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Corporate Staffing Services
Program Associate Trainee

Corporate Staffing Services

Nairobi | FULL_TIME | NGO

Closing in 4 days ago

Program Associate Trainee Job

Position Overview

The Associate Trainee – Program is a 6-month entry-level position within the Decentralized operations team. This role offers a structured learning pathway designed to develop the skills, mindset, and leadership qualities required for future county-level program and operational management roles.

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The trainees will be expected to:

  • Support and lead one or more Field Program Officers to drive operational excellence in assigned kitchens.
  • Learn and apply best practices in report writing, data tracking, and performance metric analysis.
  • Identify and resolve on-ground operational issues in a timely and sustainable manner.
  • Gain exposure to and understand the unique challenges across various kitchen environments and regions.
  • This role is designed to equip you with hands-on experience, leadership development, and the foundational knowledge needed for a long-term career in program operations within decentralized teams.

Trainees will:

  • Be exposed to kitchen operations oversight, data monitoring, production planning, and team leadership support.
  • Participate in weekly training sessions covering analytical tools, Lean/Kaizen methods, SOP compliance, and financial planning.
  • Complete weekly assessments to track progress and readiness for the Associate role.
  • Upon successful completion and evaluation, trainees may be promoted to Program Associate, based on performance and organizational needs.

Key Responsibilities

Learning and Operational Exposure

  • Shadow Program Analysts and Associates to gain hands-on experience in kitchen performance review, data analytics, and operational troubleshooting.
  • Assist in analyzing daily meal production data, flagging inconsistencies or deviations in Looker/Tableau under supervision.
  • Support the implementation of SOPs and learn to conduct compliance checks.
  • Oversee daily kitchen operations across a designated number of kitchens, ensuring adherence to set guidelines for meal preparation, hygiene, and food safety.
  • Provide support to kitchen teams to resolve operational challenges and ensure consistent execution of daily meal plans.
  • Monitor meal production and consumption data, ensuring kitchens meet daily targets and quality standards.
  • Support the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for food safety, hygiene, and meal production in all kitchens.
  • Conduct regular spot checks on kitchens to ensure compliance with program guidelines, Assist in identifying areas of non-compliance and work with kitchen teams to implement corrective measures..

Reporting

  • Assist in collecting operational data from kitchens and Field Associates, ensuring data accuracy and timeliness.
  • Prepare and submit reports to the Program Analyst on kitchen performance, meal production, and any operational challenges encountered

Team Collaboration and Communication

  • Work with Program Associates to understand county team structures, performance management approaches, and internal reporting expectations.
  • Support coordination of feedback loops between kitchens, regional teams, and compliance functions.
  • Coordinate and distribute tasks to Field Associates to ensure all kitchens are visited and monitored regularly.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for Field Associates, providing operational guidance and addressing any issues they escalate.
  • Supervise and provide guidance to a team of Field Associates, ensuring they effectively support kitchen teams within their assigned areas.
  • Assist in building and maintaining relationships with local authorities and community leaders to foster collaboration and program support.
  • Act as the first point of contact for any operational issues that arise at kitchen sites, escalating them to the Program Analyst if necessary.
  • Monitor the resolution of any problems, ensuring that corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

Financial Planning Exposure

  • Learn the basics of kitchen budgeting, purchase scheduling, and cost-per-meal analysis.
  • Support budget justification processes and review sample quotations with guidance.

Training and Assessments

  • Attend all scheduled weekly training sessions led by the Regional Program team and Operations leads.
  • Complete weekly practical and theoretical assessments on operational workflows, data analysis, financial tracking, and leadership readiness.
  • Reflect and document key learnings throughout the program.
  • Support the training of kitchen staff and Field Associates to enhance their skills in operational excellence, food safety, and data management.
  • Help organize and facilitate capacity-building workshops for kitchen teams, ensuring they are up to date with the latest procedures and guidelines.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be a current employee at Food for Education.
  • Demonstrated strong performance in current role, especially in kitchen-level operations and team coordination.
  • Strong interest in growing into a leadership role within the Program team.
  • Basic proficiency in digital tools such as Excel, Google Sheets, or Looker.
  • Proven commitment to F4E’s values: excellence, ownership, continuous improvement, and curiosity.

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How to Apply

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