Human Health Head
(Ref. No. IRS/296/122018)
(Ref. No. IRS/296/122018)
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.
Responsibilities
The
successful candidate is expected to:
·
Work in collaboration with the icipe
leadership team, including the Director General, Director of Research and
Partnerships (DRP) and Heads of Themes and Units, to undertake and facilitate
research and capacity building activities across the Centre;
·
Lead and spearhead the development of
a coherent vision for the HH Theme;
·
Organise a Theme structure to
cost-effectively utilise resources to meet icipe’s research, capacity and institutional
building needs;
·
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;
·
Ensure Theme members continually
update skills and methodologies, to keep up with global cutting-edge knowledge;
·
Promote and establish collaborative
linkages with national, regional and international institutions in the relevant
fields of research of the Theme;
·
Actively seek and secure external
support for the activities of the Theme, including resources to develop and
grow a personal research portfolio;
·
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;
·
Facilitate peer-review of the
performance of Theme members;
·
Initiate periodic reviews of the
performance of the HH Theme, to ensure relevance and quality;
·
Act as a spokesperson and
representative of the Theme;
·
Ensure the Theme meets its legal and
reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders, including national licensing
authorities and donors.
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.
Head of Communications
(Ref.
No. IRS/307/122018)
icipe—International
Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology—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. Employing close to 500 national and international staff, icipe is
headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia and on the shores of
Lake Victoria in western Kenya. 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, 100–150 graduate students and a number of postdoctoral
fellows contribute to icipe’s research portfolio annually.
icipe
wishes to recruit a suitable person to fill the position of HEAD OF
COMMUNICATIONS in the Office of the Director General. The position is tenable
in Nairobi, Kenya. The position will be offered for an initial contract of 2
years, renewable, subject to continued project needs, funding for the position,
and performance of the staff member. A competitive and generous compensation
package that includes housing and transport allowances, child education
allowance up to university first degree, comprehensive health and life
insurance cover, and an offshore retirement package (all payable in US
Dollars), will be offered to the right candidate. Furthermore, the incumbent
will receive paid annual vacation, return airfare for themselves and their
dependents to their nominated home base each year, and duty-free privileges. If
the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be
offered support to relocate and settle in Nairobi. Qualified candidates from
Africa (and especially females) are invited to apply. Only shortlisted
candidates will be acknowledged.
icipe’s communications
This
role is a chance to help shape the communications agenda of an international
organisation. In collaboration with the management team, the successful
candidate will design and implement a Centrewide communications strategy,
boosting the visibility of the Centre to its international donors, and sharing
the results of its research widely. A communications team of full-time staff,
consultants and several communications officers and social scientists across
the organisation support the aims of the Communications Unit. Various writers,
photographers and filmmakers familiar with icipe’s work are available to
support specific projects. icipe’s communication outputs include a website,
newsletters, corporate reports, training and dissemination materials, internal
bulletins and social media posts.
Responsibilities
·
Provide leadership and coordination
for all communication activities of the Centre, to enhance icipe’s
·
visibility and credibility as a
centre of excellence, by: (i) supporting the development and implementation of
a comprehensive communications strategy (as well as coaching research and
support staff on the implementation of the communications strategy), and (ii)
raising the profile of icipe’s corporate brand, programmes, projects and
individual researchers.
·
Strengthen and diversify icipe’s
communications products, by reviewing the adequacy of icipe’s current
communication materials and recommending improvements.
·
Oversee the design and production of
icipe’s publications (including press releases, corporate reports, brochures,
training materials, newsletters, social media posts, and website).
·
Provide communication/information
advice and assistance to icipe teams, helping them to meet their visibility
obligations to donors and partners, either by doing the work required or by
contracting the work to consultants.
·
Share icipe’s work in local and
international media, by meeting our obligations to donors, collaborating with
partners and stakeholders, and bringing the results of our research to those
who might benefit from it.
·
Ensure effective and appealing
internal communication on icipe business, relevant topics, strategies and
management decisions (through internal bulletins, intranet and meetings, and
organising workshops, seminars, exhibitions and employee functions in liaison
with the management team).
·
Ensure that employees know and
respect crisis communication preparedness and communication procedures
·
Establish and manage an annual budget
for communication functions in a responsible and cost effective manner.
·
Be accountable for all local and
international communication activities of the Centre, including advocacy and
liaison activities with organisations that share similar interests.
Qualifications
Knowledge and skills required for performing the job
·
Knowledge of media advertising and
publishing is essential.
·
Highly proficient in both spoken and
written English. Knowledge of oral and written French is an added advantage.
·
Computer proficiency particularly in
MS Office Suite, and familiarity with desktop publishing and spreadsheet
software is essential.
