Careers at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Key Responsibilities

• The position will focus on climate methane mitigation innovations, technical evaluation, measurement and verification systems, and structured innovation management using Stage-Gate and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) approaches.

Technical Leadership and Innovation Assessment

• Coordinate and support the technical evaluation of candidate livestock methane mitigation and climate-smart livestock technologies using Stage-Gate and TRL-based frameworks.
• Provide scientific and technical analysis of methane mitigation technologies, including assessment of efficacy, scalability, sustainability, and applicability in across livestock systems.  Propose additional technical approaches to complement these technologies where needed.
• Coordinate technical reviews of technologies related to enteric methane reduction; feed additives; manure management; precision livestock systems; digital agriculture; measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems; and climate-smart innovations.
• Identify technical risks, gaps, and mitigation measures related to innovation development and deployment.  Assemble pro-con analyses to support mitigation measures as needed.
• Contribute to portfolio management and prioritization of climate technologies.

Measurement, Testing, and Validation

• Design and oversee protocols for testing and validating methane mitigation technologies under laboratory and field conditions.
• Support MRV systems for livestock GHG emissions.
• Analyze technical performance data, including methane-reduction efficacy, productivity impacts, environmental indicators, and adoption potential.

Stage-Gate Process Establishment and Management

• Develop and operationalize the SGAS, TRL assessment tool, go/no-go decision frameworks, evaluation criteria, technical review tools, and risk assessment frameworks.
• Coordinate implementation of the Stage-Gate process across multiple technologies and partners.
• Review technology testing results, measurement protocols, validation data, and environmental performance indicators.
• Monitor progress against milestones, deliverables, timelines, and gate requirements.
• Support documentation and knowledge management for all Stage-Gate activities.

Stakeholder and Partner Engagement

• Facilitate data-driven and evidence-based discussions during Technical Review Committee (TRC) evaluations and advisory meetings.
• Prepare and compile technical review materials, evaluation reports, performance data, and evidence-based summaries for TRC meetings.
• Engage with startups, private sector companies, investors, research institutions, and development partners.
• Lead technical consultations and technical review committee meetings, workshops, and innovation forums.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts in climate science, livestock systems, finance, policy, and commercialization.
• Contribute to identifying and onboarding innovative climate technologies for SGAS evaluation.
• Lead cost-benefit analyses for climate technologies to ensure adoption potential.

Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting

• Prepare and compile technical review materials, evaluation reports, performance data, and evidence summaries for TRC review sessions.
• Document TRC recommendations, decisions, and follow-up actions to support transparency and accountability within the Stage-Gate process.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities related to innovation performance and system effectiveness.
• Develop technical briefs, reports, publications, presentations, and donor updates.
• Support dissemination of evidence and lessons learned to stakeholders and funding partners.
• Contribute to periodic technical and progress reviews.
• Perform any other related duties assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• PhD in Climate Science, Environmental Science, or related discipline with a strong climate mitigation focus
• Minimum of 5–8 years of relevant postdoctoral or professional experience in climate-smart livestock systems or methane mitigation technologies.
• Demonstrated experience with Stage-Gate systems, innovation management frameworks, or Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments.
• Proven experience in measurement, testing, validation, or evaluation of agricultural or climate technologies.
• Experience with livestock GHG emissions measurement, MRV systems, or environmental impact assessment.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, startups, private sector partners, and/or innovation platforms.
• Experience in LMIC livestock systems is highly desirable. 
• Carbon accounting, lifecycle assessment, and environmental sustainability assessment skills.
• Knowledge of livestock climate technologies, methane mitigation approaches, and climate-smart agriculture systems.
• Familiarity with donor-funded research, innovation management, and development projects.
• Understanding of regulatory and policy frameworks related to livestock and climate technologies.
• Experience using digital data systems, dashboards, and innovation tracking platforms.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Scientific evaluation, data interpretation, and evidence-based decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver results within deadlines.
• Strong organizational, coordination, publication record, and project management skills.
• High level of attention to detail, professionalism, and accountability.

End Date: 19th July 2026

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Key Responsibilities

• This position requires a proactive, collaborative, and impact-driven individual with the skills to advance ILRI’s digital transformation agenda with a gender lens and contribute to overarching goal of leveraging digital innovations for resilience-building for communities in Asia and Africa.

 Research Leadership

• Lead ILRI’s contributions to the CGIAR Center of Excellence on Gender and Digital Inclusion under the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA), including agenda setting, research design, evidence generation, and partner coordination.
• Design and implement research on inclusive digital innovation including user design principles, gender-responsive/ transformative technologies, and responsible AI use to support the development of equitable and resilient agriculture and livestock livelihood systems across Africa and Asia.
• Develop and apply frameworks, metrics, and benchmarking tools to assess digital inclusion, scalability, gender equity, adoption, and impacts of digital innovations.
• Contribute to the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator through research, evidence synthesis, and policy-relevant analysis
• Support bilateral and strategic initiatives (e.g., AICCRA-FSRP Phase 4, Monsoon Mission III, CIS4Y, MCF) related to AI-enabled advisory systems, digital climate services, and inclusive information systems.

 Partnerships and Engagement

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with CGIAR Centers, universities, governments, donors, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.
• Convene stakeholder dialogues, technical workshops, learning events, and capacity-strengthening initiatives at global, regional, and national levels.
• Collaborate with communications teams to translate research into accessible knowledge products, campaigns, and influence strategies.
• Represent ILRI and CGIAR in relevant global and regional platforms on digital inclusion, gender equality, and responsible innovation.

 Delivery and Management

• Manage project plans, milestones, budgets, deliverables, and reporting requirements across multiple grants and workstreams.
• Lead or contribute to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, policy briefs, toolkits, and donor reports.
• Ensure quality assurance, ethical compliance, monitoring, learning, and documentation of project outcomes.
• Support proposal development, fundraising, and strategic positioning for new opportunities in digital transformation and gender research.

Requirements

• PhD in Rural Sociology, Gender Studies, Anthropology, Feminist Economics, Development Economics, Agricultural Economics, Geography, or related fields with 3–5 years of professional experience, including a minimum of 4 years of postdoctoral experience in gender research, digital inclusion, agricultural innovation systems, or related areas.
• Strong grounding in gender theory and social equity frameworks, with demonstrated experience applying these in the Global South.
• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to research on digital inclusion, gender-responsive innovation, digital advisory systems, or responsible AI in agriculture or development contexts.
• Strong experience in mixed-methods research design, including quantitative, qualitative, participatory, and interdisciplinary approaches.
• Proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals and production of high-quality technical, policy, and donor-facing outputs.
• Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships involving research institutions, governments, NGOs, private sector actors, and international development agencies.
• Track record in managing research-for-development (R4D) projects, including planning, implementation, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience influencing policy, strategy, or practice through evidence generation, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge brokering.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills, with experience working in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working in Africa and Asia on agriculture, livestock, climate resilience, gender equality, or digital development programs.

Terms of Appointment: 

• This position is at job level HG18, and it is open to both national and international applicants. The position is a three (3) year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive international salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical insurance, life insurance and allowances for: education, housing, security, relocation, and home leave.

End Date: 12th July 2026