Title: Project Associate
Location: Kenya ( with responsibility for multiple decentralized kitchens )
Reports to: Project Manager
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.
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.
Position Overview:
The Project Associate is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and supporting maintenance, repair, and expansion projects across multiple Decentralized kitchens across multiple counties in Kenya. Each kitchen is located within a school campus. Working under the guidance of the Project Manager, the Project Associate ensures that all project activities meet F4E’s safety, quality, and efficiency standards. As a mid-level leader, the Project Associate directly supervises Junior Facility Associates, providing training, guidance, and day-to-day direction while ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals.
Key Responsibilities:
Project Coordination & Execution
- Manage multiple school-based, decentralized kitchen facilities under the direction of the Project Manager.
- Plan and coordinate small- to medium-scale improvement projects and repairs, ensuring compliance with F4E’s design and safety standards.
- Develop clear project timelines, resource needs, and work plans, collaborating with architects, engineers, contractors, and the internal Expansion team.
- Conduct regular site visits to verify quality, monitor progress, and identify or mitigate risks, escalating significant issues to the Project Manager.
Facility Maintenance & Repairs
- Oversee routine maintenance and repair activities at decentralized kitchens—ensuring minimal disruption to school operations.
- Implement preventive maintenance strategies, guide staff on best practices, and coordinate with school administrators and contractors for timely repairs.
- Maintain documentation (permits, work orders, contracts, etc.) to ensure compliance with safety protocols and local regulations.
Team Leadership & Mentoring
- Supervise and mentor Junior Facility Associates, delegating tasks, overseeing performance, and ensuring clear communication of project objectives.
- Identify training gaps and coordinate upskilling or knowledge-sharing sessions to build technical expertise and foster a collaborative, high-performance environment.
- Model F4E’s ownership mentality by coaching direct reports in effective stakeholder management, problem-solving, and accountability.
Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a point of contact for school leadership, kitchen staff, and contractors at each decentralized kitchen location.
- Work closely with the community and operations team to support projects pertaining to kitchen set up etc.
- Maintain strong working relationships with internal teams (Community and, Operations) and external partners to facilitate efficient project delivery.
- Communicate regularly with the Project Manager and other senior stakeholders regarding milestones, budget updates, and potential challenges.
Budgeting & Cost Control
- Develop cost estimates for maintenance and minor construction projects, submitting detailed proposals to the Project Manager for approval.
- Track project expenditures against allocated budgets, identifying variances and recommending corrective measures to maintain financial efficiency.
- Ensure all procurement and contractual processes align with F4E policies and guidelines.
Quality Assurance & Risk Management
- Conduct quality checks on all ongoing facility projects, confirming adherence to defined specifications and standards.
- Maintain a risk register for assigned projects, anticipating potential issues (e.g., regulatory changes, material shortages) and taking action to mitigate them.
- Investigate and resolve or escalate non-compliance issues, ensuring timely correction and future prevention.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Prepare routine status reports on project progress, facility conditions, and budget performance for the Project Manager.
- Document lessons learned and propose procedural enhancements to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize overall project outcomes.
- Contribute to organizational best practices by sharing insights and innovations identified on the job.
Desired Candidate Profile
- A Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering.
- 3+ years of relevant experience in facilities management, construction oversight, or related project coordination roles.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams or direct reports, ideally in a fast-paced operational environment with limited supervision.
- Familiarity with working in a rural setting and or projects within a rural and remote environment is an added advantage .
- Familiarity with building codes, safety regulations, and local regulatory requirements in Kenya.
- Excellent project management skills, including project scheduling, stakeholder coordination, and resource allocation.
- Strong communication and leadership abilities, with a proven track record of collaborating across diverse teams.
- Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Trello) and standard office software.
- Commitment to F4E’s mission and values, with a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation.
We are an equal opportunity employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, colour, 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: 13th 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.