Senior Software Engineer

Brief Description

We are looking for a talented Senior Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience building custom mission-critical enterprise systems that will enable us to manage a network of hundreds and eventually thousands of schools.

About this position

Bridge International Academies is a startup revolutionizing education across Africa with a truly unique business model. 

The company has launched a large-scale franchise-like network of ultra low-cost for-profit private primary schools across Africa. 

Our schools profitably deliver highquality education for less than $4 per child per month, enabling local school managers to operate their school businesses profitably, while creating a highly successful business at the central level.

We now have 84 schools in Kenya, and plan to rapidly scale the company to serve more than 1 million students.

We have and are continuing to develop one of the most sophisticated operational approaches to providing affordable education to MILLIONS of children in one of the most challenging environments in the world! 

Our success relies on our “School in a Box”, a sophisticated set of custom developed systems, tools and processes (think McDonalds or Starbucks) that are used by all School Managers, as well as by support teams at Headquarters to audit, monitor and support all of our schools. 

While the end-user (School Manager) technology at the school is limited to paper and a mobile phone, all of our systems and processes are underpinned by a sophisticated set of supporting and enabling technologies that allows schools to operate cost effectively and efficiently, with oversight by headquarters.

We are looking for a full time Senior Software Engineer with responsibilities of:

• Leading the development of custom enterprise software to power and improve the efficiency of our rigorous processes at both our schools and headquarters
• Architecture, designing, implementation and debugging
• Integration of our custom systems with off the shelf software
• Database design and optimization
• Requirements analysis and user interface design
• Supporting in-house users of our custom software and problem solving

About You

• You have BA/BS in Computer Science or related technical field
• You are an exceptionally talented coder with knowledge of multiple programming languages and frameworks
• You have a minimum of 5 years experience developing custom-built software to enable internal business processes.
• You have experience integrating off-the-shelf and custom-built technologies
• You have developed and supported systems that are critical to the day to day operations of medium and large organizations (ERP, financial systems, CRM…)
• You have designed and supported large databases and are skilled at writing SQL
• You have experience taking software projects through the entire software lifecycle (requirements analysis, design, implementation, deployment, post deployment support)
• You work well as part of a team and like to both teach and learn from others
• You are familiar with professional software development practices such as source code control, defect tracking, unit testing and code reviews
• You love to write code and solve challenging problems
• You function well in a fast-paced, informal environment where constant change is the norm and the bar for quality is set high
• You are in expert in two or more of the following technologies:

C#/.NET development
MS SQL Server
PHP/MySQL web development
SugarCRM
Android development

Location

The job is based in our headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
Examples of our Software Needs

The following are examples some of the software projects that are currently under development or consideration:

• Automated Student Payment Information System - manages billing, automatically updates database with data from banks and mobile payment systems, provides tools for operator to correct and assign payments, and uses SMS interface to send coded updates to Schools, and receive interactive SMS queries and remote error correction.
• Customized integrated financial system - taking customizable financial package and integrating with payment information system, reporting tools, and developing additional tools for automated budget tracking, and SMS-based payment requests and school payroll.
• Data Management and Dashboard/Reporting Tools for HQ staff to support schools - we are developing tools that collect key performance data and provide dashboards/reports to allow support teams to monitor progress of our schools.
• Android Mobile Phone App - We are porting of many of our paper-based processes at our schools to a mobile phone app on the Android platform to streamline school operations.

In order to be considered for this position all candidates must register and upload their CV’s on our website at www.bridgeinternationalacademies.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Bridge International Construction Project Manager Job in Kenya

Construction Project Manager

Location: Kenya
Reports to: Head of Construction

About Bridge International

Bridge International Academies was conceived in 2007 out of the belief that giving every child access to a high quality education would have the greatest impact on reducing poverty worldwide. 

With that guiding insight, Bridge International developed a strategy that would enable it to launch a large-scale network of high-quality, ultra low-cost, for-profit primary schools. 

Operating a network of schools supported by a strong central headquarters gives Bridge International the scale, experience, and capacity to invest in systems of management, support, training, and innovation that allows individual schools to dramatically increase their effectiveness. 

Using this model, Bridge International is able to profitably deliver high-quality education for $5 per child per month. 

This ensures that its academies will continue to successfully serve its communities as long as parents value the educational service provided. 

The first Bridge International Academy launched successfully in Kenya in 2009 and over 70 academies are operating in Kenya today. 

Through rapid and strategic expansion, Bridge International will provide a quality education to over a million students in the coming years.
Job Purpose:

The Construction Project Manager shall be responsible for the successful completion of site works in time, within set budgets and to specification using a highly consistent, efficient and effective formally systematized methodology.

