NGO Job Opportunities - ILRI

Ecosystem Ecologist
 
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 
Department: Livestock Systems and the Environment
 
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit an Ecosystem Ecologist to contribute to research on Dryland Systems, Ecosystem Services from Rangelands, and Climate Change Interactions with Rangelands.  

We seek an early career scientist who has strong ties to an established Centre of Excellence (university or research institute) in ecosystem ecology, especially rangeland/grassland ecology. ILRI wishes to strengthen our ties to one or more such centres through shared expertise and collaboration.  

The advertised position would be funded by ILRI, but shared between the centre of excellence and ILRI.  

ILRI can also offer one month’s salary to a senior staff member at the same centre of excellence, so as to complement the skills of the early career scientist and other ILRI staff, and strengthen the affiliation. 

The ecosystem ecologist will make important contributions to broader, interdisciplinary research agendas for developing environmentally sound strategies to sustainably increase productivity, reduce vulnerability and increase the resilience of pastoral and agro pastoral livestock-based livelihoods to hazards like weather conditions and climate change, market fluctuations and insecurity. 

These include options to reduce vulnerability, such as early warning systems which monitor rangeland conditions, and options for diversifying livelihoods through payment for ecosystem services for biological conservation and climate change mitigation. 

Much has changed in terms of ecosystem dynamics in rangelands in the last 20 years, and hence new interventions such as livestock insurance and restoration of degraded lands will have unknown ecosystem feedbacks, and ILRI needs the tools to evaluate these. 

ILRI has a track record of applied research on dryland ecosystem management across Africa, and this expertise is housed in its Livestock Systems and Environment (LSE) programme (livestocksystems.wordpress.com)   

LSE seeks to strengthen our skills in ecological research with this position, to complement our other skills in social science, GIS and remote sensing work, and modeling. 

The advantage of a shared position with an advanced centre of excellence is access to senior ecologists, opportunity to work with students, access to library resources, while simultaneously working in Africa on critical development and management agendas.

ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals’ alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases. 

ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about 700 and in 2014, an operating budget of about USD83 million. A member of the CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and East Asia. 

Responsibilities:

The ecologist will also support work with rangeland and climate impact models, where a sound and up to date understanding of rangeland dynamics is required. 

Specifically the ecologist will:
  • Undertake research on ecosystem health and services in rangeland systems, including how management practices affect the quality and quantity of ecosystem services, using a variety of data collection methods and sources, combining field data with models and remotely sensed data.
  • Undertake research on the dynamics of change in rangeland ecology, particularly how changes in mobility and access to key grazing areas and water points are affecting rangelands, in collaboration with research on governance of natural resources.
  • Work with pastoralist and agropastoralist herders to develop and experiment with rangeland monitoring and management techniques and practices appropriate to local contexts
  • Work with modelers and remote sensing specialists to develop and ground-truth methodologies for assessing rangeland health and productivity for management and impact assessment
  • Support proposal-writing efforts on the above topics
  • Supervise PhD and MSc students on the above topics
Requirements:
  • A PhD in ecology or natural resource management, ideally with some appreciation of combining research on social science and biophysical perspectives.
  • Knowledge of rangeland ecological research in pastoral/agropastoral systems in developing countries with a minimum of two years post-doctoral experience.
  • A systems perspective, especially related to the challenges of sustainability and vulnerability of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods.
  • Experience and expertise in field-based ecological research
  • Strong statistical skills, including designing field data collection protocols, and analyzing data that vary over space and time.
  • Good publications record with strong written and oral communication skills in English and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences.
  • Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams in developing country environments.
  • Experience with community-based approaches to ecological/natural resource management research and monitoring would be an asset.
Post location: The position is based at ILRI campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Duration:
 3 years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Position level:
 The position is Level 4C

Benefits:
 ILRI offers a competitive international and salary and benefits package which includes 15% Pension, Medical insurance, Life insurance and allowances for: Education, Housing, Relocation, Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays.

*Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applications:
 Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae: a list of publications and names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience should be included in the curriculum vitae. 

The position title and reference number: PL/AB/08/14 should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter.

Animal Health Technician
 
Location: Kapiti Plains Ranch, Machakos County
 
Department: Animal Bioscience
 
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit an Animal Health Technician to Manage Animal Resources at the Kapiti Plains Ranch, Machakos County.

ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about 700 and in 2014, an operating budget of about USD83 million. A member of the CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and East Asia.
ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. 

