icipe
Vacancy: Bio-Innovate Programme Assistant
Ref. No.NRS/177/102016
icipe - African Insect
Science for Food and Health is a world-class research centre with a mission to
alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the
environment, and building the capacity of researchers and communities across
the developing world through the application of insect sciences.
icipe has a proud reputation
and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial
contributions to African food and health policy, delivered development outcomes
to rural communities, and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s
biological research capacity.
The Centre’s research
activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research
organisations, not only across Africa, but also the globe.
In addition, more than
150 graduate students and a number of postdoctoral fellows contribute to
icipe’s research portfolio annually.
The Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Programme is a regional initiative established in 2010 with support from Sida, Sweden to support bioscience research and innovation activities in eastern Africa.
It addresses regional
priorities in science, technology and innovation aligned with the AU-NEPAD’s
Science Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA), the science
agenda for Africa (S3A) and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP).
Bio-Innovate’s goal is to
improve productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers and
agro-processors in eastern Africa, while ensuring environmental sustainability.
It seeks to promote inclusive
growth by linking smallholder farmers to new market niches characterised by
sustainable and resource-efficient value chains.
The Programme brings critical
players from the public and private sectors together, to promote bioscience
innovation in six eastern African countries, namely Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
During its first
implementation phase (2010–2015), the Programme had the goal of mobilising and
deploying bioscience innovation systems to harness bio-resources in the eastern
Africa region, whereby innovations for sustainable utilisation, transformation
and integration of eastern Africa’s bio-resources would be discovered,
developed, intensified, and disseminated to promote regional economic growth
and development.
Phase II, hosted at the
International Centre of Insect Physiology (icipe), focuses on developing more
capacity and devoting more of its resources towards assisting innovation
projects move further along the innovation chain into the market.
For more information on
Bio-Innovate please visit: http://www.bioinnovate-africa.org/
icipe seeks to recruit a Programme Assistant to work in the Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Programme.
The position is tenable in
Nairobi at the icipe Duduville campus and is available to commence
immediately.
A competitive and generous
compensation package will be offered to the right candidate.
Only shortlisted candidates
meeting the itemised requirements will be contacted.
Overall Purpose of the Job: To provide administrative and programme management support to the programme staff for efficient and smooth running of the programme management office (PMO).
Responsibilities
- Create and
manage electronic and manual filing systems, and maintain and update files
and records, archiving and storage.
- Facilitate and
keep track of documentation approvals and dispatches to and from PMO and
other administrative offices/departments within and outside host
institution.
- Support in
planning and organising internal and external meetings, workshops and
other events (e.g. folders and materials, registration forms, workshop
programmes and name tags, follow up on payments and settlement of working
advances, documentation and filing of proceedings).
- Actively
participate in programme meetings and support minute taking and archiving
of proceedings.
- Support the
programme management team in follow-up of action points.
- Assist in
preparing programmatic meeting materials.
- Anticipate and
facilitate the programme’s inventory needs to ensure smooth operations
within the PMO in conjunction with relevant departments within host
institution.
- Handle
maintenance of office assets and keep an inventory of equipment and
procured supplies.
- Coordinate all
staff travel arrangements and logistical support in conjunction with the
relevant departments at host institution, including handling of travel
requests and travel expense reports, accommodation and working advances.
- Coordinate
logistics for programmatic events, including workshops, conferences etc.
- Respond to
routine correspondence, and handle e-mail, telephone communication,
requests, enquiries and other communication systems and processes to
appropriate parties.
- Establish and
maintain a key contact database and email list of all project teams and
partners, collaborators and other stakeholders.
Requirements / Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
degree in business administration, office management, project management
or related discipline.
- At least five
years’ experience in programme and office administration in a busy
environment, e.g. international organisation or NGO.
Core competencies
- Event
management experience will be highly desirable.
- Ability to
communicate effectively verbally and in writing is a strong requirement.
- Customer
service experience and public relations skills would be an added
advantage.
- Excellent
computer skills and proficiency in MS Office (Microsoft Word, Excel and
Outlook), and working with databases.
Other desirable attributes
- Excellent
organisational skills, attention to detail, time management, ability to
multiple task, define and set priorities, and problem solve.
- Strong ability
to anticipate and plan ahead, and take personal initiative, work both
independently and as a team member, and collaborate and coordinate with
others.
- Excellent
interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.
Reporting
This position reports to the
Finance and Administration Officer.
The selected candidate should
be available to start as soon as possible.
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted
up to 4th November 2016, or until the position is filled, whichever is earlier.
Interested applicants should
submit:
(a) a confidential cover
letter,
(b) detailed CV with names
and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers),
and
(c) a statement illustrating
suitability against the listed qualifications/competencies/abilities, and
skills.
Candidates are required to apply online through: http://recruit.icipe.org
icipe is an equal opportunity employer.
