Project Architect, Project M&E Specialist, and PR Officer

Project: Judicial Performance Improvement Project (JPIP)

The Government of Kenya (GoK) has applied for financing from the World Bank to finance the proposed Judicial Performance Improvement Project (the Project), and intends to apply part of the proceeds of the financing to put together a Project Management Unit (PMU) comprising a team of professionals dedicated to planning and implementation of the Project.

The judiciary now invites applicants to apply for the following vacant positions:-

1. Project Architect

General

The Project Architect will work under the supervision and direction of the Project Coordinator. 

The main purpose of the Architect will be to monitor and supervise the work of civil works consultants, and contractors to ensure that all services and construction works are proceeding in accordance with the contracts and to the satisfaction of the Judiciary. 

The Architect will also prepare progress reports to assist the Project Coordinator and the Technical Committee to make rational decisions during implementation of the civil works component of the project.

Duties

The Project Architect will be responsible for 

• monitoring the performance and progress of civil works consultants and contractors, including producing and disseminating progress reports, 
• providing technical assistance to the Directorates to ensure the civil works meet user needs at planning and construction stages, and 
• assisting the civil works consultants and contractors with information/decisions required to and from the Judiciary.

Specifically, the Architect will be responsible for communicating decisions of the Project Technical Committee and PMU to civil works consultants and contractors, and assisting them in assessing the requirements and expectations of end-users of the facilities;

The Project Architect will also be involved in the following project activities;

• Being the client representative during the design phase
• Pre-design and supervision field visits
• Assisting in the preparation of Bills of Quantities and in the tender evaluation process
• Supervision of construction through the Project Manager
• Close inspections during site hand over and the defect liability window.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will:

• Have a first degree in Architecture or equivalent from an accredited university. A relevant Masters Degree will be an added advantage;
• Be a registered architect;
• Have a minimum of 10 years hands-on experience in a similar position in the planning, design and supervision of civil works projects;
• Have demonstrated capacity to manage civil works contracts.
• Have a good command of computerized design, database and spreadsheet construction, as well as their practical applications;

2. Project Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

General
The M&E Specialist (M&ES) will work under the supervision and direction of the Project Coordinator. 

The main purpose of monitoring and evaluation will be to ensure availability of information on implementation progress, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness of the project. 

M&E will involve a systematic collectionand assessment of information related to the outcomes, processes, or operations of the project. 

M&E will be an ongoing activity to generate information that will assist the Project Coordinator and the Technical Committee make rational decisions during implementation of the project.

Duties

The M&E Officer will be responsible for 

• overall monitoring and evaluation of the project, including producing and disseminating reports 
• providing technical assistance to the Directorates to develop comprehensive monitoring and evaluation guidelines for their component objectives, and 
• developing appropriate indicators of effective implementation, achievements and impact at various levels within the Judiciary.

Specifically, the M&E specialist will:

• Refine the Results Framework in line with World Bank modalities;
• Define the key performance indicators (inputs, outputs, outcomes) for monitoring the project; their target values and specifying the timing and format of reporting;
• Management and maintain the MIS system for collecting and reporting indicators, to ensure that data are regularly reported and entered into the MIS;
• Ensure efficient and regular monitoring reports to the PMU Project Coordinator, analyze progress and performance as well as highlight areas of concern; and prepare the documentation for review by the Technical Committee;
• Be responsible for the mid-term review report;
• Assist in establishing a system of conducting any required baseline surveys required by Directorates and provide technical support to enable them meet their monitoring and evaluation needs.
• Prepare periodic reports of monitoring and evaluation undertaken and present and disseminate results through workshops.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will:

• Have a first degree in Architecture or equivalent from an accredited university. A relevant Masters Degree will be an added advantage;
• Have a minimum of 10 years hands-on experience in a similar position in project/program monitoring and evaluation,
• Have the ability to use management information systems as an added advantage;
• Demonstrate capacity to develop and oversee implementation of monitoring and evaluation plans, survey and data analysis and report writing;
• Have proven ability in conducting operations research, impact assessments, work plans and budgeting, project/program monitoring and evaluation, documentation and advocacy;
• Have sound IT knowledge including statistical applications.

3. Project Communications/Public Relations Officer (PRO)

General

The PRO will work under the supervision and direction of the Project Coordinator.

The main purpose of communications is to ensure availability of information on implementation progress, accountability, values, and clarity on objectives and impacts of the project. 

PRO will involve a systematic collection and assessment of information related to the ongoing activities of the project, including getting feedback from people internally and externally and to generate information that will assist the Project Coordinator and the Technical Committee understand the general views of the stakeholders to enable them make rational decisions and accurate inward/outward communications during implementation of the project.

Duties

More specifically the PRO expert will carry out the following tasks:

• Identify effective channels of dissemination of information products to relevant target audiences and supervise distribution;
• Provide technical support to the PMU and other project consultants in developing proper communication strategy while conducting different project activities (trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, arrangements of study tour, preparation of knowledge products, etc.);
• Advise the Project Coordinator on the needs for any communication and outreach activities;
• Support and provide guidance to the preparation of annual communication plans including budgets, planning, and implementation of campaigns;
• Support in identifying success stories and other themes that can be used in communication campaigns and making the stakeholders understand the improvements the Judiciary is making in its performance improvements;
• Proofread and fine-tune texts and materials to make them understandable and interesting to the targeted audiences;
• Prepare information pamphlets for distribution to the general public to educate them on the roles and working relations with the Judiciary;
• Act as focal point for preparation and establishment of meetings, workshops and seminars.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will:

• Have a first degree in Mass Communication, Communication Studies, Information Sciences, Public Relations, International Relations, Journalism, Social Sciences or any other approved equivalent qualifications from a recognized university.

• Have served as a Communications Officer or in a comparable and relevant position for a minimum period of three ( 3) years;
• A clear understanding of the working of the media and socio-political environment in Kenya;

Core competencies

In addition to the job-specific requirement given above all candidates must possess the following core competencies:-

• Excellent planning and organizational skills;
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to prepare and present concise oral and written reports;
• Have strong leadership skills;
• Have clear understanding of the role of the Judiciary in realizing the demands of the Constitution, Vision 2030 goals and other policy documents of Judiciary;
• Have good Information Communication Technology skills for word processing, spread sheets, presentation, communication and reporting skills;
• Have the ability to work under minimal supervision;
• Should demonstrate a high degree of integrity, initiative, flexibility, judgment, and reliability;
• Have proven capacity for intellectual and operational leadership,
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work in a team.

Duration of Contracts

The overall duration of the contracts will be thirty six (36) months renewable annually.
The contract may be extended up to the end of the project life (approximately 60 months) subject to performance.

Please note that these will be full-time positions and are planned to commence in January 2013.
 

All applications should be made through the Judiciary Website www.judiciary.go.ke/jobs/
 

So as to reach the Chief Registrar not later than 17th of October, 2012.