Community Associate

Title: Community Associate 

Reporting to: Community Manager

No of positions: 6

About Food for 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 prioritize efficient supply chain management and sustainable sourcing, so we can continue lowering the cost of school lunches. We have delivered over 55,000,000 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. 

About the Role:

F4E is expanding rapidly to reach more schools across Kenya. The Community Associate plays a pivotal role in driving the growth of F4E in new schools and communities across Kenya. You will own relationships with key stakeholders, including head teachers, Board of Management (BoM) members, sub-county government officials, and other relevant local stakeholders. You will work closely with the operations team to ensure efficient use of kitchen capacity, manage new school launches, and support the development of F4E-community projects. This role requires a strategic thinker, relationship-builder, and proactive problem-solver committed to improving school feeding programs in underserved areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stakeholder Relationship Management:
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationship metrics with the sub-county stakeholders such as the Sub-County Director of Education, Teachers Service Commission, Sub-County Quality Assurance Officers, OCPDs and police commandant, the area chief, office of the member of parliament, public health offices,  and any other key sub-county stakeholders, to ensure smooth operations for F4E's entry into new regions while observing timelines, and key deliverables.
• Build and nurture relationships with key government officials at the Sub-county levels to increase awareness and support for F4E’s mission and initiatives.
• Growth  and Capacity Management:
• Work closely with the operations team to identify and allocate spare kitchen capacity to new schools, ensuring efficient and timely scaling of services.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of high-potential schools to be served as kitchen capacity becomes available.
• Oversee the logistical and operational aspects of launching F4E’s services in new regions, ensuring successful implementation.
• Project and Partnership Development:
• Lead the launch of new F4E-community projects aimed at enhancing the well-being of students and promoting community engagement.
• Identify and support new market surveys and research efforts to assess growth opportunities in targeted counties and sub-counties.
• Collaborate with internal teams to evaluate potential school partnerships and ensure F4E’s solutions meet the specific needs of local communities.
• Policy & Advocacy Support:
• Contribute to the delivery of the Policy & Partnerships strategy, focusing on local government relations at the Sub-county and County levels.
• Advocate for increased support for F4E’s initiatives through strategic engagement with government officials, local leaders, and other key decision-makers.
• Help in enforcing regulatory compliance within the communities and schools that we operate in.

Key Qualifications:

• Education: A bachelor's degree or a diploma in Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field. 
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in community engagement, stakeholder management, or public sector relations, preferably in the education, development, or NGO sectors.

Skills:

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, school administrators, and community leaders.
• Strong project management skills with experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Kiswahili.
• Ability to think strategically and identify opportunities for growth and improvement in community relations and school partnerships.
• Strong understanding of the education landscape in Kenya, including local government structures and school administration.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office and G-Suite

Personal Attributes:

• Highly motivated and results-driven candidate, with a passion for improving access to education and students' well-being.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and advocate effectively.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and a strong ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple priorities.
• Willing to relocate.

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 organization and build a rewarding, long-term career.

Deadline: 15th November 2024

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.