to be put on a 3 year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring the Authority’s mandate is exercised professionally and appropriately to ensure performance of the objectives, functions and duties.
• Formulation and implementation of strategic, business and annual plans for the Authority
• Mobilizing resources for the Authority.
• Management of the day to day affairs and transactions of the Authority
• Implementation of annual performance contracts
• Effective management of financial, human and other resources of the Authority.
• Establishing and managing administrative mechanisms to ensure appropriate handling and storage of documents and data in connection to the processing of applications and other matters covered by the Biosafety Act, 2009.
• Establishing and maintaining harmonious contacts with appropriate national and international institutions dealing with biosafety
• Identifying national requirements for manpower development and capacity building in biosafety
• Appropriate coordination, preparation and dissemination of position papers on biosafety issues to stakeholders
• Guiding the Authority in achieving the objectives that are in line with Vision 2030

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD. in Biological Sciences or field related to environmental sciences from a recognized university
• 10 Years working experience 5 of which at a managerial level

Director, Technical Services

Ref: NBA/DTS/002

This senior position reports directly to the CEO and is open to Kenyan citizens only with the responsibility of ensuring the Authority’s technical mandates in biosafety and environment are achieved.

The ideal candidate will be a mature person who has authored peer reviewed publications on biotechnology or biochemistry with a passion for biosafety and biotechnology and the GMO field.

The person should exhibit high technical skills with an interest in promoting awareness and education among the general public in matters relating to biosafety.

The candidate should be performance oriented ready to be put on a 3 year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulating and implementing policies, procedures, strategies and activities in relation to microbial, plant and animal biosafety including categorization, approval and certification of biosafety facilities
• Establishing and managing administrative mechanisms to ensure appropriate handling and storage of documents and data in connection to the processing of applications and other matters covered by the Biosafety Act, 2009.
• Establishing and maintaining harmonious contacts with appropriate national and international institutions dealing with biosafety
• Identifying national requirements for manpower development and capacity building in biosafety
• Appropriate coordination, preparation and dissemination of position papers on biosafety issues to stakeholders
• Maintaining a directory of experts and activities of biotechnology and biosafety in Kenya
• Implementation of technical components of performancecontract requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD. in Biological Sciences including molecular biology or field related to environmental sciences
• 5 Years working experience in application of molecular biology 3 of which are post-PhD
• Have knowledge and understanding of science technology & innovations including Vision 2030

Director, Administration & Finance

Ref: NBA/DAF/003

This senior position reports directly to the CEO with the responsibility of ensuring continuous availability and effective utilization of financial as well as human resources and provision of quality administrative services in the Authority.

The ideal candidate will be a mature person able to interact well with all the staff, possesses excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, works with integrity and ethically, supports everyone’s efforts to succeed and has strong administrative and leadership skills with a keen eye for financial and accounting management.

The candidate should be performance oriented ready to be put on a 3 year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulating and implementing administrative, financial and human resource policies, procedures and strategies
• Designing, implementing, monitoring and supervising internal financial control measures and systems to safeguard the property and assets of the authority
• Ensuring effective ICT systems are in place
• Preparation of core budget and providing technical support/advice to the line managers
• Ensuring timely preparation and presentation of financial statements
• Act as chief advisor on all financial, administration and human resource matters to the authority
• Ensuring the authority performs to the requirements of state corporations act as well as international accounting standards
• Effective financial mobilization and management including exercising expenditure control

Qualifications and Experience

• MBA plus Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent
• CPA (K)/ACCA or equivalent
• 10 years’ experience 3 of which must be in a senior position

Chief HR & Administration Officer

Ref: NBA/CHRA/O04

This is a senior position reporting to the director, Finance and Administration. It will suit applicants who have senior management experience in human resource management.

The person should possess outstanding leadership qualities with excellent communication and presentation skills, and ability to manage staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing the authority’s human resource strategies
• Developing and constantly reviewing the authority’s terms and conditions of service to ensure competitive employment practices and motivate staff
• Coordinating organization development and job reviews with a view of developing job requirements for organizational and personal development
• Managing the recruitment function and provide the required human resource skills and competencies
• Developing and monitoring implementation of the Authority’s performance management process
• Regularly reviewing remuneration policy and structure and providing requisite advice to the authority
• Developing and implementing manpower and career plans to ensure the authority has requisite skills and competencies
• Managing Authority’s payroll as well as conducting training needs assessments
• Providing guidance and advice to CEO and other managers on HR resource matters

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences or equivalent
• Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and CPS (K) and member IHRM
• 8 years working experience 3 of which in senior position

Senior Internal Auditor

Ref: NBA/SIA/005

This position reports to the Board of Directors while administratively reporting to the Director, Finance and Administration.

Its purpose is to ensure compliance of the corporation operations to internal control systems, procedures and policies with a view to securing proper utilization of Authority’s assets and other resources.

It will suit applicants who have senior management experience in financial and accounting field.

The ideal candidate will be a person who has a clear analytical mind capable of looking at figures with sharp focus, works with integrity and ethically, and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness with far sighted financial thought

Key Responsibilities

• Carrying out internal audit to ensure compliance with approved management policies, procedures and control systems
• Reviewing and recommending sound internal controls systems and procedures.
• Carrying out special audit assignment and investigations including forensic audits when required
• Gathering, collating, and analyzing financial data and reports to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of funds utilization
• Preparing and submitting periodic audit reports to the Board and CEO
• Carrying out risk assessment and evaluation as part of the audit process

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor of Commerce, Accounts, Business Administration, Economics or equivalent
• CPA K or Equivalent
• 5 years managerial experience

Chief Accountant

Ref: NBA/CA/006

This position reports to the Director, Finance and Administration.

