Vacancies

Graduate Trainee – Stakeholder Engagement and Science Diplomacy

Job Type: Contract

Qualification: BA/BSc/HND, Professional Certificate

Job Field: Graduate Jobs

Job Purpose: This position is designed as a developmental learning opportunity for a highly motivated graduate seeking exposure to the intersection of science, policy, and global partnerships within the SFA Foundation. Under the guidance and supervision of the Manager – Stakeholder Engagement and Science Diplomacy, the Graduate Trainee will support and learn from ongoing stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and science diplomacy activities, including contributing to the operationalisation of the Science Diplomacy & Advisory Hub.

The role provides structured hands-on exposure to high-level engagements with governments, funders, and global partners, with a strong emphasis on learning-by-doing, mentorship, and continuous skills development. The trainee will contribute to background research, drafting engagement content, process coordination, and internal knowledge products that inform decision-making across Africa’s science and innovation ecosystem.

This position is intended for a candidate with a strong interest in science as a driver of progressive policy and development and research and innovation systems who is eager to build foundational professional skills, apply analytical thinking in a guided environment, and progressively develop competencies in stakeholder engagement and science diplomacy.

SFA Foundation is committed to fostering a culture grounded in Respect, Accountability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and Excellence. We seek individuals who embody these values in their work and interactions.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Learn and support the conduct of background research on stakeholders, meetings, and priority engagement areas, including exposure to emerging science diplomacy trends and global policy developments.

Under close supervision, assist in preparing presentations, summaries, and engagement materials, while developing skills in synthesising information for internal use.

Support and learn how stakeholder engagement data is analysed by compiling information and gaining exposure to identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities for strengthening partnerships.

Assist in drafting internal reports and learning summaries related to stakeholder engagement and science diplomacy activities, with guidance from senior team members.

Learn to maintain and update stakeholder databases (including funders, government agencies, and partners) and understand stakeholder management systems within the Foundation.

Support tracking of strategic partnerships and engagement outcomes, while gaining practical understanding of documentation, follow-up, and accountability processes.

Participate in coordination of meetings, site visits, and stakeholder engagements (e.g., scheduling, note-taking, and tracking action points) to build organisational and professional communication skills.

Support and learn the organisation and management of stakeholder-related information and records using internal systems and tools.

Contribute to and observe ongoing initiatives (e.g., Science Diplomacy & Advisory Hub), gaining exposure to high-level engagements and institutional partnerships.

Actively participate in structured learning, mentoring, and feedback sessions, and progressively apply acquired knowledge and skills in day-to-day tasks.

Person Specifications:

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Public Policy, Development Studies, Political Science, Communications or a related field.

Professional Qualifications: Any relevant field.

Experience: No prior work experience is required.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes: Strong research and analytical skills. Excellent written and verbal communication. Strong organisational and coordination skills. Interest in stakeholder engagement, partnerships, and global development. Ability to synthesise information and produce clear summaries. Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.

Competencies: Demonstrates curiosity, openness to feedback, and ability to apply new knowledge. Takes responsibility for assigned tasks and meets deadlines reliably. Communicates clearly and professionally with colleagues and stakeholders. Collaborates effectively and contributes positively to team objectives. Shows developing ability to analyse information and support problem-solving. Adjusts to changing environments and proactively supports tasks and learning.

Graduate Trainee – Business Optimisation Services

Job Type: Contract

Qualification: BA/BSc/HND, Professional Certificate

Location: Nairobi

Job Field: Graduate Jobs

Job Purpose: This position is designed as a developmental learning opportunity for a highly motivated graduate seeking exposure to business process management, policy and procedure coordination, quality management, document and records management, and project support within the SFA Foundation.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Business Optimisation Services team, the Graduate Trainee will support day-to-day coordination, documentation, analysis, follow-up, and administrative activities that enable BOS to deliver structured support to departments across the Foundation.

The role provides structured hands-on exposure to process mapping, process improvement, requirements documentation, policy and standard operating procedures (SOPs) coordination, quality review activities, service catalogue development, project documentation, and user acceptance testing support. The trainee will contribute to background research, meeting coordination, drafting, records updates, action tracking, and preparation of internal knowledge products that support operational excellence.

This position is intended for a candidate with a strong interest in business analysis, process improvement, organisational effectiveness, project coordination, and digital transformation who is eager to build foundational professional skills, apply analytical thinking in a guided environment, and progressively develop competencies in business optimisation.

SFA Foundation is committed to fostering a culture grounded in Respect, Accountability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), and Excellence. We seek individuals who embody these values in their work and interactions.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Learn and support the documentation of business processes by assisting in capturing process steps, roles, inputs, outputs, timelines, risks, controls, and improvement opportunities under close supervision.

Assist in preparing process maps, swimlane diagrams, process narratives, RACI matrices, and related BPM documentation using approved BOS templates and standards.

Support coordination of process review sessions, workshops, and validation meetings, including scheduling, preparing materials, taking notes, documenting feedback, and tracking action points.

Support the maintenance of the organisational process inventory, document tracker, service catalogue tracker, and related BOS registers to ensure records are accurate, complete, and up to date.

Assist in policy, SOP, framework, guideline, and template coordination activities, including updating registers, tracking review status, following up with document owners, and supporting version control.

Learn how to review documents for completeness, consistency, alignment to approved templates, and basic quality checks before escalation to relevant owners or approvers.

Support quality management activities by assisting in the preparation of checklists, review tools, quality logs, improvement trackers, lessons learnt summaries, and feedback analysis.

