Position: Field Assistant/Driver (REF 2017/005)
Location: Gwassi, Homa Bay County
Reporting to: Program Coordinator
Organization
Help a Child (HaC) is a Christian international NGO specialized in community development with its headquarters in the Netherlands and active in Kenya as Help a Child Africa (HACA) since 2009. Founded in 1968, HaC’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of children living in poverty and crisis through supportive communities. Principal sources of income are child & family sponsorship, foundations and institutional donors. HaC’s strategy is to empower marginalized children, youth, parents and the broader community and other stakeholders, mainly through a Self Help Group approach. Main interventions are focused at early childhood development, education, (agricultural) vocational training and economic development, with special attention for the position of girls and women, and children’s rights.
For more information about HaC, please visit https://www.helpachild.org.
Main features
To provide secure and timely driving services to transport HACA staff, support the Program Coordinator in field work and facilitate organization of field workshops and visits.
Objective of the function
Responsible to the Program Coordinator – Gwassi for the proper maintenance of assigned HACA vehicle; safe and timely delivery of HACA staff and visitors, material supplies & correspondence to the designated destinations within and outside Gwassi. The Driver will also double up as a Field Assistant supporting the Program Coordinator with operational program tasks and roles.
Place in the organization
The driver is responsible and accountable to the Program Coordinator based in Gwassi
Result areas:
Agronomic Field Support
- Support in farmer farm visits.
- Assist with the monitoring of the demo plots set up by the SMEs.
- Support in basic farmer GAP trainings.
- Be familiar with the commodity & asset tracking and management.
- Organise for the training venues, take field photos, facilitate preparations for HACA workshops in the Lake region.
- Facilitate all program transport needs.
Secure & timely transportation of staff & goods
- Prepare a weekly transport plan and register transportation requests by HaC staff.
- Provide secure and timely driving services to transport staff and/or goods.
- Load and offload luggage, goods and other material supplies with due regard to safety of goods and people.
- Facilitate airport pick up and drop off for HaC staff & visitors.
Ensure well-maintained & serviced vehicle
- Schedule annual vehicle examination for service vehicles with the Transportation Department and apply for the renewal for the vehicle license.
- Determine when and what kind of maintenance the vehicle needs, keep track of general maintenance schedules, especially car tyre condition.
- Ensure sound running of the vehicles assigned and arrange minor repairs where necessary.
- Check oil and tyres properly and keep the service vehicles in clean condition, both inside and outside.
- Maintain the vehicle in a clean and neat manner.
- Maintain radio and telephone contact with the line manger during field missions.
- Maintain vehicles log sheets on a daily basis: maintain records of motor vehicle’s daily activity showing journey, mileage, consumables and signature of authorising officer.
- Adhere to the HaC safety and security policy, observe traffic and safety precautions to prevent motor vehicle accident and traffic violations.
- Annually undertake a first aid refresher training to be able to offer first aid services in case of accidents.
- Keep track of timely car insurance renewals.
- Update monthly mileage records.
- Maintain log book of each service vehicle on daily basis
Ensure secure & timely delivery and dispatch of office correspondence
- Deliver payment transfers to the bank and/or the suppliers.
- Assist with postage and with pick up of office purchases.
- Conduct cash purchases for office expenditure.
- Ensure timely dispatch and delivery of all HaC related correspondence both incoming and outgoing
Knowledge & Skills
- Certificate/Diploma in Project Management, General Agriculture, Community Development and related fields.
- Computer Certificate
- Valid Driving Licence Class B, C, E.
- Over five (5) years relevant experience driving four wheel drive vehicles.
- Valid First Aid Training Certificate.
- Certificate of good conduct.
- Fluent in English and good mastery of Swahili and Dholuo.
Person Attributes
- Ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions as well as interpret and follow operating manuals and maintenance manuals.
- Must demonstrate 20/40 vision in each eye and hearing capability without the use of hearing aid.
- Knowledge of the country’s road network including motorised routes in both urban and rural areas as well as Ability to interpret road maps and rough hand drawn sketches.
- Demonstrated knowledge of first-aid applications.
- Ability to interpret and comply with safety codes, traffic rules, regulations, and safe operating practices.
- Ability to perform safety inspections, recognize and report mechanical problems, perform preventive maintenance check (oil, and all fluid levels, tire pressure) etc.
- Ability to operate vehicles in severe weather conditions, in mountainous areas or on rough steep terrain and loose surfaces such as sand, gravel or mud.
- Ability to report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
- Ability to load/offload goods, interpret all vouchers, bill of laden, invoices to insure proper handling and distribution of supplies and materials transported.
- Ability to meet time schedules and deadlines and complete tasks without jeopardizing safety or integrity of work.
- Ability to operate vehicles at night and at times in reduced visibility from heavy and blowing rain as well as in emergencies.
- Ability to manoeuvre vehicle in tight spaces, judging distance in congested and confined positions.
- Ability to adhere to HaC’s Core Christian values
Core Competencies
- Integrity: Maintaining generally accepted social and ethical standards in activities related to the function.
- Customer orientation: Investigating the wishes and interests of clients and reacting accordingly. Anticipating the interests of clients. Giving high priority to service preparedness and client satisfaction.
- Cooperation: Actively contributing to joint results, even when the subject involved is not of immediate personal interest. Sharing information and knowledge with others.
- Planning and Organizing: Determines goals and priorities effectively and indicates actions, resources, and time needed to achieve particular goals.
- Judgement: Drawing right and realistic conclusions based on available information.
- Decisiveness: Making decisions by taking actions or committing himself to expressed judgments.
- Situational Awareness: Well informed about social, political, and social developments and making effective use of this knowledge for own function or organization.
How to apply:
Interested and qualified candidates are kindly invited to send a cover letter (1 Page) and CV (Max 2 Pages) as one PDF document no later than 24th November 2017 to [email protected]. In your cover letter please reflect on your motivation for wanting to become part of Help a Child, being a child centred and Christian organization. On the email subject, kindly quote the application reference: “Field Assistant/Driver (REF 2017/005)” We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
More Information
- Job City Gwassi