The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries to keep their animals alive and productive, to increase and sustain overall productivity, find profitable markets for their products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases. 

Responsibilities
  • Support animal health and production activities at the ranch that include:
  • Clinical and pathological examinations of animals and recording of  findings;
  • Sampling from animals according to protocols;
  • Biological samples processing and analysis according to protocols;
  • Basic parasitological examination of blood and faecal samples;
  • Delivery of samples to the ILRI laboratory;
  • Management of clinical and post-mortem records of animals and procedures performed;
  • Treat animals with direction from ILRI institution veterinarian;
  • Communicate regularly with ILRI institution veterinarian on herd health;
  • Take care of the ranch resources;
  • Any other duties that may be assigned by senior staff.
Requirements
  • A Certificate or Diploma in Animal Health and Production from a recognised institution;
  • At least 3 years’ experience for Certificate holders or 1 year experience for Diploma holders.
  • Ability to work well in a team;
  • Ability to maintain good relations with other staff members and researchers;
  • Possess a valid driver’s license;
  • Skilled at large animal handling;
  • Skilled at sample collection (blood, faeces, etc) from cattle, and field preparation of blood and faecal samples for laboratory processing;
  • Prepare blood samples for parasitological diagnostics;
  • Skilled in reading blood slides and diagnosing blood-borne parasites of livestock and in conducting other measurements (eg PCV readings) on blood samples;
  • Ability to prepare blood and serum samples for further processing and shipping;
  • Ability to prepare faecal material of livestock origin for microscopy-based diagnostics (concentration techniques etc);
  • Skilled in microscopy diagnostic techniques for gastro-intestinal parasites;
  • Ability to undertake basic clinical diagnoses of endemic diseases of livestock;
  • Ability to identify ticks and other ectoparasites;
  • Ability to age animals through dentition;
  • Skilled at maintaining accurate records;
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision;
  • Willingness to learn new field techniques where appropriate;
  • Excellent communication skills;
  • Some previous experience of working in a laboratory is desirable.
Terms of appointment: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at our Kapiti Ranch Office, Machakos County and is for a 3 years’ contract period.

Job level and salary:
 This position is job level 1C with a starting salary of KES 51,967 per month.

In addition to salary, ILRI offers medical insurance for staff and dependents, life insurance, pension at 12.5% employers contribution, annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays within ILRI’s National Recruited Staff Scheme.

How to Apply:
 Applicants should send a cover letter and CV explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development. 

The position title and reference number REF: AHT/ AB /09/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

Click here to submit
 your application online by 3 October 2014.

Public Awareness Coordinator
 
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
 
Department:Communications and Knowledge Management

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Public Awareness Coordinator who is an exceptionally strong and passionate writer who takes pleasure in framing complex research findings so that these are understandable and useful to a wide-ranging audience, especially decision-makers and their constituencies. 

The jobholder, will work directly with ILRI’s team leader for Communications, Awareness and Advocacy and also closely with other communications colleagues, ILRI directors, managers, scientists and other program staff and consultants to support the organization’s corporate communications, particularly to influence decision-making.

The jobholder will: help raise the profile of livestock-research-for-development work and influence decision-makers of the importance of development-oriented livestock research across the tropics, work across a range of mediums and topics to turn out compelling communications materials that help translate ILRI’s research into real-world impacts and skillfully coordinate efforts to publicize ILRI’s work in collaboration with scientists and communications colleagues across the centre.

ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. 

The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases.

ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about 700 and, in 2014, an operating budget of about USD83 million. 

A member of the CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and East Asia. 

