Job Openings at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit the Head of Program Management to oversee implementation and continued development of program and project processes and capabilities throughout the Institute. This position will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer of ILRI and will support Senior Management through the development of appropriate strategies and operational plans to ensure effective adherence and improvement to ILRI’s Program Management Framework.

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. www.ilri.org

The incumbent will directly support program and project managers to ensure the successful implementation of ILRI Research portfolio. This position combines skills and experience in project and financial management, donor compliance and monitoring for impact to ensure effective project management is applied to all ILRI projects worldwide at all stages of the project lifecycle. The position will utlize and improve on the existing Program Management Framework as the methodology and structure for managing research programs and projects at ILRI and lead institute-wide business process improvements and change management initiatives to enhance program and project management processes. The position will collaborate with Program Leaders, Regional/Country Representatives, and Project Managers to deliver successful, on-time and on-budget, completion of agreed-upon project deliverables for donors and beneficiaries but does not directly manage projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and adapt Program Management Framework’s (PMF) structures, processes, materials and tools to promote project management best practices; build the capacity of programmatic staff and community of practice skills
• Liaise with Senior Management on successes, issues and lessons learned from implementation
• Build a community of practice by advocating within ILRI and other CGIAR centres to continuously improve capabilities, tools and professional capacity for program and project management
• Support the Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Director General, Program Leaders and Regional Representatives in the development of Strategies and Operational Plans
• Track project annual budgets and forecasts and propose steps for programmatic course corrections as appropriate
• Develop and strengthen professional working relationships with donors and project partners
• Establish tools and systems to track project donor reports and deliverables
• Contribute to ILRI’s resource mobilisation process in conjunction with Program Leaders, Program Managers, Country Managers, Project Managers and Proposal Development Teams
• Coordinate documentation and analysis of evidence, lessons and insights such as project success stories, website postings, past performance reports, flyers and corporate capability statements

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Project Management, International Development, MBA, Political Science, Business or related studies with 12 years of work experience in an international organisation/ NGOs and having been exposed to various cultures.
• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, International Development, MBA, Political Science, Business or related studies with atleast 15 years of work experience in an international organisation/ NGOs and having been exposed to various cultures.
• Program Management Certification is required
• Strong Project Management Experience
• Proven experience implementing and monitoring strategies and establishing long term partnerships
• Ability to research information and analyse data to arrive at valid conclusions, make recommendations effectively, and execute plans of action within a team dynamic
• Detailed knowledge of current best practice in project management
• Prior experience working in a multi-donor organisation specifically with USAID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be an added advantage
• Experience living internationally

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

The position is on a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

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The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Research Officer I – Tick Unit to provide technical support to ILRI tick vector research and services.

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. www.ilri.org

Key Responsibilities

General role

• Contribute to the planning and implementation of research activities within Tick Unit projects.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to high-level of quarantine at the tick unit consistent with a BSL-2 biocontainment facility.
• Train junior research associates/fellows in laboratory procedures related to tick vectors and tick-borne pathogens.
• Assist with coordinating lab visits of the tick unit to internal and external visitors.
• Regular reporting of activities undertaken.
• Contribute to scientific publications.

Specific roles

Tick Unit animals.

• In liaison with the ILRI farm, source parasite-free animals (cattle and rabbits) for research undertaken by the tick unit.
• Evaluate the health status of animals housed at the tick unit and take appropriate action.
• Prepare animal samples and perform screening for haemoparasites by microscopy and ELISA.
• Maintain detailed records systems of experimental procedures undertaken at the Tick Unit according to International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Products (VICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
• Procure and maintain an inventory of lab consumables related to animal work.



 

Tick colonies and Tick Cell Biobank

• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of laboratory tick colonies using animals or artificial feeding systems.
• Conduct and submit reports on the status of closed tick colonies/stocks at the tick unit.
• Dissection of ticks for assessing infections and generating tick biological material, such as salivary glands and sporozoites.
• Perform acaricide resistance bioassays.
• Maintenance of tick cell cultures and preparation of media under the Tick Cell Biobank Outpost project.

Support African Swine Fever (ASF) projects.

• Contribute to research activities of ASF projects.
• Contribute to the development of field protocols related to ASF research.

• Participate and report during ASF group meetings.

Requirements

• Master of Science biomedical or veterinary sciences
• Certification for working with animals required
• At least 3 years’ experience in a research environment with many of the above skills.
• Experience working with animals including pigs is an added advantage

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG 13. The position is a 3-year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes; pension, medical and other insurances