Vacancy title:
Senior Administrative Officer

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Healthcare, Category: Admin & Office]

Jobs at:
Kenya Medical Research Institute ( KEMRI )

Deadline of this Job:
Friday, October 10 2025

Duty Station:
Kenya | Kisumu | Kenya

Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, September 24 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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Learn more about Kenya Medical Research Institute ( KEMRI )
Kenya Medical Research Institute ( KEMRI ) jobs in Kenya

JOB DETAILS:

Key Responsibilities

1. Research Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with KEMRI policies, NACOSTI, SERU/IRB approvals, KPPB, and international research ethics standards.
• Oversee contracts, sub-awards, MTAs, DTAs, and data protection compliance across projects.
• Support audits (internal/external), risk management, and governance frameworks to ensure accountability and transparency.

2. Grants, Financial & Resource Management

• Lead preparation, monitoring, and reporting of project budgets in coordination with finance teams.
• Oversee financial tracking, expenditure reviews, donor reporting, and cost recovery in line with funder requirements (e.g., USG, Gates Foundation, CDC, UNC, Emory).
• Administer the grants cycle including pre-award assessments, sub-award monitoring, financial reporting, and closeout.
• Ensure procurement processes, workshop logistics, and field activity resources are cost-effective and compliant with regulations.
• Monitor use, maintenance, and accountability of project assets and resources.

3. Administrative Leadership & Operations

• Lead and coordinate administrative functions including office management, procurement, logistics, and compliance.
• Oversee infrastructure readiness and cross-study resource allocation (staff, vehicles, equipment) at multiple sites (Siaya, Kisumu).
• Supervise administrative staff, set performance goals, conduct evaluations, and ensure accountability.
• Develop and implement policies, systems, and SOPs to improve efficiency and operational excellence.

4. Human Capital & Capacity Building

• Oversee staff recruitment, contracts, payroll, and performance management in line with project needs.
• Ensure mandatory training (GCP, biosafety, ethics) for research staff.
• Provide mentorship, training, and career development opportunities for junior researchers and administrative staff.
• Promote staff motivation, retention, succession planning, and team collaboration.

5. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Liaise with MoH, County Health Departments, and regulatory bodies to align research with national priorities.
• Strengthen collaborations with international partners and donors (CDC, Gates, Task Force, UNC, Emory, GWU).
• Support community engagement frameworks including Community Advisory Boards (CABs) and sensitization forums.
• Act as a central communication link across departments, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Represent the PI/Project Director in high-level stakeholder and donor forums.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation & Knowledge Management

• Establish systems to track project performance, milestones, and deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with data security, integrity, and sharing requirements.
• Support development of research databases, repositories, and publication processes.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned to strengthen ongoing and future research.

Person Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Public Health, Human Resource Management, or related field.
• A Master degree will be an added advantage.
• Strong knowledge of research governance, compliance, and donor regulations.
• Proven experience in research management, grants administration, and compliance with international funders.
• At least 7 years’ relevant experience, with 3 years in senior management within research or donor-funded programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-site clinical trials, surveillance studies, or large-scale research programs.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication, and report-writing skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office, grants management systems, and research databases.

Key Competencies

• High integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and diplomacy skills.
• Strategic thinker with adaptability to dynamic research environments.
• Team player with proven ability to mentor and foster collaboration.
• Commitment to advancing KEMRI’s mission and contributing to global health impact.

Terms of Employment

This is a one (1) year contract, renewable subject to availability of funds, with a probation period for the first 3 months. Salary is negotiable within the KEMRI scheme of service depending on education, experience and demonstrated competency.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: bachelor degree

Job application procedure

• All applicants must meet each selection criteria detailed in the minimum requirements.
• Must include current Curriculum Vitae with Telephone number and e-mail address.
• Three letters of reference with contact telephone numbers.
• Must include copies of academic and professional certificates.

Interested and Qualified candidates can Click to apply on or before 1st October, 2025, latest 5:00 p.m.

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