Responsibilities:

• Pre-start process including review of the initial site appraisals, site layouts, site preparation details and budgets and statutory approval documentation.
• In charge of site preparation processes, programmes organisation.
• Start-up of site work including organising site visits, site staff travel, site work prerequisites, site documentation and site foremen deployment.
• On-site work planning and organisation, site instructions and site inspections, work certification; on-site trouble shooting and problem solving, handover and project shut down.
• Participating in facilitating training, work study and staff management.
• Inter-departmental communications including periodic reporting, construction updates and correspondence.
• Provide feedback on design and process standardisation including design of process, procedures and tools; determination of labour resource requirements; review of designs, drawings and contracts; and feedback on design implementation and buildability.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years experience in a busy and dynamic work environment.
• Handled multiple projects in multiple locations concurrently.

Qualifications:

• Degree in any of the building and construction professions; Architecture, Quantity Surveying,
• Civil & Structural Engineering, Building Construction or equivalent
• Master’s degree in Construction Management, Project management shall be an added advantage.

Professional: Relevant Professional registration

Specialist knowledge required:

• Excellent MS Project (or other) knowledge & skills
• Excellent MS Office package skills

Behavioural competencies:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Systems and formal standardisation orientation
• Ability to synthesize complex ideas into simple concise instructions for dissemination
• Problem solving/decision making
• Information gathering skills
• Analytical and interpretation skills
• Excellent people management skills
• Ability to be adaptable and flexible

In order to be considered for this position all candidates must register and upload their CV’s on our website at www.bridgeinternationalacademies.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

TechnoServe Business Advisor Job in Kenya

Business Advisor

Connected Farmer Alliance Program

I. General Information:

TechnoServe is an international non-profit economic development organization in 1968 out of a conviction that a vibrant private sector is an essential foundation for economic growth and poverty reduction.  

TechnoServe undertakes targeted, catalytic technical assistance and other programming to increase the competitiveness of entrepreneurs, businesses and industries that in-turn provide sustainable employment, inclusion of the poor and increased incomes.  

TechnoServe operates in 25 developing countries with over 1,000 employees. 

A substantial portion of our work is in agriculture, enhancing farm productivity and commodity quality and addressing gaps in processing and other agribusiness capacities.  

Our programs increase smallholder access to new technologies, aggregation and storage mechanisms, markets, critical information and finance.  

TechnoServe also undertakes structured programs to identify and support high potential entrepreneurs in various sectors through leadership mentoring networks, formalization support, access to capital and development of sustainable business services.

II. Primary Purpose & Function:

TechnoServe is in the process of securing funding for a $10 million Global Development Alliance (GDA) funded by USAID and Africa’s leading Mobile Network Operator (MNO). 

The three-year Connected Farmer Alliance (CFA) will develop and launch business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) mobile solutions that will create market opportunities for smallholder farmers and improve return on investment for the agribusinesses that source from them, while unlocking new market opportunities for MNOs in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

The CFA will facilitate access to output and financial markets for 500,000 rural smallholders, nearly 150,000 of whom will be women. 

By developing sustainable business models that serve the interests of a broad range of private sector stakeholders, the CFA will seek to prove the commercial viability of rural mobile solutions. 

By profitably serving rural markets across a representative cross-section of African information and communication technology (ICT) industries, the CFA will pave the way for widespread replication of developed mobile solutions across the sub-continent.

III. Purpose

TechnoServe seeks three world class Business Advisors (BAs) – two in Kenya and one in Tanzania – to lead the provision of services to TechnoServe CFA clients, which will include agribusinesses, government extension agents and lead farmers. 

The BAs’ mission is to backstop the management of the program, train clients on relevant mobile solutions and support Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) to document program performance and impact.

IV. Duties & Responsibilities:

1.    Project Management

• Backstop Country Lead on project work planning, budgeting and stakeholder engagement
• Enable accurate and timely reporting to all stakeholders and partners as well as meet TechnoServe internal processes
• Monitor program results and achievements and identify lessons learned and areas of improvement for the CFA and future programming.
• Carry out country-specific gender analysis to better understand the constraints facing women’s program participation and their ability to control program-related benefits
• Maintain project work plan and activity budget
• Ensure timeliness and quality of activity implementation
• Actively participate in regular team meetings to track implementation progress and share relevant program and administrative data
• Support the production of narrative and M&E reports by collecting relevant data for monitoring and evaluation purposes
• Ensure excellence in execution of all program activities and events

