Program Leader Sustainable Livestock Systems at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Leadership

• Provide outstanding strategic leadership of the program and develop the program strategy in line with ILRI’s Strategy and CGIAR Research and Innovation Strategies.
• Lead complex multi-disciplinary research and provide technical expertise in the areas of drylands, farming systems and animal and environmental sciences, as well as an ability to stimulate innovation in the livestock sector.
• Foster research collaboration across the research programs within ILRI and across the One CGIAR centres and initiatives.
• Lead and support teams to obtain positive results in partnerships with national, regional and international institutions in research, extension, development and in public, private and civil society.

Management

• Lead, manage and support staff (currently about 25 scientists and post docs, 30 technical staff and 12 admin staff) across multiple sites
• Lead the management of budgets and physical research facilities including laboratories, field research sites and specialized experimental facilities for measurement of environmental impacts of livestock.

Partnerships and communications

• Lead and facilitate the wide publication, dissemination and communication of research findings.
• Develop and foster effective partnerships across a wide range of organisations, including national, regional and international institutions in research, extension, development and policy in the public, private and civil society sectors.
• Ensure research outputs lead to outcomes and impacts on policy and practice.

Resource mobilization

• Lead and oversee resource mobilization efforts to support research and capacity development in line with the program and ILRI strategies.
• Lead development of proposals to raise resources to support new research addressing the program’s target outcomes. 

Requirements:

Required

• A PhD in a relevant discipline.
• At least 12 years of experience of research for development, thought leadership with a proven international publication record.
• A proven ability to lead multidisciplinary, multi-cultural, multi-locational research teams.
• A sound understanding of livestock-based systems and in particular sustainability issues in Africa and Asia,
• A track record of resource mobilization,
• The ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent communication skills in verbal and written English.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the science-policy interface in livestock and the environment in low- and middle-income countries.
• Working knowledge of French