ICIPE Careers

Overall Purpose of the Job

To assist in the metagenomic analysis of DNA extracted from pollen in honey and bee bread collected in stingless bee nests in three landscapes of Taita Taveta County.

Specific Duties

•  To assort and record pollen samples collected from various field sites in Taita Taveta.
•  To assist in the extraction of DNA from pollen extracted from honey and collected in bee bread from various stingless bee hives in Taita Taveta.
•  To assist in sequence arrangements for DNA barcoding purposes.
•  To assist in DNA barcoding sequence analysis where needed.
•  To maintain clean molecular lab working spaces.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  Diploma in Biological Sciences.
•  At least 1 year of relevant experience in stingless bees related projects in Taita Taveta.
•  At least 3 months experience in stingless bee sample collection for molecular analysis and hand on in samples preparation for DNA extraction.

Other Desirable Attributes

•  Responsible for own job functional area and seeks approval from the supervisor.
•  Does not supervise the work of others but may assist other employees in their work.
•  Expected to handle minimal resources such as imprest.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Research Scientist, Environmental Health Theme

Overall Purpose of the Job

The position holder will be responsible for the financial management and accounting for a portfolio of  projects.

Specific Duties

•  Ensuring financial compliance with icipe standards and donor requirements in the discharge of  assigned responsibilities. 
•  Approve staff surrenders and claims in line with icipe’s financial policies and donor regulations.
•  Preparation of financial management reports for internal discussions.
•  Preparation of financial management reports for programme committee discussions.
•  Preparation of financial reports in conformity with various donors’ requirements for timely  submissions. 
•  Facilitation of periodic project audits.
•  Conduct due diligence checks and carry out financial and administrative capacity assessments  for new partners.
•  Facilitate financial management aspects in the onboarding of project partners.
•  Creation of accounts for new partners and management of partner accounts in icipe’s financial  system.
•  Assess, plan, and conduct capacity-building activities for project partners.
•  Facilitate timely disbursement of funds to project partners.
•  Ensure successful closure of partner accounts upon conclusion of the partnerships.
•  Other related tasks as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, economics, or a related field.
•  Professional qualification in accountancy (CPA, ACCA, CA, or equivalent).
•  Membership with relevant qualification’s regulatory body.
•  Experience in providing financial management and accounting support to various stakeholders  through the whole project’s life cycle (at least 4 years of practical relevant work experience). 
• Relevant exposure to auditing will be desirable.

Other Desirable Attributes

•  Ability to study and familiarize with the Centre’s documents (Financial Rules & Regulations,  Procurement Manual, Whistleblower policy, Anti-fraud and ant-corruption policy…etc.) and donorspecific requirements.
•  Ability to study and familiarize with the Centre’s systems.
•  Ability to interpret, resolve, and adapt decisions within established guidelines and directions in the  execution of tasks.
•  Capacity to function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
•  Ability to search for common ground in problem-solving.
•  Ability to develop solutions and recommend changes and/or to introduce new procedures and  practices in a consultative manner.
•  Expected to develop solutions and recommend changes and/or to introduce new procedures and  practices in a consultative manner.
•  Expected to coach and mentor direct reports.
•  Provide support to the research themes and units to ensure adequate financial implementation  and management of financial resources in line with the icipe financial policies and donor  regulations.
•  Support vote holders in proposal budget processes for complete and accurate budget development.
•  Carry out financial management supervision for partners including follow-up and review of partner  reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance from onboarding to close out.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Project Accounting Manager.

Overall purpose of the job

The Manager, People and Organisation Development (MPOD) reports to the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA). The MPOD leads in the provision of HR services and other applicable services to all the Centre’s staff, applicable hosted staff, visiting scientists, students and consultants. The MPOD implements employee attraction, retention, development and performance management policies and processes. S/he develops and implements programmes and supporting systems for employee relations, staff wellbeing, workforce planning and workload management and ensures equity and diversity. S/he should be an excellent leader, people person, strategic communicator, and relationship builder.

