Research Assistant and Project Assistant

icipe—African Insect Science for Food and Health is an intergovernmental organisation funded by government aid agencies, UN organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improving health and agricultural productivity in the tropics.

icipe has approximately 350 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes located at various sites in Kenya and Ethiopia.

icipe wishes to urgently recruit suitable people to fill the positions of Research Assistant and Project Assistant to work in our Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Food Security in Eastern Africa (CHIESA) Project based at Duduville campus, Kasarani, Nairobi.

These are national (local) positions that offer two-year contracts that are renewable.

Competitive compensation packages will be offered to the right candidates. Based in Nairobi, Kenya the appointments will initially be for two years, renewable.

Requirements/Qualifications for the Research Assistant

• Demonstrated skills in scientific work.
• Proficiency in MS Office (or equivalent) software.
• Knowledge and proficiency in writing scientific reports.
• Be organised and possess the ability to multi-task.
• Good interperpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to organise one’s work to respect deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to analyse scientific data.
• Willing to travel between field research sites in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
• Minimum one years’ experience in agricultural, climate change or socio-economic research, including field experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in agricultural or environmental science.
• Assist the Project Coordinator in daily scientific matters.
• Prepare and monitor data collection in the field research sites.
• Develop and prepare technical project reports, work plans and articles.
• Liaise with Project partners and stakeholders on scientific matters.
• Establish and maintain records on the dissemination activities and publications by the Project partners and scientists.
• Work as secretary in project meetings/workshops and seminars.

Requirements/Qualifications for the Project Assistant

• Assist the Project Coordinator in daily administrative and financial matters.
• Prepare and monitor requisitions for project coordination and management.
• Develop and prepare proposals, project reports, workplans and budgets.
• Liaise with project partners and stakeholders on all matters relating to project coordination and management.
• Establish and maintain a good filing system and record keeping.
• Maintain a calendar/diary for the Coordinator for scheduled meetings, seminars and business trips, and act as a representative in the absence of the Coordinator and provide information as appropriate.
• Demonstrate skills in budget management.
• Computer literacy with excellent working knowledge of MS-Word and spreadsheets, and familiarity of using the Internet.
• Knowledge and proficiency in finance/accounting principles.
• Be organised and possess the ability to multi-task.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to organise one’s work to respect deadlines.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to analyse financial data.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, economics or accounting.
• Minimum one years’ experience in accounting, administration and financial reporting.

Applications will be accepted up to 6 August 2011.

Only applications of shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Please send an application including current salary details, and a detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (with daytime telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and fax numbers) to:

icipehr@icipe.org

The Human Resources Department
icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health
P.O. Box 30772-00100
Nairobi
Kenya

icipe is an Equal Opportunity Employer