Field Associate

Job Description:  

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

Business Mentor Activities:

• Manage all Business Mentors (BMs) in your region, ensuring high-quality Core Program implementation
• Regular field visits (3-4 days a week) to assess training and mentoring by the Business Mentors and overall performance of businesses and carry out at least 6 business spot-checks per week.
• Spearhead the Village opening process in all the sub-counties
• Guide Business mentor on SBs and PRs grant applications for viable businesses and approve prior to submitting them to the Program Manager for review
• Ensure BMs work plans are developed, followed and timely shared through a google sheet

Bi-weekly meetings and Induction Training for BMs

• Prepare bi-weekly meetings and agendas, and ensure they are timely updated and shared through google Sheets.
• Train BMs on new forms that need to be collected, constantly reinforcing the importance and value of the data we collect and helping BMs troubleshoot issues as needed.
• Work with M&E during each biweekly meeting to confirm that the BMs have collected the proper forms and confirm their upload to the database.
• Lead and conduct Induction Training onboarding for new BMs. This includes working closely with departments to prepare agenda, schedule Field Visits, prepare materials
• Work with Finance & Administration to ensure that all, induction and bi-weekly materials are printed or made available in a timely manner

Reporting Program Reporting;

• Work with the Program Manager to Collect, Develop, validate, consolidate, revise and submit BM work plans in a timely fashion.
• Monitor the collection of Mentoring logs and activity reports on behalf of the organization.
• Submit reports and minutes of any meeting attended on behalf of Village Enterprise.
• Ensure updated reports on attendance is tracked.

Managing Partnerships

•  Help establish a relationship with Local Government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• The Field Associate represents the organization at the district and sub-county level including general meetings with Local government leadership, humanitarian actors, partners, protocol meetings, security meetings, as well as sector program meetings in consultation with the Program Manager
• Provide Management with reports and feedback from government and partnership meetings as needed within three days after the meeting.
• Support the BMs to register all Business Savings Groups with relevant government authorities at various levels.
• Develop and implement County and sub-county entry and Facilitate expansion strategy to new areas of operation in collaboration with the Program Manager
• The Field Associate provides general support, and guidance, and serves as a focal point during program planning and reporting.

Internal activity coordination

• Participate in Innovation Team meetings, actively participating and bringing a positive field perspective to the team
• Support BMs in the implementation of the Adapted Nutrition-Friendly Graduation Model, studies and data collection as needed
• Provide feedback and support to the overall program, pilots, and strategic expansion
• Work with the innovations team to train other partners or organizations
• Act as focal persons for capturing ideas, learning from the Business mentors and communities and submit to the innovations team.
• Work with M&E to deliver quality BM refresher activities
• Support BMs in phone/Tablet troubleshooting and in guiding BMs through quality data collection protocols.

Donor Visit Support.

• Represent Village Enterprises’ values and program to donors, Guests, and visiting staff
• Work with Management to arrange field scheduling for visitors, donors and guests
• Coordinate all preparations at the field level
•  In some cases, work on the weekends to accommodate donor and staff visits

Business Mentor performance appraisal and professional development.

• Submit quarterly reports to the RM, Human Resource Coordinator and Country Director on Business mentor performance.
• Work with the Program Manager, and HR Coordinator to identify professional development opportunities for BMs and implement them.
• Work with the HR Coordinator to conduct performance reviews for BMs
• Assist with the improvement and development of monitoring activities and materials for business mentors.

Management and Administration:

• The Field Associate ensures that Village Enterprise procedures and donor regulations applicable to a project implemented in the area of operation concerning program, logistics, fraud control, protection of vulnerable groups and special interest groups in collaboration with the HR Coordinator, and Program Manager.
• The Field Associate is responsible for overseeing the management of day-to-day field operations including monitoring and reporting on staff attendance, staff leave and authorization of minor emergency field expenses in consultation with the HRC/Program Manager.

Logistics:

• Field Associate is in charge of overseeing and reporting on the logistics the field team including enforcement of field safety guidelines and adherence.
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting equipment usage and storage, planning, and maintenance of equipment and the functioning of the means of communication appropriate for the respective field staff.
• Assist in Computation of Field stipends for Field Staff

Communication

• Communicate field challenges, opportunities and constraints
• Provide feedback to supervisors and other line managers through Email, phone,
• Participate in Monday Morning Meetings (MMMs) and Partnership meetings by providing field updates and responses to field questions
• Participate and provide content to Field Associates calls.
• Ensure BMs Collect and submit success Stories with photos as needed
• Field Associate is responsible for the delivery of program outputs and co-ordination of field team (Business Mentors) in area of jurisdiction. 

Safeguarding

• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility at VE, and it begins with me
• Continuously sensitize program participants on safeguarding.
• Ensure compliance with VE’s safeguarding policies
• Report any incident of safeguarding in program operations for appropriate action/follow up.

Requirements

Core Competencies:

• Dedicated and hardworking
• Highly self-motivated
• Easy to interact and engage with various community groups
• Confident and proactive in pursuing organization goals

Qualifications:

• A Diploma in community development, business management, education and or any other course related to rural development.
• IT knowledge is an added advantage.
• Must have strong communication, organization and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in leading teams, teaching, training, community service and working in rural set ups.
• Served in a comparable and relevant position for a minimum period of one (1) year.
• Shown merit and ability in work performance and results.