Specific Duties:

•  Supervise leadership of the teams providing HR services.
•  Foster Business Partnerships with functions directly engaged in research for development and those in support thereof.
•  Recruiting international and national staff with the capabilities and competences required for the present and future. Work with research leaders to anticipate future needs and lead the talent pooling, attraction, and selection of staff in research roles, and ensure alignment and improvement of attraction and selection processes.
•  Implement organisation design plans, including preparation and review of job classifications, job descriptions and associated systems. Implement talent management and succession planning initiatives.
•  Lead the learning and development programmes, developing the capabilities and competences of research leaders, as well as research and research support staff, encompassing amongst others, management/supervisory skills and soft skills. Implement skills capacity development programmes, aligned with the Centre’s plans and strategic goals.
•  Develop and implement performance management policies, systems, and tools. Implement recognition and rewards policies.
•  Administer and undertake reviews of salaries, and staff related insurances and other staff benefits, in accordance with policies and guidelines and to ensure equity and value for money.
•  Contribute to the development of policies and guidelines and provide advice on their impact on the Centre. Ensure equitable and consistent interpretation and implementation of staff policies and ensure compliance with relevant requirements while being alive to precedents and approval exceptions.
•  Develop and implement HR information systems to support service delivery and decision making, specifically HR within ERP, staff attraction, staff recruitment, learning & development systems, staff performance management system, and management of consultants’ contracts and other supporting systems.
•  Be the Head of Safeguarding (HoS) and be responsible for overall management of compliance, reporting and training of Safeguarding Focal Persons (SFP) deployed on needs basis at regional offices and/or programmes.
•  Act as a link and offer communication and coordination that facilitates a close working relationship between the Centre and its hosted organizations. Handle various matters of the Centre, by participating in joint arrangements with hosted organizations.

Additional responsibilities

•  Be an authorised signatory of the Centre, and in this regard, authorise transactions as per delegated authority and the sourcing and evaluation of appropriate providers (e.g. for medical & life insurances and training consultants).
•  Expand, develop, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and represent the Centre at various meetings. Attend joint meetings of collaborating institutions and participate in HR related joint processes.
•  Chair the Occupational, Health and Safety Committee (OHSC) and Training Committee (TC) of the Centre and oversee implementation of necessary procedures arising from the two committees. Membership to various Centre committees as designated from time to time.
•  Undertake additional duties requested by supervisor for areas that require her/his support within the Centre’s overall business.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  Advanced University degree (Masters) in relevant field.
•  At least 10 years of experience in the areas of general management, including human resources at international and multicultural setups.
•  Comprehensive knowledge of organizational policies and practices in research organizations is highly desirable.
•  Tact, diplomacy and discretion in dealing with sensitive issues.
•  Capacity to manage, supervise and evaluate the performance of staff.

Other desirable attributes

•  Result-oriented, with ability to work under pressure and independently to meet set goals.
•  Good team worker: Ability to relate with others in mutual support and respect towards common goals and shared vision.
•  Innovation and creativity: Ability to generate new ideas and ways of working to continuously improve existing work processes, practices, and concepts.
•  Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.

Reporting
This position reports to the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA).
 

 

Overall purpose of the job

•  To provide research and programmatic leadership to the Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Unit.
•  Coordinate and promote the broad field of chemical ecology through an interdisciplinary research approach across icipe’s 4-H Themes and within the framework of One Health.
•  To maintain a portfolio of research that is aligned with icipe’s strategic goals.
•  To undertake research of the highest quality through partnerships, within, nationally, regionally and internationally.
•  To facilitate new initiatives and opportunities in chemical ecology through resource mobilisation.
•  To build capacity through the training of the next generation of globally competitive scientists.
•  To disseminate research findings through high level publications and presentations at scientific/technical meetings.

Specific Duties:

•  Contributes to Centre’s efforts to engage with global stakeholders in research and capacity building.
•  Manages human, fiscal and physical resources of the Unit.
•  Conducts research to develop semiochemical-based management tools for improved food production, animal and human health.
•  Conducts research to promote use of beneficial organisms that conserve biodiversity.
•  Actively seek and secure external support for the activities of the Unit, including resources to develop and grow a personal research portfolio.
•  Enhance scientific productivity of the Unit through mentoring and supervising scientists, postgraduate students, and high-quality publications.
•  Initiate periodic reviews of the performance of the Unit to ensure relevance and quality.
•  Act as a spokesperson and representative of the Unit.
•  Ensure the Unit meets its legal and reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders including national licensing authorities and donors.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  PhD in Chemistry from a reputable university, with a strong background in organic chemistry or related sciences but preferably with expertise in Chemical Ecology plus appropriate or additional education in organic spectroscopy.
•  Ten (10) years’ experience gained at a senior level in either a research organization or university.
•  Track-record in chemical ecology and interdisciplinary research in tropical insect science.

