1
Job Tite/Designation
Senior Administrative Officer – KEMRI CPHR
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensure compliance with KEMRI policies, NACOSTI, SERU/IRB approvals, KPPB, and international research ethics standards.
- Oversee contracts, sub-awards, MTAs, DTAs, and data protection compliance across projects.
- Support audits (internal/external), risk management, and governance frameworks to ensure accountability and transparency.
- Lead preparation, monitoring, and reporting of project budgets in coordination with finance teams.
- Oversee financial tracking, expenditure reviews, donor reporting, and cost recovery in line with funder requirements (e.g., USG, Gates Foundation, CDC, UNC, Emory).
- Administer the grants cycle including pre-award assessments, sub-award monitoring, financial reporting, and closeout.
- Ensure procurement processes, workshop logistics, and field activity resources are cost-effective and compliant with regulations.
- Monitor use, maintenance, and accountability of project assets and resources.
- Lead and coordinate administrative functions including office management, procurement, logistics, and compliance.
- Oversee infrastructure readiness and cross-study resource allocation (staff, vehicles, equipment) at multiple sites (Siaya, Kisumu).
- Supervise administrative staff, set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and ensure accountability.
- Develop and implement policies, systems, and SOPs to improve efficiency and operational excellence.
- Oversee staff recruitment, contracts, payroll, and performance management in line with project needs.
- Ensure mandatory training (GCP, biosafety, ethics) for research staff.
- Provide mentorship, training, and career development opportunities for junior researchers and administrative staff.
- Promote staff motivation, retention, succession planning, and team collaboration.
- Liaise with MoH, County Health Departments, and regulatory bodies to align research with national priorities.
- Strengthen collaborations with international partners and donors (CDC, Gates, Task Force, UNC, Emory, GWU).
- Support community engagement frameworks including Community Advisory Boards (CABs) and sensitization forums.
- Act as a central communication link across departments, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Represent the PI/Project Director in high-level stakeholder and donor forums.
- Establish systems to track project performance, milestones, and deliverables.
- Ensure compliance with data security, integrity, and sharing requirements.
- Support development of research databases, repositories, and publication processes.
- Document and disseminate lessons learned to strengthen ongoing and future research.
Vacancy Requirements:
| # | Description. | Requirement Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Public Health, Human Resource Management, or related field | Mandatory |
| 2 | A Master degree will be an added advantage | Added Advantage |
| 3 | Strong knowledge of research governance, compliance, and donor regulations | Mandatory |
| 4 | Proven experience in research management, grants administration, and compliance with international funders | Mandatory |
| 5 | At least 7 years’ relevant experience, with 3 years in senior management within research or donor-funded programs | Mandatory |
| 6 | Demonstrated ability to manage multi-site clinical trials, surveillance studies, or large-scale research programs | Mandatory |
| 7 | Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and report-writing skills | Mandatory |
| 8 | Proficiency in MS Office, grants management systems, and research databases | Mandatory |
| 9 | High integrity, professionalism, and accountability | Mandatory |
| 10 | Strong leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills | Mandatory |
| 11 | Ability to manage multiple projects under pressure and meet tight deadlines | Mandatory |
| 12 | Effective stakeholder engagement and diplomacy skills | Mandatory |
| 13 | Strategic thinker with adaptability to dynamic research environments | Mandatory |
| 14 | Team player with proven ability to mentor and foster collaboration | Mandatory |
| 15 | Commitment to advancing KEMRI’s mission and contributing to global health impact | Mandatory |
Job Type
Contract
No. of Vacancies
1
Job Grade
KMR 05
Location
Contact Email Address
Application Ends on: 10/01/25 5:00:00 PM
Application Procedure:
To apply for this post you must be a registered user. Log into your account then go to Vacancies, view the post and click on the button: “Apply for this job”.
- Candidates must supply an email and telephone contact that will be used when offering interviews. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates shall be required to produce ORIGINALS of their National Identity Card, academic and professional certificates, original transcripts and testimonials, detailed curriculum vitae and valid clearance certificate (certificate of good conduct) during the interviews.
