Administration Officer at Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC) – 1 Post

Administration Officer at Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC) – 1 Post

Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre · Nairobi · Onsite

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  • Type: FULL-TIME
  • Posted: 5 days ago
  • Closes: Jun 2, 2026

Job Description

The Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC) is seeking to recruit a competent and highly organized Administration Officer under KAGRC Grade 6. The successful candidate will support the Centre’s administrative operations and help ensure efficient coordination of office services, facilities management, transport services, workplace safety, and executive support functions.

This role is suitable for professionals with strong organizational, communication, and administrative management skills. The officer may also be deployed as a Personal Assistant in the Office of the Managing Director, where they will support executive operations, manage schedules, coordinate meetings, and handle confidential assignments.

The position provides an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic public sector institution involved in livestock genetic resource management and research.

Core Responsibilities of the Administration Officer

The successful candidate will assist in the following administrative functions:

Administrative Operations and Office Management

  • Initiating the development and implementation of administrative policies, procedures, strategies, and programs.
  • Maintaining the Centre’s grounds and buildings.
  • Managing transport services, including motor vehicle and motorcycle insurance, repairs, maintenance, and inspections.
  • Coordinating security services and ensuring the safety of persons, assets, and the workplace environment.
  • Supporting the implementation of a healthy and conducive working environment.
  • Coordinating provision of office accommodation, office equipment, telephone services, and office supplies.

Executive Support and Personal Assistant Functions

The officer may also be deployed to the Office of the Managing Director to perform duties such as:

  • Organizing and maintaining executive calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating appointments.
  • Arranging travel itineraries, accommodation, and transportation logistics for executives.
  • Drafting, editing, and preparing reports, presentations, and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Serving as the first point of contact for internal and external communications while prioritizing urgent matters.
  • Overseeing multiple projects, tracking milestones, and ensuring deadlines are met.
  • Handling sensitive information with a high level of confidentiality and discretion.
  • Anticipating executive needs, solving problems proactively, and supporting executive productivity as a trusted advisor or gatekeeper.

Academic Qualifications and Requirements for the Administration Officer Position

To qualify for appointment, candidates must possess:

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in:
    • Public Administration,
    • Sociology,
    • Business Administration, or
    • An equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
  • Proficiency in computer applications.

Required Skills and Competencies

Suitable candidates should demonstrate:

  • Strong interpersonal relationship skills.
  • Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent report writing skills.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Technical proficiency in:
    • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint),
    • Google Workspace,
    • Project management tools, and
    • Virtual meeting platforms.
  • High levels of discretion and confidentiality.

What KAGRC Offers Successful Candidates

Successful applicants will benefit from:

  • An opportunity to work in a respected government institution within Kenya’s livestock sector.
  • Exposure to high-level administrative and executive support operations.
  • A professional and collaborative working environment.
  • Opportunities to contribute to institutional efficiency and service delivery.
  • Valuable experience in administration, coordination, and executive office management.

How to Apply for the Administration Officer Position

Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following documents:

  • Cover Letter
  • Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Copies of Academic and Professional Certificates
  • Copy of National Identity Card
  • Any other relevant testimonials

Applications should be submitted on or before 2nd June 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Applications should be addressed to:

The Managing Director
Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC)
P.O. Box 23070-00604
Lower Kabete, Nairobi

Applications may be submitted through any of the following methods:

  1. Email: recruitment@kagrc.go.ke
  2. Hand delivery
  3. Postal mail

KAGRC is an equal opportunity employer. Persons living with disabilities, marginalized groups, and minority communities who meet the job requirements are encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Successful candidates will be required to obtain relevant clearances in fulfillment of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya.

 
 

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Likely Interview Questions

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LIKELY QUESTIONS
- Can you walk us through your experience in administration and how it prepares you to support office operations at KAGRC?
- How have you previously developed, implemented, or improved administrative policies, procedures, or office systems?
- Describe your experience managing facilities, office accommodation, supplies, and service providers to ensure smooth operations.
- What approach would you use to coordinate transport services, including vehicle maintenance, insurance, inspections, and usage scheduling?
- How have you supported workplace safety, security coordination, and a healthy working environment in a previous role?
- If deployed as a Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, how would you manage a busy calendar, competing priorities, and urgent communications?
- Tell us about a time you handled confidential or sensitive information. How did you ensure discretion and accuracy?
- KAGRC requires strong report writing and digital skills. Which tools have you used, and how have they helped you improve coordination, reporting, or project tracking?

BEHAVIOURAL QUESTIONS
- Tell us about a time you had to coordinate several administrative activities at once under tight deadlines.
Model approach: Situation - Office had overlapping needs such as meeting logistics, transport arrangements, and urgent procurement requests. Task - Ensure all activities were delivered on time without disrupting service. Action - Prioritized tasks by urgency and impact, used a tracker, delegated where appropriate, confirmed suppliers and transport early, and gave progress updates to stakeholders. Result - Deadlines were met, operations ran smoothly, and management recognized improved coordination.

- Describe a situation where you identified an inefficiency in office administration and improved it.
Model approach: Situation - Manual processes were causing delays in requests, approvals, or record retrieval. Task - Improve efficiency and reduce errors. Action - Reviewed the workflow, identified bottlenecks, proposed a standardized filing/tracking system, introduced templates or digital logs, and trained users. Result - Faster turnaround times, better accountability, and easier reporting.

- Give an example of a time you handled a difficult internal or external stakeholder professionally.
Model approach: Situation - A staff member, supplier, or visitor was frustrated about delays, access, scheduling, or support services. Task - Resolve the issue while protecting working relationships and policy compliance. Action - Listened actively, clarified the facts, explained constraints calmly, offered practical options, followed up promptly, and documented the outcome. Result - Issue was resolved, tension reduced, and trust in the administration function improved.

- Tell us about a time you managed confidential information or supported a senior executive.
Model approach: Situation - You were entrusted with sensitive correspondence, schedules, reports, or personnel-related information. Task - Protect confidentiality while ensuring timely action. Action - Restricted access, organized documents securely, verified details before sharing, prioritized urgent matters, and communicated only on a need-to-know basis. Result - Information remained secure, deadlines were met, and the executive relied on you as a dependable support person.

SMART QUESTIONS TO ASK
- What are the top priorities for the person in this role during the first six months, especially across administration, facilities, and executive support?
- How is success measured for the Administration Officer at KAGRC, and what key performance indicators are most important?
- What administrative systems, reporting lines, and approval processes are currently in place, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for improvement?
- If the officer is deployed to support the Managing Director, what level of autonomy and decision-making is expected in managing schedules, correspondence, and urgent issues?
- How does KAGRC support staff development in areas such as public sector administration, project coordination, digital tools, and compliance?

RED FLAGS TO WATCH FOR
- Unclear scope between general administration duties and high-demand Personal Assistant responsibilities, with no clarity on priorities or support resources.
- Vague answers about systems, processes, or reporting structures, which may signal disorganization and reactive management.
- Signs that confidentiality, after-hours availability, or workload expectations are excessive but not formally acknowledged or compensated.

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Adjacent Career Paths

Roles you'd also qualify for based on this posting's requirements:

  • Executive Assistant — The role already includes calendar management, travel coordination, meeting support, and confidential executive communications.
  • Office Administrator — The candidate has strong office operations experience across facilities, supplies, communications, and general administrative coordination.
  • Facilities and Transport Coordinator — The job requires managing buildings, grounds, vehicle maintenance, insurance, inspections, and related service providers.
  • Operations Coordinator — The position involves cross-functional coordination, policy support, project tracking, workplace safety, and service delivery oversight.

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