It will suit applicants who have senior management experience in financial and accounting field.

The person should possess outstanding leadership qualities, sound people and financial management skills, strategic thinking capability, and an ability to communicate effectively and clearly at all level including with international financial institutions.

The ideal candidate will be a person who has a clear analytical mind capable of looking at figures with sharp focus, works with integrity and ethically, and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness with far sighted financial thought

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring expenditure controls and payments
• Maintaining an up to date books of accounts
• Maintaining assets register as well as preparing all financial reconciliations
• Preparing financial reports as well as assisting in the preparation of management accounts
• Liaising with financial institutions in mobilization of funds and other financial transactions
• Reviewing expenditure returns from regions and departments and assisting in preparation of budgets
• Ensure timely submission of all statutory returns

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor of Commerce, Accounts, Business Administration, Economics or equivalent
• CPA K or Equivalent
• 5 years managerial experience

Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer

Ref: NBA/LCAO/007

The holder of this position will head the Legal and Corporate Affairs Section of the Authority and will report to the CEO.

The purpose of the section is to ensure documentation, secretarial, legal and corporate activities of the authority are handled effectively and the holder to be the principal legal adviser to the authority.

The applicant should be self-motivated, mature, confident and responsible individual with excellent legal mind.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing and circulating in a timely manner minutes of the Board
• Being responsible for all legal matters affecting the authority
• Advising the authority on all contracts and agreements to be entered into between the authority and third parties
• Developing and managing the authority’s litigation function in liaison with state law office
• Attending court where appropriate and ensuring the authority operates within the law and gets effective
• Managing the corporate affairs of the authority

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelors of Law Degree
• Diploma in Law and Advocate of High Court plus CPS (K)
• 5 years working experience

Senior Supplies Chain Management Officer

Ref: NBA/SSCMO/008

This is a crucial position created to specifically effective and efficient procurement of the Authority’s needed resources.

The person will ensure appropriate availability of required supplies and materials at competitive value or terms and as per approved policies and procedures plus oversee proper management of
stocks.

The job will suit a person with good analytical mind, is very ethical and follows rules and regulations

Key Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing procurement plans to ensure effective implementation of procurement policy
• Monitoring and evaluating the procurement function and measure its performance against set objectives
• Liaising with operations and other departments in organizing for specification of goods and services for procurement.
• Ensuring that supplies accounting and other stores procedures are followed and updated as necessary.
• Ensuring that supplies are procured and delivered to users as per requirements.
• Managing inventory and ensuring that there are no stock outs or overstocking
• Being the secretary of tender, procurement and disposal committees
• Advising management on the procurement of goods, works and services in accordance with the procurement plan and public procurement act.

Qualification and Experience

• Degree in Social Science
• Diploma in Purchasing/Store Management
• 5 years working experience

Senior Communications Officer

Ref: NBA/SCO/009

The holder of this position will head the Communications Section of the Authority and will report to the CEO.

The purpose of the section is to ensure public communication and advocacy of biosafety activities.

The applicant should be outgoing with excellent verbal and written communication skills, a provider of excellent customer service with a diplomatic touch, integrity, self-motivated and a team player.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing and implementing biosafety communication strategy
• Awareness creation, public relations, media/press liaison and corporate identity branding
• Stakeholder engagement
• Maintenance of documentation and resource center including biosafety clearing house
• Preparing annual biosafety reports for release to the public

Qualification and Experience

• Masters degree in Environmental or Biological sciences or related field.
• Diploma in Mass Communication
• 5 years experience in science communication

Senior Administrative Officer

Ref: NBA/SAO/010

The holder of this position reports to the Chief HR & Administration Officer.

The purpose of the job is to ensure the provision of quality office services in order to meet the
Authority’s goals and objectives.

The applicant should have good people management skills with excellent verbal and written communication skills, and knowledge of labour laws.

Key Responsibilities

• Effective management of office and property services in the authority.
• Participating in the staff recruitment, selection, induction and promotion processes.
• Participating in development and implementation of employee performance appraisal and identifying their professional/skills development and training needs.
• Ensuring provision of effective office and registry services.
• Ensuring efficient and effective running of the registry.
• Ensuring efficient and effective cleaning, messengerial and telephone services.
• Ensuring provision of security services as required, and as per approved safety policies and procedures.
• Ensuring effective maintenance and cleaning of offices and buildings to the required standards.

Qualification and Experience

• Degree in Social Sciences
• Diploma in HR Management
• 3 years working experience

For all the above positions, candidates must be computer literate.

Our client is a quasi-government institution and the one third gender requirement will be applied.

All qualified individuals are therefore encouraged to apply.

If you have what it takes and wish to enter a challenging and exciting environment, send us your application/capability statement to the below address indicating the reference number accompanied by the following: - A detailed up-to-date CV; Copy of salary slips for a month in 2010 and May/June 2011; Copies of certificates; three referees; and a day time telephone contact.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 30 days and those not contacted should consider their application as unsuccessful.

Closing date for the applications is 5th August 2011.

Executive Selection Division
Mucmar Management Concepts Ltd.
Vision Plaza, Mombasa Road, 1st Floor Suite 17
P. O. Box 12283, 00100-Nairobi

Tel 828644/3; 828575; 0724-420100, 0734-770884.

E-mail: recruitment@mucmar.com