Assistant Country Officer – JDS Scholarship Project

About the role

The Assistant Country Officer will support the Japanese officer in implementing the JDS scholarship project, coordinate recruitment and placement of scholars, and act as a liaison between Kenyan and Japanese stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Japanese officer in implementing the JDS scholarship project.
• Arrange recruitment and selection processes for scholars.
• Support procedures for sending scholars to Japanese universities.
• Coordinate and negotiate with project stakeholders, including government officials in Kenya and Japan.
• Assist with accounting tasks such as invoice collection, sorting, and copying.
• Perform secretarial duties including bookkeeping, data entry, drafting official documents, and managing correspondence.
• Handle visa and stay‑permit matters for Japanese guests with the local immigration department.
• Maintain office equipment and stationery on a daily basis.
• Undertake other duties as assigned.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 3 years of office work experience.
• Fluent English and Swahili (speaking, writing, listening, reading).
• Good understanding of the Government of Kenya and its practices.
• Strong communication skills for interacting with governmental authorities, scholars, and Japanese partners.
• Sincere, faithful personality with a high sense of responsibility.
• Willingness to understand the scholarship program, development issues in Kenya, and Japanese culture.
• Experience in an international organization is preferable.
• Ability to respect Japanese customs and ways of thinking.

Required skills

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Zoom (video conferencing)
• Microsoft Teams