Technical Services Manager

Posted: 01 Nov 2012 06:39 AM PDT

Vacancy Number: TSM/CORPORATE SERVICES/OPERATIONS/11/12
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 2-year contract renewable

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

ILRI seeks to recruit a Technical Services Manager to ensure first class state of facilities through systematized processes and proper management of a team of in-house professionals and a large group of outsourced service providers.

The Technical Services Manager is responsible for:-

• Developing and implementing asset care strategies for all ILRI facilities and equipment. This covers:-

• Building facilities and physical infrastructure including roads, pavements, yards and farms and includes reviewing and advising on technical issues in regard to assets development,    design,  construction, inspections and overseeing maintenance operations.
• Plant and machinery development, installation and maintenance and includes research equipment, farm equipment, motor vehicles, building – heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, electrical and plumbing systems as well as other general equipment as found in ILRI kitchen, residential houses and hostels.
• Managing outsourced contracted service providers for civil works and building projects, equipment and facilities maintenance, grounds and office cleaning.

• Delivery of optimal and efficient space, facilities and equipment utilization so as to ensure effectiveness   of the full cost recovery program.
• Ensuring cost-effectiveness, quality and timely delivery off all technical services in line with client’s requirements.
• Conducting risk assessments, developing and applying relevant mitigation plans.
• Ensuring green environmental sustainability in all activities managed.
• Managing resources to ensure value for money.
• Budgeting and control.
• Motivating staff to deliver their maximum productivity.

JOB’S SCOPE AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
To deliver in this role, the Technical Services Manager will effectively manage and oversee the design, development and installation of new facilities and equipment, and the scheduling and implementation of maintenance activities to ensure service levels are maximized whilst reducing costs.
The Technical Services Manager will be required to carry out the following:-

1. Financial Management

• Preparing of annual budgets, monitoring performance and controlling to ensure budget are not exceeded.
• Maximising space utilization within ILRI.
• Ensuring proper use of company assets under His / Her control and efficient use of resources (people, materials and equipment) to cut waste.
• Providing support to supply chain through provision of accurate internal cost estimates for projects and other works.
• Developing and implementing cost cutting initiatives geared to reducing costs of offering engineering, facilities, and other operations services.
• Actively participating in price negotiations with supplier and other service providers .
• Review supplier invoices and recommend for payment.
• Track projects and maintenance budgets and ensure there is no overspend.

2.    Project Management

• Overseeing and coordinating the construction of facilities from inception through to completion
• Developing long term capital replacement plans for buildings and equipment .
• Planning, budgeting and implementing engineering and facilities capital projects.
• Reviewing design drawings, specifications and other documents to ensure alignment with scope of work, ILRI standards, finishing standards and compliance with fire, life and safety requirements.
• Planning and coordinating office alterations, refurbishments and/or moves as dictated by business need.
• Effectively managing project resources to ensure projects are completed on time and at costs.

3.    Maintenance Management

• Develop and implement maintenance plans for all facilities including equipment, plant, buildings, roads, grounds and other infrastructure.
• Continuously review and recommend an effective balance between internal execution and outsourcing.
• Coordinate maintenance of equipment with service contracts.
• Ensure preparation of monthly preventive maintenance compliance schedules.
• Manage resources to ensure value for money.
• Manage SLAs between Engineering and Labs as well as other stakeholders.

4.    Customer service

• Ensure Customer requirements are promptly met.
• Resolve Customer queries and complaints.
• Introduce a Customer complaints tracking register and make use of surveys and analysis to improve Customer service.

5.    People management

• Manage day today matters affecting Technical unit’s staff – resolve conflict, listen, represent, and respect colleagues.
• Hold regular meetings with staff and receive direct reports.
• Train, develop, empower and motivate staff to deliver their maximum productivity.

6.    Supplier / Stake –holder relations

• Provide technical input to Supply Chain Unit during selection of suppliers as may be required from time to time.
• Ensure good supplier relations are maintained
• Ensure WIN-WIN negotiations are carried out with suppliers to ensure sustainable mutual gains for both
• ILRI and the supplier organizations.

7.    Reports

• Track engineering, facilities and projects performance KPI’s and regularly submit performance reports.
• Carry out tracking of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and track Technical Unit’s key performance indicators.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical / Electronics 2nd Class Hons. Upper Division; and an appropriate training in financial and business systems.
• Preferably be an MBA degree holder.
• Conversant with Microsoft packages, MS Project and ERP application software.
• 5 years senior management responsibility.
• Customer service, supervisory and management training.

Other competencies

• Have excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills, patience, conflict management skills, diplomacy, willingness to listen and respect for other colleagues’ at work as a member of a wide team in a multifaceted and multicultural organization.
• Integrated facilities management, ability to manage multiple and / or complex issues, performance management, creativity and initiative, analytical, planning, people management, supplier management, commercial / business skills, team orientation, effective communication, change management.

Terms of Appointment: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus. It is open to Kenyan nationals only.  The position is on a 2-year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.
Job level and salary: ILRI will give a competitive package to the successful candidate with benefits, which include pension, medical and other insurances for ILRI’s Nationally Recruited Staff.
Location: The position will be based at the ILRI campus Nairobi, Kenya.

Applicants should send a cover letter and CV combined as one document addressed the Human Resources Director, explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience by 16 November 2012.  Log on to:  http://www.myjobsinkenya.com/ilri_jobs. The position title and reference number REF: TSM/CS/11/12 should be clearly marked on the subject line. Only online applications will be considered, and only short listed candidates will be contacted.