2.    Mobile supply chain solutions for rural smallholder farmers

• Identify and sign-up partner agribusinesses in each country
• Conduct needs assessment to determine information flows needed to make smallholder sourcing
• economically viable
• Identify mobile services that meet needs identified by needs assessments
• Identify technology partners that can help develop solutions; support partners to develop and test solutions
• Support agribusinesses on marketing and acquisition

3.     Mobile financial services for rural smallholder farmers

• Identify and sign-up partner financial institutions in each country
• Conduct needs assessment to determine financial services requirements of rural men and women
• smallholders
• Identify mobile services that meet needs identified by needs assessments
• Identify technology partners that can help develop solutions; support partners to develop and test solutions
• Support financial institutions on marketing and acquisition

4.     VAS business support for new services to smallholders

• Define Accelerator processes, evaluation criteria, and support systems; launch and promote to stimulate applicants
• Screen and select incubated businesses and enter into agreements
• Provide business support service and facilitate access to finance and market linkage for selected applicants

5.     Capacity Building and Gender integration into overall project management system and approach

• Contribute to the design and delivery of training to clients on the use and management of relevant mobile solutions
• Develop strategy to encourage women smallholder farmers to adopt mobile services
• Conduct gender integration training for program stakeholders
• Incorporate targets for women's participation into work plans and performance management plans

6.     Learning, M&E system operational

• Working closely with the Regional M&E Manager, collect data on customer usage of mobile solutions, and impact of services on rural farmers
• Participate in ongoing M&E reporting, baseline assessment, midterm evaluation and closeout impact assessment
• Participate in organizing events in each country to disseminate learnings to private sector stakeholders on development and launch of commercially viable mobile solutions that benefit smallholders, including sex-differentiated understanding of adoption and use

V. Knowledge & Expertise:

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent title in business administration or related field work
• 3 years experience in agribusinesses, business, finance, and/or design and administration of projects
• Deep knowledge of the local business and technology environment and trends
• Experience in agribusiness, stakeholder management banking and/or micro finance and ICT related field Proven ability to develop business plans
• Skills and experience in M&E and gender integration is an added advantage
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent oral and written communications
• Self-motivated person with proven entrepreneurial and leadership skills

Reports to: Country Lead

Position Location: Nairobi, Kenya

To Apply: 

Please submit your application (by email only) to ke-recruit@tns.org  with the position title placed in the subject line. Please include 

(1) cover letter describing your interest, 

(2) curriculum vitae, 

(3) salary history, and 

(4) telephone contacts of three referees (former supervisors). 

Please include all requirements in one document (pdf). Applications will be treated confidentially.  

Deadline for applications is Wednesday 17th October 2012.  Note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

La vonce Trading Sales Executives Jobs in Kenya

Sales Executives 

Lavonce Trading Co. Kenya Limited

Company profile:

La vonce Trading Kenya Company Limited is a duly registered company in Kenya dealing in the Import and Distribution of quality Tomato paste and Tomato sauce products in FMCG industry. 

We are seeking experienced dynamic sales people to roll out our brands in the Kenyan and East Africa markets.

You will have plenty of room to be creative and management will be open to new ideas.

Role Category: Retail Sales / Wholesale / Distribution
Key Skills: Retail Sales, channel sales, FMCG sales, Hotels, and Institutional sales

Salary: 15k + Commissions.
Age Limit: 25-35 Years
Industry: Tomato Paste

Job Description For The Sales Executives

• Responsible for Business Development in Channel Sales and Modern Trade, Super Market in local & Up country Markets.
• Achieving company Volume and Value team targets by Month, QTR & Yearly Basis.
• Capable to handle the entire products range and customers in the assigned territory.
• Drive in Depth Distribution & Geographical Expansion.
• Efficient stock management at Key sales points (Super Markets, Distributors & Wholesalers)
• Develop & execute the trade.
• Plan & Implement Distribution for market coverage.
• Ability to identify key players, overall business strategy and competitor analysis;
• Prospective building of a client database, market segmentation, cold calls, referrals and enquiries.

Skills

• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Good organization and administrative skills.
• A strong team player.
• Ability to perform with minimal supervision.
• Ability to adopt a flexible approach to meet the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Degree / Diploma in Sales or Marketing
• Should have experience of 3 – 5 years
• Be of high ethical standards, integrity and professionalism.

If you believe you meet the above requirements send detailed CV & Cover letter, to lavoncesalesrecruitment@gmail.com, on or before Monday 15th October 2012.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted.