Current Vacancies at World University Service of Canada

Project Management, Research, Education / Teaching , Finance, Accounting, Audit,

Events Assistant

The Role

• Under the supervision of the Deputy Project Director, the Events Assistant will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth execution of our project events from conception to completion. You will work closely with the project, operations and finance team to provide support in various aspects of event coordination and management (both virtual and in-person) across the various countries that we work in. Your ability to multitask, communicate and pay attention to detail will be essential to your success in this role.

Responsibilities:

• Provide logistical support for online and in-person events for the project staff and the DREEM Youth Advisory Committee;
• Assist in the planning and organization of events, including researching venues and suppliers;
• Coordinate logistics such as transportation, catering, audiovisual equipment, signage, and communications materials;
• Be present at events to assist with set-up, registration, troubleshooting, and to serve as the primary point of contact for vendors;
• Provide excellent communications support to partner organizations and invitees;
• Provide travel logistical support to participants including visa preparation, flight and accommodation bookings, provision of allowances, etc.;
• Assist in budget tracking and expense management for each event;
• Support project communications efforts as needed (development of materials, badges, etc.);
• Assist in the evaluation of event success, gather feedback, and contribute to post-event reports;
• Provide coordination and administrative support to the DREEM Deputy Project Director and DREEM Project Director as needed.

Qualifications

• The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in one or more of DREEM’s sectors (higher education, durable solutions for refugees, vocational and technical training, support to entrepreneurs and businesses), a familiarity with the East African refugee context, an ability to get things done, and strong organization, coordination, and communication skills.

Specific competencies:

• A bachelor’s degree in event management or a related field is a plus;
• Previous experience in event planning or a similar role in an NGO environment;
• Excellent organization and time management skills, with the ability to work under minimal supervision;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office;
• A proactive and flexible attitude, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Availability to work occasional evenings or weekends, dependent on event schedules;
• Complete fluency in English is essential, both written and spoken;
• Language skills in French are desirable;
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and social inclusion principles; proven knowledge of and commitment to the concept of gender equality and intersectionality within programming.

Other requirements

• This role may require travel across Kenya and to countries across the region;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager

Job Role

• Under the supervision of the Country Director, Kenya, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager will lead the MERL strategic response by offering leadership, and technical oversight across country level programming. The MERL manager will be responsible for designing the MERL system in alignment with the country level frameworks.

Management and Leadership

• Strategic leadership on MERL across WUSC projects in Kenya
• Support MERL activities across East Africa portfolio when needed
• Establish and manage working relationships and strategic engagement with external evaluation and research consultants and other partners, including relevant government bodies, researchers, regulators and other MERL stakeholders.
• Develop annual operating forecasts of MERL budgets, research, evaluation and learning agenda
• Oversee the process of assessments and thematic papers, research, analysis, interpretation and reporting of various data across all projects in the region to ensure the highest standards of intellectual honesty, research ethics, and academic convention;
• Lead in the development of the MERL frameworks and plans for programs, in line with the donor and WUSC’s requirements.
• Take the lead in providing capacity building and overall support to partners and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate the programs.
• Supervisory role over the MERL team

Evaluation, Research, Design and Publications

• Lead the process of obtaining approvals for research and evaluations to ensure compliance with local requirement
• Provide technical support to Evaluation teams/consultants in the process of conducting baseline/midline/endline surveys
• Lead in periodic project or program internal evaluations as needed.
• Take an active role in managing the communication research strategy of the projects
• Lead in the dissemination of project research findings to external audiences
• Provide advisory roles in preparing annual and impact reports for the programs.

Learning

• Lead in translation of data into actionable policy and communicating to stakeholders (internal and external)
• Provide leadership to projects in the utilization of the research conducted in the design of new projects to influence policy in the region.
• Take leadership in implementation of WUSC’s Knowledge Management and help develop strategies for reflection and dissemination of lessons learned.

Line Manager

• Country Director, Kenya

Position Requires Close Collaboration with:

• DREEM Senior Project Manager
• GESI, Education and LEO Advisors
• Country leads – Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan (where relevant)

HQ

• Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Advisor
• Program Managers
• Technical Advisors

Provides supports:

• Uganda and South Sudan country offices/MERL teams (where relevant)

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in applied social science, statistics, international development, or another related field. Specific academic training in Monitoring, Evaluation and research is desirable.
• Experience in leading evaluations and research projects

Experience & Competencies

• The ideal applicant will need to have a familiarity with the East African context, a strategic and analytical mindset, excellent listening and interpersonal skills, and ability to get things done.