Other desirable attributes

•  Excellent publication track record.
•  Track record of writing successful proposals for large grants.
•  Proven record of managing large resources (both financial and human) in a research environment.
•  Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and PhD students.
•  Excellent communication skills are mandatory.
•  Track record of exemplary leadership qualities are essential.
•  High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritisation.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Head of Capacity Building and Integrated Sciences

Overall Purpose of the Job

To provide project management support to the head of TTU, scientists, staff, consultants, students, andinterns for efficient and timely implementation of the TTU project activities.

 Specific Duties

•  Support the TTU team in the follow-up of action points of various projects and the reporting as per the donor requirements.
•  Coordinates the planning and organising of internal and external meetings 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 proceedings).
•  Participates in preparing annual budget and Terms of Reference (ToRs) on a need basis.
•  Processes and makes follow-up on project payments including partner disbursement and other payments and maintains a database of the same for ease of reference and follow-up.
•  Coordinates all matters on travel advances, cross-checking, and accountability of employees within the unit.
•  Facilitate staff and student recruitment and renewal of contracts.
•  Perform other duties assigned by the TTU Head.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Sociology, or its equivalent.
•  Diploma of First degree in a relevant field with a certification in Project Management and/or Financial Management.
•  At least 2 years’ experience in project implementation marketing, documenting, and financial planning experience in the corporate sector.
•  Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, time management, ability to do multiple tasks, define and set priorities, and problem-solve.
•  Strong ability to anticipate and plan, take personal initiative, work both independently and as a team member, and collaborate and coordinate with others.
•  Effective communication and writing skills, taking notes and report writing.
•  Experience in facilitating teamwork and collaboration with partners at all levels.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure.

Other Desirable Attributes

•  Make decisions for own functional areas and latitude for discretion within established and defined policies. Regularly reports and consults with supervisor.
•  Carry out activities in a functional area.
•  Participate in gathering information for the annual budget.
•  Coordinating and planning external meetings/events.

Reporting
This position reports to the Research Scientist in the Technology Transfer Unit (TTU).

Overall Purpose of the Job

Perform general cleaning of offices and laboratories at ITOC.

Specific Duties

•  Cleaning of laboratories, offices, corridors, and washrooms, removing cobwebs from the walls, cleaning windows outside of buildings, sweeping pathways, road pavements, and drainage around thecentre.
•  Loading and unloading of goods for cleaning consumables.
•  Arranging and removing chairs during meetings and conferences.
•  Restocking supplies in offices, washrooms, and common areas.
•  Monitors toiletry replenishment quarterly. Takes stock of consumables regularly, ensures strict inventory control, and reports stock levels to the immediate supervisor.
•  Informs the immediate supervisor about the requirements in the offices and washrooms.
•  Dispatch and delivery of mail and parcels to and from the post office and courier service providers.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  KCSE or its equivalent.
•  1 year working experience as a janitor.
•  Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
•  Communication and interpersonal skills.
•  Maturity and a positive attitude to work and colleagues.
•  Practical knowledge of cleaning different areas, including washrooms, open areas, offices, desks, and furniture.

Other Desirable Attributes

•  Demonstrate ability in discharging janitorial duties in a clean and safe condition.
•  Demonstrate knowledge of sanitary standards and materials.
•  Limited to adherence to cleaning and sanitation standards, and reporting maintenance needs.
•  Handle personal per diem.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Administrative Assistant (First Supervisor) and Station Administrative Coordinator (Second Supervisor) 

Overall purpose of the job

The Postdoctoral Fellow will manage research activities within the group and assist in overseeing and VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (Ref. No. IRS/ 605/022024) designing advanced experiments. He/she will work directly with the Principal Investigator and play a leading role in developing a research program to advance the use of microbial symbionts for the control of vector-borne diseases. This includes overseeing the workflow and productivity of lab personnel and providing training to them on specific techniques as necessary. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be responsible for data analysis, preparation of manuscripts, and presenting research findings through various forums. He/she must demonstrate the ability to analyze and present data in a professional format and to be able to independently prepare manuscripts, reports, and applications for approvals (research, import/export) as well as contribute to grant writing. The Postdoctoral Fellow will also contribute to developing protocols for long-term Microsporidia MB colony infection maintenance. In addition, the Postdoctoral Fellow will oversee the quality control processes of mass Microsporidia MB production and spreading potential in nature which include controlling the effects of biotic and abiotic rearing conditions, mosquito behavioral patterns, and its efficacy as an integrated vector control tool.