·
Familiarity with Apple Macintosh
computers is an added advantage.
Minimum qualifications required
·
Degree in journalism, communications,
or related specification is essential.
·
Strong written and verbal
communication skills are mandatory.
Minimum experience required
·
5 years of related professional
experience in a position of responsibility in an international organisation or
a commercial organisation with international scope.
·
Experience in journalism/media
relations.
·
Proven track record in leadership,
leading to capabilities in driving and developing a communications team.
·
Ability to think strategically, and
to develop and execute strategic communication planning (as well as the
corresponding messages and communication activities).
Other desirable attributes
·
Strong in relationship building with
journalists and other relevant external and internal stakeholder groups.
·
High degree of organisation,
adaptability and prioritisation, and documentation skills.
·
Demonstrated ability to work
independently and well within teams.
Reporting
This
position reports to the Director General.
The
selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.
Head of Finance
Job Description
The
Head of Finance (HoF) will provide financial leadership to a strong team of
finance professionals and have primary strategic day-to-day responsibility at
the Centre to ensure the existence and adherence to fundamental principles of
financial management—financial accountability, internal controls,
recordkeeping, compliances, financial integrity, planning, budgeting, cash-flow
management and financial reporting. The HoF will support planning, monitoring
and decision-making processes to achieve best value in utilising resources, and
providing quality information, financial analysis, training and professional
advice.
Responsibilities
·
First, provide overall supervision of
the processes of recording, classifying and summarising financial transactions
and interpreting the results, ensuring that all transactions of the Centre are
recorded, and that supporting original documentation for all transactions is
easily accessible. Second, provide necessary approvals for transactions and
processes within set policies. Third, provide custodianship to all financial
policies and procedures.
·
Ensure continuous development and
improvement of all supporting financial and management information systems for
the Centre, ERP systems, project costing, and mapping of accounts and analysis
codes.
·
Ensure that effective internal
controls are in place to safeguard financial assets of the Centre, and that
records systems are maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting
standards.
·
Ensure compliance with all applicable
financial regulatory laws and rules for financial reporting in all
jurisdictions where the Centre operates.
·
Oversee the coordination and
activities of independent external auditors for the Centre and project audits,
ensuring that all compliance issues are met and that the preparation of annual
financial statements is in accordance with both the Centre’s standards and
international standards.
·
Oversee the preparation of periodic
financial statements, financial management reports, cash flows, special
analyses, and information reports for use by the Budget holders, Centre’s
Senior Management Committee (SMC) and Governing Council Members. Equally
important, ensure that the finance unit meets all its financial reporting
requirements—statutory, management and contractual—on a timely basis.
·
Establish and maintain strong
relationships with programme/project managers, identify their needs, and
deliver enhanced business solutions. Provide support to other business support
units in financial related matters. Additionally, provide recommendations to
strategically enhance financial performance and opportunities. Analyse costs
and expenses and guide programme/project managers, as well as analyse financial
statements to pinpoint trends and potential problem areas.
·
Analyse cash flows, monitor banking
activities, oversee the management investments in line with set policies, to
ensure adequate cash flow to meet the Centre’s needs and optimisation of
investments held.
·
Represent the Centre externally to
various stakeholders, e.g. governments and funding agencies.
·
Serve on tender, planning and
policy-making committees.
·
Recruit, train, supervise, and
evaluate Finance Unit staff.
·
Play a key role in the development of
the Centre’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Qualifications
·
A master’s degree in finance or
accounting.
·
Ten (10) years of experience in a senior-level
finance and accounting position. § Professional accounting qualification – CPA,
ACCA, CA, or similar accreditation.
Core Competencies
·
Experience crafting financial
strategies and managing diverse accounting teams.
·
Knowledge of contracting, negotiating,
and change management.
·
Knowledge of finance, accounting,
budgeting, and cost control principles, including international standards.
·
Solid project cost accounting and
project management skills.
·
Ability to analyse financial data and
prepare financial reports, statements, and projections.
Other desirable attributes
·
Strong interpersonal skills, ability
to communicate and manage at all levels of the Centre, particularly with staff
at all locations.
·
Strong problem-solving skills, and
the ability to provide sound advice based on accurate and timely analyses.
·
A high level of and a strong sense of
timeliness and results orientation.
·
A high level of skills in written and
verbal communication.
Reporting
This
position reports to the Director of Finance & Administration (DFA).
The
selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.
How to Apply
Applications
will be accepted up to 17th May 2019. Shortlisting is ongoing. 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 or by Email: icipe@icipe.org icipe is an equal opportunity employer.
It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equity,
teamwork, and respect