Specific competencies:

• At least 7 years of experience working in the design, implementation and evaluation of international development and other key donors.
• Strong understanding of humanitarian interventions
• Experience in managing medium size teams
• A strong focus on qualitative and participatory data collection and analysis methods and tools
• Quantitative background and experience with cutting-edge data collection and analysis methods would be an asset
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing qualitative analyses that reflect best practice.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to distill data and effectively topline messages for busy senior leaders.
• Ability to create a MERL agenda that is closely linked with business development priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to working in teams across lines of business.
• Experience infusing a gender responsive lens across MERL

Other requirements

• The role will require regular travel (up to 30%) to field sites in the regions, as well as participate in international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule

Higher Education Inclusion Officer

Job Role

• Under the supervision of the Nairobi-Based Deputy Project Director, the Higher Education Inclusion Officer will work closely and in collaboration with the WUSC team in Kenya, the WUSC team based in Canada, and the Mastercard Foundation team.
• The Higher Education Inclusion Officer provides essential support to the DREEM project’s day to day operations. Working closely with the Senior Project Manager and the DREEM team, they will support in the coordination of various aspects of the project as outlined below:

Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with DREEM team members to provide technical, programmatic, and coordination support to ensure the educational inclusion goals of the Mastercard Foundation under DREEM are met;
• Supports the Higher Education Inclusion Coordinator in providing capacity building support and technical advice to Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners on refugee and displaced youth inclusion in higher education;
• Works closely with the DREEM Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Officer to track Scholars Program partner engagement and impact;
• Supports in the coordination of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Inclusion Working Group;
• Supports in the development and dissemination of resources and delivery of training opportunities for Scholars Program partners;
• Identifies promising practices and ways to share learnings across the network;
• Coordinates and supports the planning and implementation of outreaches and key convenings within the Higher Education Inclusion portfolio;
• In partnership with the DREEM Senior MERL Officer, supports MERL activities for the Higher Education Inclusion portfolio;
• Attend and participate in relevant internal and external events;
• Other duties as assigned.

Line Manager

Deputy Project Director, DREEM

Qualifications:

• The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in one or more of DREEM’s sectors (higher education, durable solutions for refugees, vocational and technical training, support to entrepreneurs and businesses), a familiarity with the East African refugee context, an ability to get things done, and strong organization, coordination, and communication skills.

Specific competencies:

• At minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Refugee Studies);
• Two to three years of relevant working experience;
• Experience working on displacement issues in East Africa;
• Relevant experience on projects that promote inclusion for displaced/ refugee youth in tertiary or technical education;
• Experience providing technical support to partner organizations and a commitment to a participatory partnership approach to capacity development;
• Understanding of the higher education landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa;
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and social inclusion, and knowledge of the specific constraints and realities of challenges faced by refugee and displaced groups;
• Complete fluency in English is essential, with the ability to write articulately and cogently, and to edit at a similarly high level;
• Fluency (or professional competencies) in French is strongly desired;
• Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in a fast-paced work environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills & demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations between programs & support;
• Commitment to WUSC’s mission of building a better world for all young people, particularly displaced and refugee youth.

Other requirements

• The headquarters of the DREEM project is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the officer is expected to be based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in.
• The role may require travel to refugee communities across the continent with Scholars Program partners;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

Finance Manager

The Role

• The Kenya Finance Manager is a key member of the Management Team of the WUSC team in Kenya. They will hold overall responsibility for financial management of WUSC programming in Kenya, under the supervision of the Kenya Country Director and Ottawa-based Director of Finance. The Finance Manager ensures that national legislation is adhered to, and that WUSC’s financial standards are applied in terms of accounting, financial control systems, internal / external reporting processes, in order to ensure an efficient use of resources. They will lead, and provide technical support and capacity building to the finance and administrative staff in the country and possibly the East Africa region.

Responsibilities:

