Fresh Life is an award-winning social venture based in Nairobi, Kenya. We undertake two exciting lines of work:
- We provide safe, sustainable sanitation services to residents living in urban informal settlements of Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret and Lusaka using end-to-end non-sewered sanitation solutions. Watch here!
- We partner with cities to develop and deliver safe sanitation and waste management for urban residents. Using a systematic methodology, we match cities’ sanitation and waste management needs with technology and service delivery models, and then offer clear guidance on the steps that governments, funders, service providers and technology developers can take to develop and implement integrated service delivery systems.
Operational since 2011, The Sanergy Collaborate serves over 150,000 urban residents with safe sanitation services every day and safely removes nearly 20,000T of sanitation waste per year. We have built a team of over 400 employees from diverse backgrounds who all embody the drive, creativity, teamwork, and passion that make us achieve our goals. For our work, we have been recognized by the Gates Foundation as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals accelerator and by Fast Company as one of the 10 most innovative companies in the world doing social good and one of the 10 best companies in Africa.
About Role
The Associate, Government Relations is responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships with the community gatekeepers, county and national governments including the police in our areas of operation so as to always ensure an enabling environment for a thriving business.
Duties And Responsibilities
Community & Government Relations
- Build and maintain strong relationships with area leadership, including chiefs, assistant chiefs, village elders, and police.
- Establish and sustain working relationships with ward administrators, public health officers, environmental officers, and other relevant ward officials.
- Engage and collaborate with informal community groups within the organization’s areas of operation.
- Identify and work closely with influential community members, maintaining continuous communication and accurate records.
Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
- Actively participate in public forums, community meetings, barazas, and discussions to represent and advocate for the organization’s interests.
- Communicate the FLT model effectively to all stakeholders, ensuring the organization is recognized in local sanitation initiatives.
Conflict Management & Issue Resolution
- Facilitate dialogue on community concerns and conflicts, proposing practical solutions to address them.
- Provide timely support and advice to clients and stakeholders before, during, and after installations.
- Ensure rapid conflict resolution and maintain a quick turnaround time for obtaining FLT approvals.
Operational Support
- Support smooth and hassle-free installation processes by coordinating with relevant field teams.
- Liaise with the Assistant Manager, Operations, and Government Relations on matters affecting field operations.
Administrative & Documentation Duties
- Ensure proper e-filing and management of documents in the company’s Dropbox folders and Google Drive.
- Handle meeting scheduling, event planning, logistical arrangements, and other administrative tasks as required.
- Perform any additional duties assigned from time to time.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Community Development, Social Sciences, Political Science, Public Health, or a related field.
- At least 2 years of experience in community engagement, government relations, or field-based program implementation.
- Experience working within informal settlements and operating effectively in field environments.
- Demonstrated ability to engage chiefs, assistant chiefs, ward officials, public health officers, and community influencers.
- Strong computer proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Excellent coordination, multitasking, and organizational abilities.
- Strong communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- High degree of confidentiality, discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
- Proven ability to maintain accurate records and manage digital documentation systems.
Desirable Skills
- Knowledge of government structures, county by-laws, and community-level systems.
- Experience in government lobbying, community engagement, or working with informal communities.
- Background in compliance-related environments.
- Familiarity with sanitation, public health, or community-based programs.
Other Requirements
- Willingness to spend approximately 75% of time in the field, mainly within informal settlements.
- Detail-oriented, proactive, trustworthy, and adaptable to shifting priorities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
Nairobi
2025-12-05