Specific duties
The successful candidate is expected to:

•  To determine the conditions required (larval environment parameters, rates of infection, mating patterns, blood feeding patterns) for the long-term maintenance of a Microsporidia MB infected mosquito colony.
•  To establish long-term Microsporidia MB infected colonies and optimize the rearing protocol.
•  To develop efficient quality control processes for Microsporidia mass production.
•  To measure the vectorial capacity of Microsporidia infected mosquito populations in realistic settings (e.g. in the presence of vector control tools based on insecticide, lifelong assessment on mosquito blood feeding performance and feeding mechanisms in both cage and screen house releases following nutritional stress and larval competition).
•  To measure the malaria competence of Microsporidia-infected mosquito populations considering parameters such as blood volume, transgenerational plasticity, and insecticide resistance status.
•  To identify environmental factors involved in Microsporidia MB transmission and work with the Data Management Unit to develop experimental data repository and template data entry spreadsheets.
•  To promote and establish long collaborative linkages with national, regional, and international institutions in the relevant research fields.
•  To oversee community engagement activities of the SYMBIOVECTOR project.
•  To provide training to lab personnel on specific techniques (behavioural ecology, malaria, and microsporidia infection, life history experiment, insecticide resistance screening, and mosquito colony establishment) as well as to develop and maintain SOPs for these specific techniques.
•  Maintain and where necessary coordinate the distribution of biological resources (e.g. DNA sequence databases, strains, bacteria, etc.)
•  To actively seek and secure external support for the activities, including resources to develop and grow a personal research portfolio.
•  To supervise Masters and PhD students.
•  To write, edit, correct, and review manuscripts, reviews, proposals, or any other scientific document in his field.

Requirements/qualifications

•  PhD in Biology ideally combined with behavioural ecology and entomology.
•  At least 2 years post Ph.D. experience working in a research laboratory with mosquitoes, insect pathogens/symbionts/vector /control.
•  Experience in mosquito colony establishment, ethology, and mosquito control is an advantage.
•  Experience gained in vector control in either a research organization or university.
•  Responsible for the executed activities and outputs, with significant decision-making.
•  High degree of problem-solving, planning, and control.
•  Mentors and trains students and technical staff.
•  In charge of budgets and monitoring.
•  Provide information, and data to other units.
•  At least three peer-reviewed papers submitted per year.
•  Contribute to at least 2 concepts/proposals.
•  Lead in the development of at least 2 concepts/proposals.
•  Contributes to internal and external relations with stakeholders about the scope of their activities.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Senior Scientist, Human Health Theme.

Overall purpose of the job

The Manager, People and Organisation Development (MPOD) reports to the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA). The MPOD leads in the provision of HR services and other applicable services to all the Centre’s staff, applicable hosted staff, visiting scientists, students and consultants. The MPOD implements employee attraction, retention, development and performance management policies and processes. S/he develops and implements programmes and supporting systems for employee relations, staff wellbeing, workforce planning and workload management and ensures equity and diversity. S/he should be an excellent leader, people person, strategic communicator, and relationship builder.

Specific Duties:

•  Supervise leadership of the teams providing HR services.
•  Foster Business Partnerships with functions directly engaged in research for development and those in support thereof.
•  Recruiting international and national staff with the capabilities and competences required for the present and future. Work with research leaders to anticipate future needs and lead the talent pooling, attraction, and selection of staff in research roles, and ensure alignment and improvement of attraction and selection processes.
•  Implement organisation design plans, including preparation and review of job classifications, job descriptions and associated systems. Implement talent management and succession planning initiatives.
•  Lead the learning and development programmes, developing the capabilities and competences of research leaders, as well as research and research support staff, encompassing amongst others, management/supervisory skills and soft skills. Implement skills capacity development programmes, aligned with the Centre’s plans and strategic goals.
•  Develop and implement performance management policies, systems, and tools. Implement recognition and rewards policies.
•  Administer and undertake reviews of salaries, and staff related insurances and other staff benefits, in accordance with policies and guidelines and to ensure equity and value for money.
•  Contribute to the development of policies and guidelines and provide advice on their impact on the Centre. Ensure equitable and consistent interpretation and implementation of staff policies and ensure compliance with relevant requirements while being alive to precedents and approval exceptions.
•  Develop and implement HR information systems to support service delivery and decision making, specifically HR within ERP, staff attraction, staff recruitment, learning & development systems, staff performance management system, and management of consultants’ contracts and other supporting systems.
•  Be the Head of Safeguarding (HoS) and be responsible for overall management of compliance, reporting and training of Safeguarding Focal Persons (SFP) deployed on needs basis at regional offices and/or programmes.
•  Act as a link and offer communication and coordination that facilitates a close working relationship between the Centre and its hosted organizations. Handle various matters of the Centre, by participating in joint arrangements with hosted organizations.

