Position Overview:
The Project
Associate is responsible for overseeing,
coordinating, and supporting maintenance, repair, and expansion projects at
Food for Education’s facilities—including school kitchens and serving
infrastructure—under the guidance of the Project Manager. This role focuses on
ensuring 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 them with training, guidance, and
day-to-day direction while ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals
set by the Project Manager.
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:
Project Coordination & Execution
- Plan and coordinate small- to medium-scale
improvement projects and repairs in existing facilities under the
direction of the Project Manager.
- Assist with site scoping and assessments for new
expansion locations, 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 within F4E kitchens, serving sheds, and other company assets,
ensuring minimal disruption to operations.
- Implement preventive maintenance strategies,
guide staff on best practices, and work closely 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.
- Coach direct reports on effective stakeholder
management and problem-solving, modeling the ownership mentality
emphasized by F4E.
Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a primary point of contact for kitchen
staff, contractors, and local officials at the project level.
- Maintain strong working relationships with
internal teams (e.g., Procurement, 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.
Qualifications and experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management,
Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
- 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.
- 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.
How to Apply
