Research Associate - Data 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:

•  Contribute to livestock production/productivity and genetic data management systems (collation, processing, and storage) and tools for use in the African Dairy Genetic Gain Project Country Program
•  Understand existing tools used for data capture and assist in developing modules that extend the scope of the current tools and provide training for the same.
• Respond to ICT support requests from farmers, field-based partner agents in a timely manner through WhatsApp/telegram/telephone/field visit programs
• Write procedures and software to import/ export data from/to appropriate database systems and share these for further analyses and interpretation.
• Develop additional dashboards to enable monthly data monitoring of field agents submitting data per cluster, missing and incomplete information, unusual values and other related issues and prepare a monthly report for the Country coordinator.
• Implement and monitor Quality Assurance (QA) protocols and routines, including safe and remote back-up of database systems and tools
• Keep up to date with the latest tools and resources, including open-source software, for the collection, management, storage and sharing of information
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information collected
• Perform any other activity as assigned to by the national coordinator

Requirements

• BA/BSc degree in Information Systems, Database Management, Computer Science or related discipline.
• Experience working with integrated database systems preferably for research projects, including large-scale socioeconomic and/or biological surveys e.g., MySQL, MS SQL Server or Oracle.
• Experience with database design, database management and computer programming, and with the application of quality assurance standards and procedures.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Advanced experience of SQL language for data extraction and management of databases.
• Knowledge and experience of Linux operating system.
• Experience in software programming
• Understanding and experience of working in applied agricultural research preferred
• Excellent interpersonal communication and good personal organisation skills.
• Good communication ability in English, spoken and written
• Good judgement, adaptability, and willingness to take initiative when appropriate.
• Ability to work independently and within a team