Additional responsibilities

•  Be an authorised signatory of the Centre, and in this regard, authorise transactions as per delegated authority and the sourcing and evaluation of appropriate providers (e.g. for medical & life insurances and training consultants).
•  Expand, develop, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and represent the Centre at various meetings. Attend joint meetings of collaborating institutions and participate in HR related joint processes.
•  Chair the Occupational, Health and Safety Committee (OHSC) and Training Committee (TC) of the Centre and oversee implementation of necessary procedures arising from the two committees. Membership to various Centre committees as designated from time to time.
•  Undertake additional duties requested by supervisor for areas that require her/his support within the Centre’s overall business.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  Advanced University degree (Masters) in relevant field.
•  At least 10 years of experience in the areas of general management, including human resources at international and multicultural setups.
•  Comprehensive knowledge of organizational policies and practices in research organizations is highly desirable.
•  Tact, diplomacy and discretion in dealing with sensitive issues.
•  Capacity to manage, supervise and evaluate the performance of staff.

Other desirable attributes

•  Result-oriented, with ability to work under pressure and independently to meet set goals.
•  Good team worker: Ability to relate with others in mutual support and respect towards common goals and shared vision.
•  Innovation and creativity: Ability to generate new ideas and ways of working to continuously improve existing work processes, practices, and concepts.
•  Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Applications willbe accepted upto 6th FEB 2024.

Overall purpose of the job

•  To provide research and programmatic leadership to the Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Unit.
•  Coordinate and promote the broad field of chemical ecology through an interdisciplinary research approach across icipe’s 4-H Themes and within the framework of One Health.
•  To maintain a portfolio of research that is aligned with icipe’s strategic goals.
•  To undertake research of the highest quality through partnerships, within, nationally, regionally and internationally.
•  To facilitate new initiatives and opportunities in chemical ecology through resource mobilisation.
•  To build capacity through the training of the next generation of globally competitive scientists.
•  To disseminate research findings through high level publications and presentations at scientific/technical meetings.

Specific Duties:

•  Contributes to Centre’s efforts to engage with global stakeholders in research and capacity building.
•  Manages human, fiscal and physical resources of the Unit.
•  Conducts research to develop semiochemical-based management tools for improved food production, animal and human health.
•  Conducts research to promote use of beneficial organisms that conserve biodiversity.
•  Actively seek and secure external support for the activities of the Unit, including resources to develop and grow a personal research portfolio.
•  Enhance scientific productivity of the Unit through mentoring and supervising scientists, postgraduate students, and high-quality publications.
•  Initiate periodic reviews of the performance of the Unit to ensure relevance and quality.
•  Act as a spokesperson and representative of the Unit.
•  Ensure the Unit meets its legal and reporting responsibilities to all stakeholders including national licensing authorities and donors.

Requirements/Qualifications

•  PhD in Chemistry from a reputable university, with a strong background in organic chemistry or related sciences but preferably with expertise in Chemical Ecology plus appropriate or additional education in organic spectroscopy.
•  Ten (10) years’ experience gained at a senior level in either a research organization or university.
•  Track-record in chemical ecology and interdisciplinary research in tropical insect science.

Other desirable attributes

•  Excellent publication track record.
•  Track record of writing successful proposals for large grants.
•  Proven record of managing large resources (both financial and human) in a research environment.
•  Experience in capacity building through supervision and mentorship of MSc and PhD students.
•  Excellent communication skills are mandatory.
•  Track record of exemplary leadership qualities are essential.
•  High degree of organisation, adaptability and prioritisation.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Head of Capacity Building and Integrated Sciences.

Applications willbe accepted upto 15th FEB 2024.