World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Jobs: Assistant Research Officer

Supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), CIAT-TSBF is a non-profit organization that conducts socially and environmentally progressive research aimed at reducing hunger and poverty
and preserving natural resources in developing countries.
The Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Research Area of CIAT operates as an integral part of the CIAT research programs and is hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya.
The goal of CIAT is to contribute to human welfare and environmental conservation in the tropics by developing adoptable and suitable soil management practices that integrate the biological, chemical and socioeconomic processes that regulate soil fertility and optimize the use of organic and inorganic resources.
The Position:
ICRAF/CIAT-TSBF seeks to recruit an Assistant Research Officer to be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Assistant Research Officer will report to the AfNet Coordinator. She/he has the overall responsibility for managing the databases and providing assistance in co-ordination of research activities of the AfNet Projects of CIAT-TSBF.

The Assistant Research Officer works very closely with At Net staff and collaborators to ensure the network research activities are co-ordinated and information disseminated in a timely manner.
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Writing annual and bi-annual technical progress reports for donor funded projects;
  • Assisting the AfNet Coordinator in preparing proposals for donor funding;
  • Maintaining and updating the At Net multi-site experiments/trials databases to be used by AfNet scientists and partners;
  • Carrying out statistical data analysis, data management and writing scientific papers.
  • Assisting the AfNet Coordinator in organizing workshops and training courses;
  • Conducting literature searches;
  • Compiling, managing and summarizing of network trials;
  • Liaising/interacting with network members;
  • Preparing the TSBF newsletter and the AfNet brochure; and other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time by the AfNet Coordinator.
Qualifications and experience:
  • Masters Degree in Soil Science or Agronomy with proven field research skills;
  • At least 2 years of relevant work experience in a closely related field;
  • Good analytical and report writing skills;
  • High level of computer skills, and ability to learn new applications quickly;
  • Fluency in English.
  • Willingness to travel extensively;
ICRAF/CIAT-TSBF is an equal opportunity employer and offers a collegial and gender-sensitive working environment.
This is a national position and will be for an initial period of two (2) years, renewable subject to six (6) months probation period, assessment of performance, and availability of resources.
Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees.
All correspondence should be addressed to the Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry Centre (1CRAF), RO. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya OR via email: icrafhru@cgiar.org.
Applications wil be considered until 5th July, 2010 and should clearly indicate “Application for Assistant Research Officer” on their application letters or email submissions.
Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.
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