Job Opportunities at International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology - ICIPE

Overall purpose of the job

To undertake preventive and corrective maintenance of refrigeration equipment and air conditioning systems in the Centre, to ensure they perform reliably, efficiently, cost-effectively and are safe to use or operate.

Responsibilities

• Service and repair refrigeration equipment and systems to include walk-in coolers, ultra-low freezers and refrigerated laboratory equipment.
• Install, calibrate, service and repair laboratory safety cabinets.
• Inspect systems and their components (e.g. air conditioning, heating and refrigeration units) ensuring safety and identifying necessary repairs, and providing an ongoing programme of preventive maintenance.
• Diagnose problems in refrigeration systems to identify equipment and/or systems repair and replacement needs.
• Perform routine and preventive maintenance as needed and/or assigned for the purpose of ensuring the ongoing functioning of HVAC and refrigeration systems.
• Clean systems (e.g. coils, condensation pans, drain lines) to ensure units are operating correctly.
• Prepare documentation (e.g. records of refrigerants, paperwork, logs, time and materials, specifications) providing written support in compliance with regulations and/or conveying information.
• Repair various items, systems and/or components to ensure items are available and in safe working condition.
• Maintain tools and equipment to ensure the availability of equipment in safe operating condition.
• Respond to emergency situations during or after hours for the purposes of resolving immediate safety concerns.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

1. Higher National diploma in mechanical engineering (refrigeration option) with 5 years’ experience or Diploma in mechanical engineering (refrigeration option) with 7 years’ experience.
2. Candidate must demonstrate practical experience in HVAC systems, ultra-low freezers and other refrigeration systems.
3. Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of health and safety in engineering practices.
4. Candidate must demonstrate ability to develop an equipment preventative maintenance programme.
5. Candidate must demonstrate ability to develop equipment annual budget.
6. Registration with regulatory bodies an added advantage.
7. Experience in a research setting an added advantage.

Core Competencies

• Communicate effectively with supervisors/management as well as customers.
• Demonstrate ability to supervise staff.
• Must be able to effectively read, understand and apply blueprints, schematics, and flow charts during repair process.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Other desirable attributes

• Strong team player that is results-oriented.
• Must possess high degree of independent judgment.
• Must be prepared to work long hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Good interpersonal skills.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Facilities and Assets Manager.

The position is available immediately.

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Duties/activities/deliverables

The Centre has an active portfolio of animal health research focusing on diseases transmitted by tsetse and biting flies, ticks and tick-borne diseases, vector-borne zoonotic diseases, and the nutritional aspects of insects as feed for commercial livestock. Reporting to the Head of Animal Health Theme, the successful applicant will be part of a multidisciplinary team contributing leadership and research strategy to the Centre in collaboration with icipe’s other Themes and Units. The successful candidate will develop and maintain a portfolio of research, with a focus on ticks and tick-borne diseases that is aligned with icipe’s strategy and goals.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

1. Work in collaboration with the Head of Animal Health Theme and the wider icipe leadership team, including the Director General (DG) and the Director of Research and Partnerships (DRP), as well as Heads of Themes and Units, to facilitate research and capacity building activities across the Centre;
2. Establish a vibrant and active research portfolio, with a focus on ticks, and the diseases they transmit;
3. Promote and establish collaborative linkages with national, regional, and international institutions in the field of animal health;
4. Actively seek and secure external support for animal health related research and development activities;
5. Manage and develop the staff within the animal health team and foster a culture of science excellence, and ensure the team has the human resources required now and into the future;
6. Ensure the icipe animal health portfolio of research meets its legal and reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders, including national licensing authorities and donors;
7. Supervise research students.

Requirements/Qualifications

1. PhD degree in medical entomology, veterinary epidemiology, or related field, from a reputable university.
2. Excellent publication track record.
3. A minimum of 5 years’ experience post PhD, gained at a senior level in either a research organisation or university.
4. Track record of writing successful proposals for large grants.
5. Proven record of managing large resources—both financial and human—in a research environment.
6. Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and PhD students.
7. Excellent communication skills.
8. Track record of exemplary leadership qualities is essential.
9. Knowledge of veterinary regulatory issues.

Core Competencies

1. A proven track record in a relevant area of scientific research as demonstrated by publication record and a history of securing external support for a portfolio of research.
2. Ability to create and foster an innovative work environment and to work within, and lead teams, to deliver on agreed goals.
3. Appropriate skills in research governance, including experience in the oversight of resource mobilisation and financial accountability.

