Senior Legal Officer - Grade XIII (Re-advertisement)

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration & Finance) — Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega

Role Overview

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration & Finance) holds the University's administrative and financial functions together, running the directorates and departments responsible for finance, human resources, procurement, estates and central services so that teaching, research and innovation can proceed without disruption. Day to day, the holder works with the Vice Chancellor, the academic leadership and the University Council to convert institutional strategy into funded work plans, staffing decisions and service standards that stand up to audit and public accountability. The position matters because every programme the University commits to — including its mission of integrating science, technology and innovation into quality teaching and research — depends on dependable systems and disciplined stewardship of public resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the Administration and Finance division, covering finance, human resources, procurement and supply chain, estates and physical infrastructure, ICT and general administrative services.
• Coordinate the preparation, presentation and monitoring of annual budgets, work plans and financial forecasts, and ensure expenditure is controlled in line with approved estimates and applicable public finance regulations.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, accounting records and responses to internal audit, external audit and oversight bodies, and support the University Council in its fiduciary role.
• Oversee staff establishment, recruitment, deployment, performance management, welfare and disciplinary matters for administrative, technical and support staff.
• Chair or serve on key institutional committees, including tender and procurement, staff disciplinary, establishment and development committees, and advise the Vice Chancellor on administrative and financial policy.
• Direct the maintenance, upgrading and development of University land, buildings, utilities and equipment, and oversee asset registers and campus service delivery.
• Drive the automation and digitisation of financial and administrative processes to improve transparency, efficiency and turnaround times.
• Act for the Vice Chancellor as delegated, and represent the University in negotiations with regulators, financiers, partners and other external stakeholders.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A doctorate from a recognised university, with additional postgraduate training in finance, accounting, business administration, management or a related field being a clear advantage.
• Substantial senior-level experience — typically a minimum of ten years — in administration, finance or institutional management within a university or a comparable large public or private organisation.
• Academic standing appropriate to a top management position in a public university, customarily at the level of Professor or Associate Professor, with a demonstrable record of leadership and published or professional contribution.
• Evidence of hands-on responsibility for budgets, financial controls, audits, procurement and human resource management at scale.
• Working knowledge of the Universities Act, the Public Finance Management Act, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, employment and labour legislation, and other regulations governing public universities in Kenya.
• Competence with computerised financial and enterprise resource planning systems, and the ability to use management information to support decision-making.
• High personal integrity, proven leadership and communication skills, and the ability to relate effectively with staff, students, Council members and external partners.
• Applicants must submit a detailed curriculum vitae, certified copies of academic and professional certificates, a national identity card or passport, testimonials and other supporting documents.
• Three referees must be named, with their telephone numbers and contact addresses, and each referee should forward a confidential report directly to the University.
• Shortlisted applicants will be expected to produce valid clearance certificates from the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Higher Education Loans Board, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (Certificate of Good Conduct) and a registered credit reference bureau.
• Candidates whose qualifications were earned outside Kenya must have those certificates certified by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

What We Offer / Why Join

• A senior leadership mandate at a public university of science and technology, with direct influence over how institutional resources are planned, allocated and accounted for.
• The chance to align administrative, financial and infrastructural services with a stated institutional mission of integrating science, technology and innovation into programmes designed for a fast-changing world.
• Close collaboration with academic leadership, the University Council and external partners on the strategic direction of the institution.
• An appointment awarded on merit through a competitive recruitment process; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications are addressed to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration & Finance), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 190-50100, Kakamega. One copy should be sent by registered mail or courier with the reference number marked on the envelope, and a PDF version sent