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
 
 Responsibilities
  • Identify and develop compelling stories based on ILRI research for various communications outlets, including the institute’s website and blogs and international media.
  • Undertake field trips to obtain high-quality stories, photos and video for use in online and print publications as well as for media outreach.
  • Lead the development of extensive and productive media relations at the international, regional and national levels to ensure high visibility for ILRI research.
  • Ensure optimum use of social media to raise awareness about the institute’s work and to strengthen its relationships with donors, partners and other stakeholders.
  • Create content for ILRI’s annual report and other public awareness documents.
  • Illustrate and enhance high-profile slide presentations of ILRI’s directorate.
  • Mentor communications staff at headquarters and in ILRI’s regional offices, sharing ideas and suggestions on story development and editing blog articles, as appropriate.
  • Train and otherwise empower ILRI staff and partners to influence targeted audiences effectively through public awareness-oriented communications.
  • Ensure that ILRI’s external communications documents have strong visual as well as writing appeal.
  • Train, advise and coach centre staff on media relations and communications generally.
  • Support the planning and organization of high-profile ILRI workshops, conferences and exhibits.
  • Support the production and dissemination of ILRI’s annual corporate highlights, calendar and other corporate materials.
  • Contribute to the ILRI-wide communications and knowledge management (CKM) community of practice, participate in CKM learning, reviewing and planning activities and ensure that these activities follow ILRI standards and agreed channels.
  • Any other duties as may be assigned.
Requirements
  • Postgraduate degree (MSc/MA) in English, communications, journalism or a related field or a bachelor’s degree and a strong track record in this field, or a degree in science with a subsequent career in science communications.
  • Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in science or development communications.
  • Superb English writing, editing and proofreading skills.
  • Proven ability to translate scientific/technical materials into accurate, lively, informative or persuasive materials for the general public.
  • Proven teamworking with a strong desire to work in a mix of highly diverse cultural, ethnic, national, intellectual and institutional environments.
  • Passion for outstanding communications products (writing, photography, videography).
  • Proficient in use of social and new media tools.
  • Excellent networking, advocacy and campaign skills.
  • Computer savvy.
  • Ambitious to make a difference through standout communications.
  • Highly organized multi-tasker able to focus, prioritize, handle and complete on time myriad streams of work.
  • An appetite for ensuring the diverse behind-the-scenes kinds of mundane work (e.g., scrupulous filing, complete categorization of online repository materials, careful budgeting, attention to administrative details) that are the foundation of the more creative aspects of communications work.
Advantages:
  • Experience working within a scientific, humanitarian or development context and working on projects funded by international donor agencies.
  • Experience in news media work (drafting substantive news releases, organizing media events, overseeing journalist enquiries, managing good relations with major media).
  • Experience in social media work: professional blogging; astute regular user of social media serving organizational objectives.
  • Knowledge of industry-standard communications software (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign, Final Cut Pro).
  • Excellent judge of and/or skilled in photography, graphic design, audio recording or video production.
The ideal candidate will be:
  • Someone who reads science/development publications for pleasure and enjoys engaging with scientists
  • A skillful storyteller who provokes reader passions
  • An astute judge of what communications best suit what audiences and purposes
  • Equal parts writer and editor who can develop any kind of material to great effect
  • Scrupulous about never sacrificing the highest standards of accuracy for communications effects
  • Passionate about finding fresh ways to tell stories and excited by new possibilities
  • Inspired by the ideas of others and an inspiring team member for others
  • Someone who thinks across multimedia platforms and experiments with new media
  • Self-directed and resourceful, with an adventurous and generous spirit
Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters, in Nairobi, Kenya.

Position level:
 This position is job grade 4C.

Duration:
 3 years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Benefits:
 ILRI offers a competitive international and salary and benefits package which includes 15% Pension, Medical insurance, Life insurance and allowances for: Education, Housing, Relocation, Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays.

*Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

How to apply:
 Applicants should send a cover letter and CV explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development. 

The position title and reference number REF: PAC/ IPP /09/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

Click here to submit
 you application online. 

Screening of applications will start on 31 October 2014 and continue until the position is filled.

Vacancy:Corporate Communications Officer

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Department:Communications and Knowledge Management

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Corporate Communications Officer to work directly with ILRI’s team leader for Communications, Awareness and Advocacy and also closely with ILRI directors, managers, scientists and other program staff as well as consultants to support the organization’s corporate communications needs, particularly the need to influence decision-making. 

The jobholder will help ensure timely as well as high-quality execution of day-to-day work producing and disseminating high-quality print, multimedia and online communication products that demonstrably help ILRI meet its three strategic objectives: to change practices, influence decision-making and develop capacity in livestock-related issues affecting poor people in developing countries. 

S/he will help develop, maintain and distribute a suite of print, multimedia and online ‘public awareness’ materials (e.g., messages, summaries, articles, opinion pieces, photoessays, slide presentations, video productions) that effectively communicate ILRI’s mission, vision, major messages and achievements to key audiences and stakeholders.

ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. 

The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases.

ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about 700 and, in 2014, an operating budget of about USD83 million. 

