Openings at Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology - ICIPE

The overall purpose of the job is to lead the Push–Pull Programme teams under the Plant Health Theme. Reporting to the Head of Plant Health Theme, the incumbent is part of a multidisciplinary team
providing leadership, research and development strategy to the Centre in collaboration with icipe’s other scientists. It is expected that the job holder will maintain a portfolio of research aligned with icipe’s vision and strategy.

Specific Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Lead and spearhead the development of a coherent vision and strategic framework for the Push–Pull Programme in line with icipe’s strategy and goals, and international best practices.
• Organise a Push–Pull Programme structure to cost-effectively utilise resources to meet icipe’s research, capacity and institutional building needs.
• Provide cutting-edge scientific leadership to scientists and technical staff to further develop, adapt, optimise and scale up Push–Pull technology to a broad range of agro-ecosystems and farming systems.
• Guide scientists and technical staff within the Programme to ensure timely preparation of annual work-plans, budgets, and scientific and technical reports for donors.
• Ensure that the Push–Pull Programme members continually update skills and methodologies to keep up with global cutting-edge knowledge that is relevant to the Plant Health Theme’s research.
• Provide leadership and guidance to scientists in the publication of research outputs in highimpact peer-reviewed journals, as well as provide stewardship of intellectual property developed
• under the programme.
• Promote and establish collaborative linkages within icipe and with national, regional and international institutions in the Programme’s relevant fields of research under the Plant Health Theme.
• Actively seek and secure external support for the activities of the Push–Pull Programme, including resources to develop and grow the research portfolio.
• Manage and develop the staff of the Push–Pull Programme to create and foster a culture of scientific excellence and to ensure that the Programme has the human resources required now and into the future.
• Prudently manage financial, physical and intellectual resources under the Push–Pull Programme.
• Facilitate peer-review of the performance of Push–Pull Programme staff.
• Initiate periodic reviews of the performance of the Push–Pull Programme to ensure relevance and quality.
• Act as a spokesperson and representative of the Programme.
• Ensure that the Programme meets its legal and reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders,
• includingpartners and donors.

Requirements/Qualifications

• PhD degree in entomology or related agricultural sciences, but preferably with expertise in habitat management, chemical ecology, agronomy or biological control from a reputable university, and postdoctoral training from a highly reputed laboratory.
• Ten (10) years’ experience progressively gained in either a research organisation or a university.
• Excellent publication track record with at least 50 publications.

Core Competencies

• Track record of writing successful proposals for large grants.
• Proven record of managing large resources, both financial and human, in an international research environment.
• Proven experience of working with farmers, preferably in Africa, and transdisciplinary research and development collaboration in social science research, agricultural economics or related disciplines.
• Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and PhD students,
• and postdoctoral fellows.
• Excellent communication skills are mandatory.
• Track record of exemplary leadership qualities is essential.
• High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritisation

Closing: 22 August 2022

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Overall purpose of the job

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the successful applicant will be responsible for coordinating research activities within the Disease Ecology Group at icipe-Thomas Odhiambo Campus, Mbita. This includes proposing, planning, and managing selected research projects, staff training and quality checks, analysing data, preparing reports and publications, presenting findings at institutional, national and international meetings and contributing to resource mobilations.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Manage the ‘One Health-Cattle IVM’ project including conceiving mixed-methods research designs and tools investigating human and animal health, preparing standard operating procedures, setting
• goals and timelines, daily supervision of technical staff and students, procurement, liaison with finance and grant offices.
• Contribute to the ‘Tungiasis Ecology’ project by providing technical expertise, training and supervision to students and staff.
• Contribute to the ‘Malaria Push-Pull’ project by supporting data analysis and publications, conception of novel ideas based on spatial repellents and attractive odour-baits for the development of new grant proposals.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary research groups and multiple project field sites; convene weekly progress meetings, and ensure adherence to all protocols.
• Provide training in and oversee morphological and molecular analyses of insect samples.
• Review project budgets and prepare procurement plans.
• Develop standard operating procedures for all project activities and keep an audit trail for project activities in response to log frames and timelines.
• Prepare data collection tools, databases and implement statistical data analysis.
• Prepare and contribute to progress and end of project reports.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication.
• Present project findings at internal and external scientific meetings
• Provide training and support to staff and students; ensure adherence to ethical and safeguarding practices in allocated human health project activities.
• Establish and sustain a good working relationship with national, county and community stakeholders in all field sites.

Requirements/qualifications

• PhD in Medical Entomology; degree awarded within past 3 years.
• At least 8 years of working experience in a research support capacity at a recognized research institute.
• Proven track record in implementing and coordinating mixed-methods malaria research from bench to bedsite.
• Excellent entomology skills, including molecular entomology, semi-field experiments, mosquito rearing, trap evaluations and vector monitoring and evaluation.
• Exemplified working experience on diverse set of vector control tools, including mosquito larviciding, house improvements (‘healthy home’ concept), spatial repellents, odour-based mass trapping and cattle-targetted vector control interventions.
• Excellent working experience in tungiasis research, including disease diagnoses and ecology of offhost stages.
• Expertise in community engagement, stakeholder mapping, and implementation of qualitative surveys for formative research.
• Experience working across sectors, including built environment and animal health.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced working environment, coordinating several projects and teams simultaneously.
• High level of resilience including excellent problem-solving skills, adaptability and emotional intelligence.
• High degree of organisation, and prioritisation.
• Proven ability to create and foster an innovative work environment, and team building to deliver on agreed goals.
• Publication track record.
• Experience in capacity building through mentorship of MSc and undergraduate students.
• Excellent communication skills.

Closing: 26 August 2022

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Overall Purpose of the Job

To review various business processes and documents, to check for controls and compliance with the Centre’s policies including physical asset verification and conducting systems audits.

Specific Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Undertake audit assignments and prepare audit reports in line with the approved audit work plans.
• Examine and evaluate accounting systems, and internal control procedures within the Centre.
• Carry out interviews with various levels of staff during audits, discuss findings and follow-up actions and prepare working papers for the various audits and summarize audit issues.
• Perform project and partner audits and check for compliance with donor and Centre’s policies and procedures.
• Identification of risks including people, technology, and process risks through a risk-based approach in the review of the Centre’s transactions.
• Identify and document audit issues and recommendations concerning areas reviewed.
• Carry out post audit reviews to establish the status of agreed corrective action plans.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the Internal Auditor or the Management.

Requirements/Qualifications

• A degree in Accounting/Finance or related business field.
• Professional accounting qualification - CPA-K/ACCA.
• At least 5 years relevant audit experience.

Core Competencies

• Strong organization skills
• High attention to detail and excellent analytical skills.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.

Closing: 16 August 2022