Director of Corporate Services

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is the government parastatal whose responsibility is to assure the quality of agricultural inputs and produce to prevent adverse impact on the economy, the environment and human health. Vision: Healthy plants, safe trade and sustainable aggro-environment for a prosperous Kenya. Mission: To provide a science based regulatory service by assuring plant health, quality of agricultural inputs and produce for food security, globally competitive agriculture and sustainable development. Core values Customer focus Professionalism and Integrity Teamwork Results oriented Innovation and Creativity Corporate social sustainability Strategic Objectives To protect plants from pests, weeds and invasive species. To facilitate review and strengthening of the policy, legal and regulatory framework, so that it is in tandem with both local and international agricultural sector emerging issues. To contribute towards improved levels of agricultural productivity. To support compliance to market requirements. To build adequate technical and infrastructural capacity to facilitate efficient and effective delivery of the KEPHIS mandate. To mobilize adequate financial resources and ensure optimal allocation and utilization to enable full implementation of planned programmers and activities. To enhance synergies through information and resource sharing with stakeholders and partners. To enhance the visibility and corporate image of KEPHIS

KPH/DCS/1/24

Job Specification

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Providing leadership to corporate service functions of the Corporation to support technical operations and achievement of KEPHIS’ mandate.
• Contributing to the Corporation’s strategy, tactical initiatives, culture, and planning, and overall efforts to continually improve performance.
• Coordinate strategic planning process for the institution.
• Developing and implementing appropriate planning and strategy, financial,
• human resource, information communication technology, and administration strategies for accomplishment of corporate goals and objectives.
• Coordinate the planning and implementation activities and operations of the KEPHIS.
• Managing KEPHIS human resources management and development processes in line with the human resource management policies and laws.
• Administering all finance and accounting functions for the Service including budgeting, asset management, cash flow management, debt management, resource mobilization, and reporting in accordance with public accounting standards, generally accepted accounting principles, financial policies and procedures.
• Liaising with donors supporting projects within KEPHIS and ensuring compliance with the donor requirements.
• Supporting the Service’s resource mobilization efforts in line the external resource mobilization policy.
• Liaising with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Treasury to ensure KEPHIS budget is captured in the GOK Budget and funds transferred to KEPHIS for implementation.
• Coordinating KEPHIS’ administrative functions of transport, records management and estate management.
• Managing KEPHIS’ adoption and implementation of effective strategies for the deployment of ICT infrastructure, software, service delivery, business continuity, innovations, and information security.
• Working with the management team in developing and implementing annual financial, human resource, information communication technology, corporate communications and administration plans.
• Ensuring existence of up to date financial, human resource, information communication technology, corporate communications and administration controls in the Corporation.
• Ensuring accurate and reliable financial reporting.
• Ensuring compliance with statutory and contractual requirements relating to
• Corporate Services activities.
• Identifying, measuring and mitigating risks affecting Corporate Services’ functions.
• Providing periodic updates to the Managing Director, the Board Finance Committee and Human Resource and Administration Committee on planning, financial, human capital, information and Communication technology and administrative status and position of the Service.
• Managing the budget process by ensuring timely preparation and defence of the budget and subsequent transmission to the relevant Government offices.
• Managing the efficient utilization and safeguarding of the Institutional assets.
• Liaising with auditors to ensure closure of findings and implementation of recommendations.

Person Specification

For appointment to this grade a candidate must have:

• At least twelve (12) years’ work experience, seven (7) of which must have been at a managerial level in Finance & Accounts, Human Resource, Administration, ICT, Corporate Communication or related field;
• Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Business Management, Human Resource, Finance, Economics, ICT and Corporate Communication or related discipline;
• Master’s degree in Commerce, Business Management, Human Resource, Finance, Economics, ICT and Corporate Communication or related discipline;
• Professional certification and a member of a relevant professional body in good standing;
• Leadership course lasting not less than six (6) weeks.
• Compliance to Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya.

Skills

• Analytical skills;
• Strategic and innovative thinking;
• Interpersonal skills;
• Strong leadership skills;
• Negotiation skills;
• Report writing skills;
• Problem solving skills;
• Communication skills;
• Objectivity;
• Emotional control.

Competencies

• i. Demonstrated managerial, administrative and professional competence in work performance;
• Corporate reporting;
• Professional and ethical;
• Governance, risk and control;
• Proficiency in computer applications;
• Results oriented;
• Ability to motivate others;
• Ability to build successful teams;
• Ability to work under pressure.

Method of Application