Other desirable attributes

• High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritisation.

Reporting

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

The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.

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Duties/activities/deliverables

The Centre has an active portfolio of human health research focusing on diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, tsetse, sandflies, and ticks. Reporting to the Director of Research & Partnerships (DRP), the successful applicant will be part of a multidisciplinary team contributing leadership and research strategy to the Centre in collaboration with icipe’s other Themes and Units. The successful candidate will develop and maintain a portfolio of research, with a focus on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases that is aligned with icipe’s strategy and goals.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

1. Work in collaboration with the icipe leadership team including the Director General, 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;
2. Lead and spearhead the development of a coherent vision for the HH Theme;
3. Organise a Theme structure to cost-effectively utilise resources to meet icipe’s research, capacity and institutional building needs;
4. Guide programme/project leaders within the Theme to ensure timely preparation of the Theme’s annual work-plans, budgets, and scientific and technical reports for donors;
5. Ensure Theme members continually update skills and methodologies, to keep up with global cutting-edge knowledge;
6. Promote and establish collaborative linkages with national, regional and international institutions in the relevant fields of research of the Theme;
7. Actively seek and secure external support for the activities of the Theme, including resources to develop and grow a personal research portfolio;
8. Manage and develop the staff of the Theme to create and foster a culture of science excellence and to ensure the Theme has the human resources required now and into the future;
9. Facilitate peer-review of the performance of Theme members;
10. Initiate periodic reviews of the performance of the HH Theme, to ensure relevance and quality;
11. Act as a spokesperson and representative of the Theme;
12. Ensure the Theme meets its legal and reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders, including national licensing authorities and donors.

Requirements/Qualifications

• PhD degree in medical or veterinary entomology, or a relevant field, from a reputable university.
• Ten (10) years’ experience gained at a senior level in either a research organisation or university.
• Excellent research and publication track record.
• Experience with downstream work that ensures impact through partnerships.
• Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and PhD students.
• Excellent communication skills.

Core Competencies

• Track record of exemplary leadership qualities is essential.
• Track record of writing successful proposals for large grants.
• Proven record of managing complex projects—with financial, human resource and administrative responsibilities.

Other desirable attributes

• High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritisation.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Director of Research & Partnerships (DRP).

The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.

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Overall purpose of the job

To support scientists and students in carrying out experiments and reporting on the same for all the African Fruit Fly Programme (AFFP) related activities.

Responsibilities

1. Conduct field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments as advised by scientists following icipe scientific procedures and guidelines.
2. Collect and record data for scientific research and maintain a proper data retrieval system.
3. Data entry of field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments using appropriate computer software.
4. Perform basic analyses of data and generate reports for both internal and external use.
5. Rear and maintain colonies of insects and natural enemies related to the African Fruit Fly Programme.
6. Assist in identifying and maintaining excellent contact/rapport with farming communities involved in the Fruit Fly Programme R&D work and assist in their training.
7. Ensure that experimental equipment and laboratories are clean and well maintained.
8. Monitor and facilitate in the procurement of lab supplies in a timely manner and maintain an inventory of supplies and equipment at all times.
9. Participate in the training of interns and students on attachment.
10. Assist in driving AFFP staff whenever required.
11. Supervise junior technical staff and assist them to overcome work bottlenecks that they may encounter, and report on the same to supervisors in timely manner.
12. Undertake any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Key Responsibilities

• With the approval of the supervisor, he/she will be responsible for making timely decisions relevant for his/ her job functions.
• Supervise temporary staff and casual workers assigned to him/her.
• Responsible for financial management related to determining payment for casuals and field and travel advances he/she is provided, with honesty and integrity.
• May be acknowledged in scientific publications depending on the effort and input provided.
• Identify and maintain excellent contact/rapport with farming communities involved in Programme R&D work.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Higher diploma in entomology or zoology.
• Experience in handling and working with insects and their natural enemies is desirable, but not mandatory.
• Candidates with working experience in a busy research laboratory with extensive fieldwork related to crop pests and parasitoids will have an added advantage.
• Possession of a valid driving licence and proven accident free driving is an added advantage.
• Must be computer literate.

Core Competencies

• Proven track record of writing scientific and technical reports.

Other desirable attributes

• Must be self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Fast thinking and able to solve day-to-day research challenges in a practical manner.
• Maintains frequent contact with scientists and other technical staff for exchange of information.
• A team player with ability to maintain harmonious working relationship in a multi-cultural and multi-racial environment.

Reporting

This position reports to the scientists.

The position is available immediately.