Program Analyst

Title: Program Analyst

Location: Murang’a County

Reports to: Regional Coordinator Central

About Food 4 Education

Food for Education (F4E) is an African-led, women-led social enterprise that uses technology, smart operations, and logistics to provide low-cost, high-quality meals that improve nutrition and education outcomes for primary school children in Kenya.

We are growing quickly. Our mission is to scale models that prioritise efficient supply chain management and sustainable sourcing so we can continue lowering the cost of school lunches. We have delivered over 40,000,000 meals since 2012 and are expanding to reach our goal of serving at least 1,000,000 public primary school students in Kenya every day by 2027.

Position Overview:

The Program Analyst will be responsible for analyzing and optimizing kitchen operations across the county. This role focuses on monitoring the daily meal and uji production process, ensuring compliance with operational standards, and analyzing data to drive improvements in efficiency and quality. The Program Analyst will report to the Decentralized Regional Coordinator and collaborate closely with kitchen teams to ensure the successful execution of the feeding program.

Our Values

At Food for Education, our values are guiding principles that provide us with purpose and direction and set the tone for our interactions with all stakeholders:

• Build with excellence and curiosity - We’re not afraid to try new things and iterate as much as we can to find the best and most efficient way to get results;
• Be the change you seek - We acknowledge that continuous improvement is a shared responsibility;
• We do what we say; and say what we do - We embrace an ownership mentality;
• Ask why; and commit- Share openly and question respectfully and commit fully. When we understand the why, we are able to work with a purpose.

Key Responsibilities:

Operations Management 

• Review the County’s kitchen daily operations through the looker and/or tableau and flag any trends and issues associated with quality and kitchen performance 
• Guide associates in implementing and overseeing kitchen trends and problem-solving during and after operations 
• Oversee associate’s adherence to their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conduct regular checks to ensure compliance
• Track the number of meals cooked and consumed daily, ensuring compliance with set KPIs for meal production.
• In collaboration with operations compliance, conduct weekly assessments of the current operational gaps and priorities for F4E activities in the county. 
• Develop and execute operational improvement plan across the county and cascade critical strategies to all teams within the region 

Team Leadership and Capacity Building 

• Set out county-specific training schedules and materials for associates and kitchen-level teams in accordance with the organisation's objectives and team OKRs
• Support in ongoing training and capacity-building initiatives for Program support teams, focusing on reporting, troubleshooting, and KAIZEN Lean methods
• Manage individual performance for direct and sub-level reports through appropriate performance management systems and assessments.
• Develop a capacity-building and training plan for program associates to ensure their continuous improvement 
• Conduct timely reviews and appraisals in accordance with company objectives and goals 
• Work closely with the people team on disciplinary cases involving all teams within the region, ensuring company policies are adhered to
• Support and guide program associates on leadership principles and support on capacity building and training development of their county teams 

Financial Budgeting and Production Planning 

• Develop and manage county-specific budgets and purchase schedules
• Develop weekly financial performance reports, highlighting differences in Cost per Meal across all kitchens
• Develop and own kitchen-specific strategies to reduce and improve financial performance
• Review and approve program associates' budget proposals, reviewing quotations and justification for expenditures 
• Act as a liaison between kitchen staff and the Regional Coordinator, ensuring clear communication of any challenges, opportunities, or operational updates.

We are an equal-opportunity employer 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. 

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning, and we invest in developing our people. You will have weekly check-ins with your manager and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You will have the opportunity to shape a growing organisation and build a rewarding, long-term career.

Deadline: 02nd April 2025

We aim to contact all our applicants, but due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If you do not hear from us within two weeks, your application might not be successful on this occasion. This does not mean you will not be considered for future roles, so please keep an eye on our job board and apply for positions that match your skills and experience.