Airtel Kenya, one of the leading telecommunications service providers in the region, is committed to connecting people through innovative and customer-centric solutions. With a solid footprint in the Kenyan market, we continually strive to provide excellent service delivery across all facets of our business. As part of our ongoing effort to enhance operations and ensure adherence to industry standards, we are pleased to announce a vacancy within our team. We invite qualified and passionate professionals to apply for the following position.
This recruitment is a strategic move to strengthen our compliance and facilities management functions, and we are looking for a highly skilled and experienced individual who can help us drive operational excellence in line with both regulatory requirements and internal quality benchmarks. The position calls for an individual with a robust background in facilities management, compliance, supply chain risk mitigation, sustainability integration, and budget oversight. The selected candidate will report directly to the Supply Chain Management Director and will work closely with multiple internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective management of infrastructure and compliance standards.
If you are passionate about contributing to a dynamic, fast-paced environment and possess the right experience, this opportunity may be perfect for you.
Position: Head of Facilities and Compliance
Location: Airtel Kenya, Nairobi, GREATER ACCRA, KE
Job Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: 26/03/2025
Application Deadline: 31/03/2025, 15:36
Job Identification Number: 383
Job Description
The Head of Facilities and Compliance will be responsible for ensuring that Airtel Kenya’s facilities and supply chain processes operate efficiently, securely, and in full compliance with legal, regulatory, and organizational requirements. This is a senior leadership role that will require hands-on management of infrastructure projects, vendor performance, sustainability initiatives, risk mitigation, and budget planning.
The incumbent will lead strategic initiatives across the organization’s physical infrastructure landscape and ensure all support service functions run smoothly while conforming to safety, environmental, and operational standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Stakeholder Engagement and Infrastructure Planning
- Engage with internal stakeholders to understand and define infrastructure requirements that align with the company’s short-term and long-term objectives.
- Prepare comprehensive concept papers and business cases that support the initiation of real estate and facility-related projects.
- Work collaboratively with key departments such as IT, Security, and Operations to coordinate infrastructure needs effectively.
2. Project Design and Cost Management
- Take lead in project design by drafting blueprints, building comprehensive Bills of Quantities (BoQ), and validating internal estimates for accuracy and feasibility.
- Maintain optimal efficiency on capital employed for reinvestments, conducting regular evaluations and recommending alternative actions in case of inefficiencies.
- Ensure strict adherence to capital expenditure plans and offer technical input into cost forecasting and budget alignment.
3. Budget Management
- Take ownership of the facilities budget including planning, execution, tracking, and review processes.
- Actively participate in the annual budget planning cycle, ensuring appropriate resource allocation and cost optimization.
- Provide timely reports and analysis to the Supply Chain Management Director on budget performance and variances.
4. Project Delivery Oversight
- Oversee the end-to-end delivery of projects including new site constructions, renovations, relocations, and office fit-outs.
- Ensure that all infrastructure and facilities projects are delivered within scope, on budget, and by the agreed timelines.
- Guarantee that each project meets high-quality standards while adhering to relevant regulatory, safety, and environmental compliance requirements.
- Supervise adherence to brand guidelines in every physical project rollout.
5. Compliance and Risk Management
- Ensure all Airtel-owned and leased sites meet full compliance requirements, including certifications from NEMA (National Environment Management Authority), PPA2 (Physical Planning Act compliance), KCAA (Kenya Civil Aviation Authority), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act), and energy management regulations.
- Manage valid and updated operating licenses, leases, and regulatory documentation for all facilities across the business.
- Lead risk assessments across the supply chain and facilities management function, identifying potential threats and implementing mitigation measures.
- Address and implement audit observations within the defined timelines while ensuring continuous improvement in compliance-related processes.
6. Vendor Management and Service Oversight
- Manage third-party vendors responsible for office support services such as cleaning, security, HVAC maintenance, and power systems to maintain a safe, clean, and productive working environment.
- Conduct periodic reviews of vendor performance based on contractually agreed key performance indicators (KPIs) and issue feedback as part of a structured performance evaluation process.
- Ensure that all payments for service providers are processed promptly, respecting the agreed-upon credit terms to maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Coordinate the prequalification process for new vendors, ensuring alignment with the company’s sustainability goals and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) requirements.
7. Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
- Serve as the sustainability champion for the organization by consolidating and coordinating sustainability projects across departments.
- Drive initiatives aimed at waste reduction, energy conservation, and green technology integration in line with Airtel Group’s sustainability framework.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to promote environmental responsibility in day-to-day operations and major project executions.
8. Property and Lease Management
- Spearhead space acquisition and leasing initiatives in response to business growth or strategic realignment.
- Oversee roll-out projects such as new retail shops, fiber network expansions, rebranding, or major network infrastructure projects.
- Review all lease agreements to ensure compliance with legal and operational requirements and update them periodically to reflect current terms and business needs.
- Monitor and manage lease renewals, terminations, and renegotiations, ensuring that property utilization aligns with organizational goals.
9. Supply Chain Compliance
- Collaborate with the procurement team to ensure full compliance with local and international supply chain regulations and standards.
- Maintain detailed records and reports relating to procurement, asset management, and facilities contracts to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Monitor sustainability and compliance within the vendor base and take corrective actions where non-compliance is observed.
10. Audit and Risk Mitigation
- Proactively review supply chain risks and operational bottlenecks, ensuring timely resolution and stakeholder communication.
- Develop and implement systems and controls to reduce vulnerability to internal and external risks within the facilities function.
- Work closely with internal auditors and external consultants to facilitate audits and ensure all recommendations are fully implemented and maintained thereafter.
Required Qualifications
- University degree in Business, Engineering, or Supply Chain Management
- Professional certification in Supply Chain Management is an added advantage
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a fast-paced environment such as telecommunications, banking, or data centers
- Functional knowledge of procurement, logistics, and purchase-to-pay processes
- Excellent ability to work independently and deliver actionable results
- Strong attention to detail and analytical thinking
- Commercially astute with an entrepreneurial mindset
- Exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
Application Instructions
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through the official recruitment portal before the deadline.
Apply Now
If you have any questions about this role or need further clarification before applying, please refer to the job identification number listed above when making inquiries. All applications must be submitted before 31st March 2025 at 15:36 EAT.
We thank all applicants for their interest in joining Airtel Kenya. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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