A member of the CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and East Asia.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

Responsibilities:

Public Awareness
  • Help produce and disseminate ILRI’s annual corporate highlights, calendar and other materials.
  • Support consultant work to produce articles, photographs, videos and multimedia productions.
  • Help draft major news articles on ILRI channels, following ILRI guidelines and standards.
  • Publish ILRI corporate photographs and videos on Flickr and YouTube, assisting in their effective curation according to ILRI guidelines and standards.
  • Weekly curate ILRI materials for the CGIAR website.
  • Help ensure that the physical spaces at ILRI headquarters and other offices are regularly supplied with fresh posters and other updated materials that serve our corporate communications and branding needs.
  • Regularly scan all media (print, broadcast, online) for mentions of ILRI and for livestock research news of strategic interest to ILRI and forward/recycle/repackage/respond as warranted.
  • Build and support exhibit/displays across ILRI campuses and offices and at outside events that support ILRI and CGIAR activities that have specific ambitions to influence audiences.
News Media

Help implement ILRI’s news media strategies by overseeing some of the following: 
  • inviting journalists for news briefings, press conferences and related events;
  • organizing journalist interviews of staff and visits to our labs and field sites; 
  • organizing and reporting on media-related events, including roundtables and news conferences; 
  • researching and/or drafting and fact-checking press releases;
  • pitching stories to the media; 
  • promoting and monitoring pick up of our stories; 
  • responding to media enquiries; and 
  • generally building good relations with local and international, specialized and mass media, journalists.
Social Media
Help implement ILRI’s social media strategies, particularly to better target and serve key online ‘influencers’, 
  • by developing contacts for major influencers in ILRI’s areas of interest; 
  • by drafting, targeting, monitoring and responding to tweets; 
  • by building up ILRI’s profile and readership on Twitter; 
  • by making strategic use of Pinterest, LinkedIn and other social media channels; and 
  • by prolonging and sharpening use of our social media conversations via aggregation sites such as RebelMouse and Storify.
Help give effective social media support to key corporate events.

Regularly engage in conversations on ILRI’s corporate social media sites and help raise ILRI’s voice and issues on other relevant and influential online platforms.
  •  
Teamwork
  • Contribute to the ILRI-wide communications and knowledge management (CKM) community of practice; participate in CKM learning, reviewing and planning activities and ensure that these activities follow ILRI standards and agreed channels.
  • Provide administrative support as needed to the Communications, Awareness and Advocacy team.
  • Any other duties as may be assigned.
Requirements
  • Master’s degree in communications, journalism, English or related field, or bachelor’s degree and demonstrated experience.
  • At least five years of post-degree work demonstrating increased responsibilities in communications, with a focus on creating content.
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • Demonstrated skills in writing (particularly strategic messaging and summarizing) as well as copy editing and proofreading.
  • Computer savvy.
  • Ambitious to make a difference through standout communications.
  • Problem solver.
  • Helpful, useful and responsive team player.
  • Highly organized multi-tasker able to focus, prioritize, handle and complete on time myriad streams of work.
  • An appetite for the diverse behind-the-scenes kinds of mundane work (e.g., scrupulous filing, complete categorization of online repository materials, careful budgeting, attention to administrative details) that are the foundation of the more creative aspects of communications work.
  • Strong desire to work in a mix of highly diverse cultural, ethnic, national, intellectual and institutional environments.
Advantages:
  • Experience in translating scientific or technical publications and conversations into articles, stories and other materials that remain scientifically credible but are readily understood by general public.
  • Experience in working within a scientific, humanitarian or development context and working on projects funded by international donor agencies.
  • Experience in news media work (drafting substantive news releases, organizing media events, overseeing journalist enquiries, managing good relations with East Africa’s best news reporters).
  • Experience in social media work: professional blogging; astute regular user of social media serving organizational objective.
  • Knowledge of industry-standard communications software (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign, Final Cut Pro).
  • Excellent judge of and/or skilled in photography, graphic design, audio recording or video production.
Terms of appointment: This is a nationally recruited staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is for a 3-year contract period.

Job level and salary: This position is job grade 2D with a starting gross salary of KES154,711 per month.

In addition to salary, ILRI offers Medical insurance for staff and dependents, Life insurance, Pension at 12.5% employers contribution, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+ public holidays within ILRI’s National Recruited Staff Scheme.

How to Apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development.

The position title and reference number REF: CCO/IPP/09/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

Click here to apply online by 3 October 2014.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our website (http://www.ilri.org) and our main corporate News (http://news.ilri.org/) and Clippings (http://clippings.ilri.org/) blogs.

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/


 ILRI is an equal opportunity employer