Project Manager Job in Kenya

 Job Posting: Project Manager for construction of EquaLife Group retail sites

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Status: Contract-based with opportunity for full-time position pending performance

Are you interested in joining a fast-moving start-up investing in and managing retail businesses in East Africa?

Do you have a background in construction and want to apply your skills and experience to managing construction and outfitting individual stores in established retail spaces in Nairobi?

About EquaLife Group

EquaLife Group was formed to take advantage of business and investment opportunities in newly emerging markets.

We invest in retail, leisure, hospitality, and related lifestyle businesses with a firm belief in having an active management presence in the regions where we seek and develop opportunities.

We look at a range of opportunities from creating new brands to master franchising and distributing existing global brands.


EquaLife Group is committed to improving the livelihoods of the communities in which we invest.

We achieve this through creating products that help better people's quality of life and adapting products in a positive way to the local market.

We ensure that our investments create jobs, training and development opportunities, and are closely intertwined with local communities.

To us, a sustainable business model involves an inclusive approach to development: our investments are successful only when the community at large can benefit.

About the Role

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall supervision of the construction of each space and will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

He or she will head the projects department and will be responsible for the overall planning, execution, budgeting, executing, and monitoring of all projects.

The focus is to deliver financial success, timely implementation, and quality results.

Daily responsibilities will include working with our team to identify the most appropriate materials for each space, sourcing the specific materials, creating tenders, analyzing bidders, and actively managing the construction and outfitting of each space to make sure everything is installed to our specifications, within code, on time, and in budget.

The Project Manager will also be responsible for liaising with relevant authorities on the pertinent permits for construction.

By nature of being a start-up company, the Project Manager will also be expected to support the general business needs of the company as needed.

Travel within Nairobi and elsewhere in the region will be required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

    Take responsibility for the overall progress, by ensuring the project is delivered within the available resources, and that it is completed within time, cost, quality, scope and project objectives, initiating corrective action where necessary
    Coordinate and oversee the procurement, source inspection and final inspection of materials and equipment
    Prepare the technical components of project proposals, specifications, competitive bid request for quote (RFQ) responses or other tendering-related documents
    Prepare and advise on budgets, seek approval and impart controls at all states of the project to meet budget
    Review and manage all contract documents and ensuring accuracy, quality, and completeness and bring any contractual disagreements and discrepancies between the various parties to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer which are to be addressed in a timely manner
    Ensure that public procurement is complied with in tender documentation and that recommendation for award and procurement procedures are followed
    Supervise the quality control, engineered equipment installation, commissioning and start-up activities of all third party contractors during project development and making sure all set standards and specifications are complied with and met
    Ensure all quality assurance measures are followed by the contractors and follow up on all inspections
    Oversee progress against contract deliverables and contractual performance indicators
    Develop facilities’ operational plans and take responsibility for ongoing operation and maintenance after each project is brought on-line
    Post-completion period management
    Lead the technical quantitative and qualitative due diligence on new project opportunities and equipment procurement
    Capture and communicate lessons learned to the benefit of EquaLife Group

Minimum Requirements

The ideal candidate would have the following skills and credentials:

    Bachelor of Science Degree in mechanical, structural, civil and/or electrical engineering from a recognized institution
    Diploma or degree in project or construction management a plus
    Masters or other advanced degree a plus
    Certified project manager professional (PMP) a plus
    Minimum of three (3) years post graduate relevant experience, at least one year must have been in a supervisory or management position
    Experience and knowledge of regulatory requirements in construction and real estate, construction contracts and contract law, construction document preparation and administration, BOQ preparation, and tendering procedures
    Knowledge of the engineered equipment needed for this type of development, marketplace vendors, pricing and component options
    Effective organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize processes and schedules; develop sound project plans, conduct constructability, operability, maintainability reviews and juggle multiple assignments with competing deadlines
    Excellent computer skills in Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook)
    Demonstrated experience in creating and managing project schedules with Microsoft Project or a similar scheduling tools a plus
    A highly energetic person, strong interpersonal skills, and a high level of integrity and reliability
    High level of intellectual curiosity with the ability to work independently in a self-directed, entrepreneurial environment
    Demonstrated leadership and emotional intelligent skills as well as ability to manage people
    Ability to excel in a collaborative, technical, cross-functional and geographically diverse organization
    Maturity, professionalism and excellent technical communication skills, both orally and in writing
    Excellent communication skills and command of English and Swahili (spoken and written)

If you are interested, have a Kenya work permit, and feel that you meet the criteria and qualifications outlined above, please send a cover letter and a detailed CV with three references and daytime contacts to inquiries@equalifegroup.com NO later than February 1, 2013.

Competitive salary offered

Please be prepared to provide copies of certificates and diplomas of required degrees.

Please note that canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.