• Manage program finances and develops adequate accounting systems and internal financial control mechanisms to include day-to-day finance operations in accordance with WUSC policies and procedures.
• Lead budget review processes, including coordinating with partners to ensure budget components are realistic and meet program needs and donor requirements.
• Collaborates with Operations colleagues to conduct comprehensive due diligence and organizational capacity assessment of partners in the pre-contracting stage;
• Support the program team and project partners to build and develop accurate budgets and forecasts and monitor progress with program teams.
• Work closely with the programs and program development teams to develop budgets for project proposals.
• In conjunction with WUSC HQ, develop, coordinate and enforce financial policies and procedures.
• Ensure that payroll is processed accurately and on time, and that the relevant reports and schedules (such as statutory deductions and staff benefit schemes) are generated accurately and sent to relevant sources on time.
• Make regular visits to project field offices to review field operations and ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures.
• Provide training and guidance to field staff and project partners when necessary.
• Oversee the finance team to monitor and review all project accounts GL, advance reconciliations, bank reconciliations and balance sheet accounts.
• Ensures that country office internal controls are in place and are followed and continuously identify opportunities for improvement
• Prepare for annual, donor and internal audits by ensuring availability of an accurate and updated General ledger, related schedules and documentations for audit
• Troubleshooting and management of financial issues that arise during program implementation risk management to ensure funding is being utilized as intended and budget balances are monitored.
• Ensure implementation of financial controls to monitor and forecast cash requirements to meet administrative and program expenditures, forecasting monthly cash requirements for program/projects and making advance requests to the Ottawa office and other donor offices to ensure Kenya office liquidity is maintained.
• Take initiative to make recommendations as needed to ensure efficient and effective use of project financial resources; carry out a cost benefit analysis where necessary
• Engage with program staff across the organization to monitor and review program budgets throughout the year and life of the project (s)
• Continuous monitoring and tracking of actual expenditure against budgets per award
• Provide variance analysis for quarterly reports and annual budget revisions for each project.
• Preparation of monthly burn rate reports and keep program teams updated on burn rates per project per award on a quarterly basis
• Key liaison between WUSC Kenya and its banking institution to ensure any and all emerging issues are resolved amicably, maintaining and regularly updating the bank signatories.
• Assist with the development and reconciliation of organizational indirect cost rate

Line Managers:

• Kenya Country Director
• WUSC Director of Finance (HQ)

Position Requires Close Collaboration with

• WUSC HQ – Finance Analysts
• Project Managers
• Deputy Country Director, Kenya

Position Supervises

• Senior Finance Coordinator
• Finance Officer

Qualifications and Experience

• A Master’s in Finance, Business Administration, Commerce or equivalent
• A professional qualification in Accounting e.g. CPA (K), ACCA or equivalent qualification
• Over 7 years professional experience in a similar post (preferably an INGO)
• Experience in the evaluation of Accounting regulations and Tax matters
• Experience managing large budgets with multiple consortia partners
• Experience working with donors and their unique reporting requirements (CIDA, BPRM, EU, DFID, USAID)

Other Competencies

• Strong managerial skills
• Ability to guide in the setting of financial objectives and monitoring delivery against goals
• Strong analytical, communication and problem solving skills
• Ability to identify and articulate problems and provide solutions in a concise and clear manner

Economic Inclusion Officer

Job Role

• Under the supervision of the Nairobi-Based Deputy Project Director, the Economic Inclusion Officer will work closely and in collaboration with the WUSC team in Kenya, the WUSC team based in Canada, and the Mastercard Foundation team. The Economic Inclusion Officer provides essential support to the DREEM project’s day to day operations. Working closely with the the DREEM team, they will support in the coordination of various aspects of the project as outlined below:

Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with DREEM team members to provide technical, programmatic, and coordination support to ensure the economic inclusion goals of the Mastercard Foundation under DREEM are met;
• Supports the Economic Inclusion Managers (East Africa and Pan-Africa) in the provision of technical advice, capacity building, and advisory support for Young Africa Works partners and programming in the various countries;
• Supports the Economic Inclusion Managers in the design, development and delivery of resources and training for Young Africa Works staff and partners across the countries of focus (where relevant);
• Coordinates and supports the planning and implementation of key convenings within the Economic Inclusion portfolio of work, in collaboration with the Events Assistant;
• Supports the management of research projects that are building evidence for further interventions and partnerships;
• Identifies promising practices and ways to share learnings across the network.
• In partnership with the DREEM Senior MERL Officer, supports MERL activities for the economic inclusion portfolio. This includes documenting learnings, success stories, and other relevant information;
• Attend and participate in relevant internal and external events;
• Other duties as assigned.

Line Manager

• Deputy Project Director – DREEM

Qualifications:

• The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in one or more of DREEM’s sectors (higher education, durable solutions for refugees, vocational and technical training, support to entrepreneurs and businesses), a familiarity with the East African refugee context, an ability to get things done, and strong organization, coordination, and communication skills.

Specific competencies:

• At minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Refugee Studies);
• Three to five years of relevant working experience;
• Experience working on displacement issues in East Africa;
• Relevant experience on projects that promote livelihoods and economic inclusion for displaced/ refugee youth, entrepreneur support within a refugee setting, tertiary or technical education for displaced/ refugee youth;
• Adherence to gender equality and social inclusion principles; proven knowledge of and commitment to the concept of gender equality and intersectionality within programming;
• Complete fluency in English is essential, with the ability to write articulately and cogently, and to edit at a similarly high level;
• Fluency (or professional competencies) in French is preferred;
• Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in a fast-paced work environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations between programs and support;
• Commitment to WUSC’s mission of building a better world for all young people, particularly displaced and refugee youth;

Other requirements

• The headquarters of the DREEM project is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the officer is expected to be based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in.
• The role requires regular travel across the African continent and occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

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