Technical Expert

Role Overview

This position sits at the centre of Africa's response to tightening global rules on shipping emissions. Working out of the MTCC Africa office at JKUAT, the Technical Expert turns international maritime climate commitments into practical tools, data systems and training that African ports, flag states and ship operators can actually use. The job is a mix of hands-on technical work — inventory building, modelling, compliance advice — and relationship building with governments, regional bodies and international partners, so that African voices and African data shape how the sector decarbonises.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and roll out regional systems for compiling, managing and reporting greenhouse gas inventories in a format consistent with IMO expectations.
• Coordinate the flow of energy and emissions data from African ports and shipping operators, including verification of submissions and upkeep of inventory records.
• Advise regulators, port authorities and vessel operators on meeting obligations under MARPOL Annex VI and the related efficiency and carbon intensity measures, including EEXI, CII and the Data Collection System.
• Work alongside port authorities, flag state administrations and shipowners to set up Monitoring, Reporting and Verification arrangements that hold up to scrutiny.
• Run modelling and scenario analysis to show how proposed policies, technologies and regulatory shifts would affect shipping in the region.
• Deliver workshops, training sessions and knowledge-sharing events that raise awareness and build technical capacity among regional stakeholders.
• Deepen cooperation with the IMO, sister MTCC regional centres, NGOs and industry players to keep decarbonisation efforts across Africa aligned.
• Carry out applied research on emissions-reduction and energy-efficiency options suited to African ports and fleets, and translate findings into technical reports, policy briefs and other knowledge products.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering or another maritime-related discipline.
• Alternatively, a BSc in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a comparable engineering field, combined with a strong orientation toward energy or climate policy.
• A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in environmental management, marine engineering or maritime operations.
• Exposure to greenhouse gas reduction work, energy efficiency programmes or biofouling management would be a clear advantage.
• Comfort working with emissions data, reporting frameworks and technical analysis, and the ability to communicate findings clearly to both technical and policy audiences.

What We Offer / Why Join

The appointment is on a contract basis and is renewable each year, subject to satisfactory performance and agreement by both parties. The package is competitive and includes a basic salary within the scale of KShs 96,006 to KShs 147,805 per month, a house allowance of KShs 47,915 per month, and other allowances appropriate to the position.

To be considered, send a PDF application by email to [email protected], and deliver a hard copy to the Project Director, MTCC Africa, College of Engineering and Technology (COETEC), JKUAT, P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi. Your submission should contain an application letter, copies of certificates, a one-page motivation letter, and an updated CV covering your education, professional qualifications, experience, current salary, and the names and addresses of at least three referees — one of whom must be your present employer. State the position and reference number clearly on both the application letter and the envelope. Applications must arrive no later than 12th October, 2026. Candidates who applied previously do not need to reapply.