Acumen Fund , East Africa Fellows Program Associate

Introduction:

Acumen started as an idea. Twelve years later we have a proven model that combines the best of charity and investing to change the way the world tackles poverty.  Acumen is a non-profit venture fund with a vision to help build a world beyond poverty through investing in companies that deliver critical goods and services in water, health, housing, energy, agriculture, and education to the poor; leaders who are paving the way for new approaches to fighting poverty; and the spread of ideas that will give the world the knowledge and the understanding to change how the world tackles poverty. 

Passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and rejecting the status quo are just a few of the things that Acumen team members have in common. What we aim to accomplish with our work is not easy, and we need dedicated, high-caliber people to reach our goals.

About Our Fellows Programs:

Acumen believes that the future depends on a new breed of leader who is able to solve some of the world's most challenging problems in new ways.  Our Fellows Programs aim to identify, train, and connect these leaders – across geographies, across sectors, and across lines of difference – to become the next generation of architects for the social impact sector.  Our programs aim to cultivate the capacity and flexibility to bring together financial skills, operational expertise and what we call moral imagination – the humility to see the world for what it is, and the audacity to imagine the world for what it could be – to address the problems of poverty.

Our Fellows Programs provide emerging leaders the opportunity to connect and collaborate with like-minded individuals, participate in world-class training seminars, and develop new skills to accelerate their own growth and the trajectory of their work and the work of their organizations.  The program brings together the best of global and local trainers, who, together with our Fellows Managers and Associates, guide and support Fellows through the fellowship year.  The East Africa Fellows Program is one three Regional Fellows Programs offered by Acumen.  These programs, together with our Global Fellows Program and +acumen online courses, represent Acumen’s global suite of leadership development offerings.  

Position Description:

The East Africa Fellows Program Associate’s primary responsibility will be to support, and in some cases manage, various operational and strategic aspects of the East Africa Fellows Program. S/he will work closely with the East Africa Fellows Program Manager to deliver all parts of the program, including program administration, logistics, recruitment and selection, outreach and communications, and business development. S/he will also provide local support to the Global Fellows Program and +acumen online courses.

The East Africa Fellows Program Associate position is a full-time role, based out of the Nairobi Office. S/he must be eligible to work in Kenya, and must have a long-term commitment to the development of the East African region. Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Program Administration

• Support in the design and execution of training seminars and community events – Liaising with Fellows/trainers between seminars; preparing all training materials; monitoring the budget and program expenses; processing all Fellows-related payments; in some cases co-facilitating  training activities
• Event management and logistics – Acting as the point person between Acumen and the seminar venue; arranging all accommodations; managing transportation of Fellows and trainers to/from seminar locations; attending week-long seminars (5 seminars over the course of the fellowship year) and resolving any logistical issues that arise; organize and manage any additional vendors required (i.e. catering, audio/visual technology, etc.)

Recruitment & Selection

• Manage the outreach/communications strategy for the East Africa Fellows Program locally – Manage the Fellows listserv, sending out regular emails to the local Fellows community; update collateral documents and the website; leverage social media to engage our community (i.e. Fellows Facebook group, Acumen’s blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.); draft announcements and press releases; share Fellows stories throughout the year and especially while applications are open
• Own the execution of a 4-stage selection process from start to finish – Manage the WizeHive applicant tracking system, serving as primary point of contact for 500-1000 applicants; monitor the Fellows inbox, responding to all candidate inquiries; train and manage regional teams reviewing applications and conducting phone interviews; conduct a large number of application reviews; support the implementation of the Selection Conference event; manage final selection and offer letter process; track recruitment metrics

Business Development

• Support the engagement of partners/prospects locally – Manage the grant reporting calendar; draft reports for funders; write quarterly partner updates; create presentations for pitches to prospective funders

Other

• Support the Global Fellows Program locally – Provide in-country support to Global Fellows who are placed in East Africa, including help with their field placement, their housing, their immigration, and support for annual recruitment and selection activities
• Support +acumen locally – Provide in-country support to the +acumen team to promote and develop our online courses

Qualifications:

Candidates interested in the East Africa Fellows Program Associate position should have a deep motivation to contributing to Acumen’s mission of solving the toughest problems of poverty, and a passion for leadership development and education.

Your background probably looks something like this:

• At least 1-3 years’ work experience in a related field (preferably in education, training, fellowships and/or leadership development)
• Prior work experience in a fast-paced environment, with a demonstrated ability to work quickly and efficiently against tight deadlines
• Familiarity and exposure to the field of social enterprise and poverty alleviation preferred
• Proficiency in writing skills and in the Microsoft Office suite of programs (i.e. MS Word and Excel) as well as web-based software platforms
• An undergraduate/bachelor’s degree in a related field (for example: education, psychology, leadership, etc) is a plus

Additional qualifications include:

• Exceptionally organized, great at multitasking, with an ability to balance many moving pieces at once, and  strengths in project management and prioritization
• Ability to deliver on projects independently, under pressure, and on time – every time
• High attention to detail, dedicated to accuracy, and consistently follows through on all commitments
• A results-oriented problem-solver with a “can-do” attitude
• Brings positive energy and enthusiasm to the table, and is a team player who is ready and willing to roll up their sleeves to do whatever is required to get the job done
• Self-awareness, strong communication/interpersonal skills, and empathy
• Passionate about social impact, dedicated to Acumen’s mission, and interested in leadership development/education
• Alignment with Acumen’s core values: leadership/listening, generosity/accountability, audacity/humility, and respect/integrity.

Compensation:

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Location:
Acumen East Africa Office – Nairobi, Kenya

Please submit your application by 10 February 2014. You will be asked to submit the following via our online applicant tracking system:
1. An updated resume/CV
2. Your responses to 2 questions (200 words each)

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