Senior Scientist (Medical Entomology/ Disease Ecology) at icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health

Overall purpose of the job

•  To be part of a multidisciplinary team providing leadership and research strategy to the Centre in collaboration with icipe’s other Themes and Units.
•  To lead the Human Health Theme (HHT) activities at icipe’s Thomas Odhiambo Campus.
•  To maintain a portfolio of research that is aligned with icipe’s strategy and goals and integrates with ongoing research at icipe.

Specific Duties:

•  Work in collaboration with colleagues in the Human Health Theme, the icipe leadership team including the Director General (DG), Director of Research and Partnerships (DRP) as well as Heads of Themes and Units to undertake and facilitate research and capacity building activities across the Centre.
•  Lead and spearhead the development of a coherent research programme within the Human Health Theme.
•  Contribute to enabling a Theme structure to cost-effectively utilise resources to meet icipe’s research, capacity and institutional building needs.
•  Guide researchers under their supervision to ensure timely preparation of annual work plans, budgets, scientific and technical reports for donors.
•  Actively seek and secure external support to develop and grow a personal research portfolio.
•  Ensure that team members continually update skills and methodologies to keep up with global cutting-edge knowledge.
•  Promote and establish collaborative linkages with national, regional and international institutions in the relevant fields of research of the Theme.
•  Foster a culture of scientific excellence and support development within the Human Health Theme the human resources required now and into the future.
•  Contribute to mentoring team members to develop critical skills including resource mobilization, science writing and peer review.
•  Ensure the activities undertaken by the research team meets legal and reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders including national licensing authorities and donors.
•  Conduct annual plans and performance reviews with the staff under their supervision.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  PhD in Biological or related sciences but preferably with expertise in entomology from a reputable university.
•  Ten (10) years of experience gained at a senior level in either a research organization or university.
•  Excellent publication track record.
•  Track record of writing successful proposals for large grants.
•  Proven record of managing large resources (both financial and human) in a research environment.
•  Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and PhD students.
•  Excellent communication skills.
•  Track record of exemplary leadership qualities are essential.
•  High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritization.

Other desirable attributes

•  To make decisions for the research programme, design, lead, define and fulfil the Human Health Theme strategy, and the Centre's global strategies through the definitions of principles, guidelines and policies for research programmes within the theme.
•  Demonstrates science leadership, mentors and trains staff. A high degree of problem-solving, planning and controlling.
•  Manage the programme budgets and contribute to the centre's policies and procedures.
•  At least 20 publications with consistent outputs of high-impact papers in respectable peer-reviewed journals.
•  Must have significant contribution and a good track record of funded proposals, donor relations and building networks for fundraising.
•  Effectively engage with the partners.
•  Contribute to the continuity of a vibrant research team through funded projects.
•  Contribute to the core budget and sustainability of the centre.
•  Participate in different committees and boards, making presentations at key forums, and representing the Centre at various conferences within the donor community.
•  Provide support in resource mobilization to other units including quality assurance, information sharing and compliance with donor requirements.
•  Outstanding contribution to partnerships including formation of new partners or recuperating of neglected or damaged partnerships.
•  Successful leadership in at least one significant contribution to other complex multi-institutional partnerships.
•  Build strong relationships with national research leaders.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Head of Human Health Theme.