Assist in gathering, organising, and synthesising information from departments to support business case development, requirements gathering, system enhancement requests, and process improvement initiatives.

Support project coordination activities for BOS-supported initiatives, including meeting coordination, action tracking, issue logging, risk updates, document filing, and preparation of status update inputs.

Participate in user acceptance testing support activities by assisting with test script preparation, test evidence compilation, issue logs, and user acceptance testing (UAT) summary documentation under guidance.

Support the organisation and management of BOS information and records using approved internal repositories, naming conventions, filing structures, and document control practices.

Contribute to internal knowledge products such as summaries, presentations, briefing notes, dashboards, reports, and lessons learnt documents related to BOS initiatives.

Actively participate in structured learning, mentoring, feedback sessions, and continuous improvement discussions, and progressively apply acquired knowledge and skills in day-to-day tasks.

Person Specifications:

Academic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Business Information Technology, Information Systems, Project Management, Operations Management, Quality Management, Public Administration, Development Studies, or a related field.

Professional Qualifications: Any relevant field.

Experience: No prior work experience is required. Internship, volunteer, academic project, or attachment experience in business analysis, project coordination, process documentation, operations support, research, administration, or digital transformation will be an added advantage.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes: Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to follow through on assigned tasks. Interest in business process management, policy and procedure coordination, quality improvement, project support, and digital transformation. Ability to synthesise information and produce clear summaries, meeting notes, and structured documentation. Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet timelines, and ask for clarification when required. Professionalism, discretion, and respect for confidential organisational information.

Leadership Competencies: Demonstrates curiosity, openness to feedback, and ability to apply new knowledge. Takes responsibility for assigned tasks and meets deadlines reliably. Communicates clearly and professionally with colleagues and stakeholders. Collaborates effectively and contributes positively to team objectives. Shows developing ability to analyse information and support problem-solving. Adjusts to changing environments and proactively supports tasks and learning.

Senior Science Communication Officer

Job Type: Full Time

Qualification: BA/BSc/HND, MBA/MSc/MA

Location: Nairobi

Job Field: Content, Editorial and Journalism

Job Purpose: The Senior Science Communication Officer is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of high-quality, strategic science communication initiatives that promote the Foundation’s research programmes, partnerships, and impact.

The role involves designing, coordinating, and implementing multi-channel communication activities, translating complex scientific research into accessible and engaging content, and providing technical guidance to programme teams on communication and knowledge dissemination.

The position requires a self-driven professional with advanced communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence and coordinate across multiple stakeholders. The incumbent will ensure that the Foundation’s science communication work is consistent, impactful, and aligned with its overall goals and values.

SFA Foundation is committed to fostering a culture grounded in Respect, Accountability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and Excellence. We seek individuals who embody these values in their work and interactions.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Communication Planning and Implementation: Develop and implement communication strategies and plans that align with programme and organisational priorities. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance for science communication outputs, ensuring consistency and impact. Identify key audiences and tailor communication approaches to effectively engage them. Guide and support junior officers in executing activities such as content creation, media engagement, and event communications. Ensure that all content and messaging adhere to brand and visibility guidelines.

Stakeholder and Partner Engagement: Strengthen relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including programme leads, grantees, funders, and media partners. Serve as the focal point for communication coordination across assigned programmes or initiatives. Facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among communication teams and consortium partners. Support advocacy and visibility efforts to position the Foundation and its programmes as thought leaders in science and innovation.

Content Development and Dissemination: Oversee the creation of communication materials, including press releases, case studies, blogs, reports, and multimedia content. Translate complex research findings into clear and accessible language for diverse audiences. Lead editorial processes and ensure accuracy, tone, and alignment with institutional standards. Ensure effective dissemination of content through digital, media, and event platforms.

Capacity Building and Quality Assurance: Mentor and provide technical guidance to communication staff and grant partners on effective science communication. Review and approve key communication materials before publication or dissemination. Promote consistency, innovation, and best practice across communication outputs.

Event and Media Coordination: Lead communication planning for major events, workshops, and conferences, ensuring alignment with strategic goals. Develop pre- and post-event visibility materials and coordinate with digital teams for coverage. Build and maintain media relationships, ensuring accurate and positive coverage of SFA Foundation’s work.

Reporting and Knowledge Management: Track, monitor, and report on communication performance, outcomes, and lessons learned. Prepare communication inputs for programme and funder reports. Maintain organised documentation and archives of communication materials and media coverage. Contribute to internal learning and continuous improvement in communication practices.

Budget and Resource Management: Support the Manager in planning and managing communication budgets and workplans, ensuring efficient use of resources. Manage vendor and consultant relationships for communication assignments.

Person Specifications:

Academic Qualifications: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, science communication or a related field from a recognised institution. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes: Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills; experience in media relations and digital communications; ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. Strong understanding of the African health, research, and innovation landscape, with the ability to translate complex scientific and technical concepts into clear, compelling communications for diverse audiences. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and budgets simultaneously. Proficient in using digital tools and platforms for communication, including social media management, website content management systems, and multimedia production. Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, digital literacy and ability to learn new applications quickly. Demonstrated ability to simplify complex scientific content for varied audiences. Proven experience in editorial leadership, mentoring staff, and cross-functional communications project management.

Leadership Competencies: Must have proven and demonstrated leadership skills such as delegating responsibilities, developing others, facilitating change, and leading through vision and values. Must demonstrate the ability to manage stakeholders. Demonstrates ownership and accountability. Drives cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing. Supports a culture of continuous improvement and quality.

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