Senior Agricultural Economist/Team Leader - ILRI Jobs in Kenya

The Africa-based, globally networked International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) helps to reduce poverty, hunger and environmental degradation by enhancing animal agriculture in developing countries. ILRI positions its work at the dynamic interface of poverty alleviation and sustainable livestock livelihoods. 

Our staff work in partnerships and alliances with hundreds of organisations in developed and developing countries, including some of the finest universities and research institutions in the world. ILRI’s headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya, with a second principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Staff members are also based in 7 partner institutions in other parts of Africa and Asia. We employ more than 700 staff from about 40 countries and are one of 15 centres around the world sponsored by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

ILRI seeks to recruit a  Senior Agricultural Economist and Team Leader to play a key role within the Market Opportunities Theme in leading ILRI’s evolving and expanding portfolio of research addressing smallholder livestock producer competitiveness andtechnology uptake.
 Vacancy Number: SAE/MK03/07/10 Department: Market Opportunities Location: Nairobi, Kenya Duration: 3 years
 The responsibilities of the position will include:

  • Lead and manage a geographically dispersed international team of economists, social scientists, and livestock scientists addressing determinants of smallholder productivity and access to markets, inputs and knowledge services, and analyzing and testing options for increased productivity and welfare, across a range of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.
  • Lead conceptual development of ILRI’s work on smallholder competitiveness in multiple crop-livestock systems, and support development of evidence for sustainable productivity interventions to guide appropriate livestock technology and policy development and investments.
  • Build collaborations with relevant institutions and organizations internationally and nationally to conduct research and to advance project goals of improving smallholder competitiveness and sustained productivity.
  • Support development projects led by NGOs and other development partners to ensure use of best practice productivity interventions, and to generate objective evidence from piloting those interventions.
  • Develop proposals to raise resources to support new research addressing smallholder competitiveness in key crop-livestock value chains providing opportunity for addressing poverty and sustainability equitably.
Applicants should possess:
  • A passion for the generation of scientific knowledge that advances pro-poor development;
  • A Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Economics, or other Social Science with application to agriculture or rural development, with a minimum of 8 years of experience post-PhD;
  • A proven research record reflecting experience in research design, quantitative and qualitative analytic methods and producing peer-reviewed outputs;
  • Experience in managing a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team of researchers and development practitioners, and in the associated human resource and financial management;
  • Demonstrated strong experience with analysis of smallholder household production and competitiveness, technology uptake, access to markets and services;
  • Understanding of outcome-oriented research design and implementation with pro-poor and gender oprientation, including communication and advocacy strategy development;
  • Strong econometric and mathematical modeling skills, and the ability to apply them in pro-poor development research;
  • Familiarity with aspects of livestock production, crop-livestock systems, and rural institutions and services in developing countries;
  • Strong English language skills, both written and spoken (proficiency in other languages is an advantage);
  • Willingness and ability to travel frequently, sometimes to rural areas in developing countries.
Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Extensive travel to other countries and regions will be required.
 Terms of appointment: This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with initial appointment of three years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration package paid in US dollars.
 Applications: Applicants should send a cover letter explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and indicating earliest availability, curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to email: recruit-ilri-Ken@cgiar.org. Screening of applications will commence on 1 September 2010 untill the position is filled.

The position title and reference number “SENIOR AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST/TEAM LEADER- SAE/MK03/07/10” should be clearly indicated on the subject line of the email application. Due to the high volume of applications that we receive, we regret but only online applications will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted.

To find more about ILRI, visit our Website at  www.ilri.org

ILRI is an equal opportunities employer. Qualified candidates from African countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply.