Program Assistant Officer

Department: Bio-Innovate

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 2-year term with possibility of renewal

Bio-resource Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) seeks to recruit a highly competent and dynamic Program Assistant Officer.

Bio-Innovate is a new multidisciplinary competitive funding mechanism for biosciences and product orientated innovation activities in Eastern Africa, supported by a grant of SEK 80m (USD 10.7m) from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The Program builds on previous investments, achievements and experiences from the Sida-supported BIO-EARN Program and other regional initiatives.

Bio-Innovate will work closely with the African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) in strengthening regional collaboration in science and technology to enable the continent to adapt the rapid advances and promises of modern biosciences.

Bio-Innovate will focus on delivering new products through bioscience innovation systems involving a broad range of actors, including scientists, private sector, policy makers, NGOs and other practitioners.

It will use modern biosciences to improve agriculture and conserve the environment through improving crop productivity and resilience to climate change in small-scale farming systems; improving the efficiency of the agro-processing industry to add value to local bio-resources.

The program will also develop sound policies for commercializing products from biosciences research; and investigate innovative delivery systems.

Bio-Innovate will be managed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). It will be co-located on ILRI’s Nairobi campus with the BecA ILRI Hub, a biosciences research platform that is part of AU/NEPAD’s Africa Biosciences Initiative.

The BioInnovate Program Assistant will be part of a small Program Management Team and will in particular involve in ensuring that adequate program projects, financial and administrative systems are established and maintained.

He/she will be responsible for providing technical backstopping to the overall Program management. The BioInnovate Program Assistant will report to the BioInnovate Program Manager.

This position will be based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Headquarters in Nairobi but it may require frequent travel throughout the Eastern Africa region.

Responsibilities

A suitable candidate is expected to have the following qualifications and experience

* Provide administrative backstopping to the overall Program management;
* Support in organizing BioInnovate events, such as technical workshops, meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee, and annual technical meetings with research for development partners;
* Assist in developing and maintaining a filing system and data base for managing BioInnovate Program documentation, including concept notes, project proposals, project agreements, etc;
* Manage the data archive for the Bio-Innovate program;
* Establish and maintain a key contacts data base and email list server, including all Principal Investigators, Project team members, and other stakeholders
* Support in establishing and keeping up to date a resource mobilization list of key contacts;
* Assist the Program Manager in the preparation of competitive Calls for Concept notes and managing of the review process, full proposal development, approval and contractual arrangements;
* Assist the Program Manager in the monitoring and evaluation of BioInnovate Projects, including monitoring of milestones and in the preparation of regular technical and financial reports;
* Help select and source stories for a BioInnovate E-News, which will be a primary communications vehicle for the BioInnovate Management Office to communicate with all its stakeholders;
* Work with principal investigators of the BioInnovate Projects in six countries of eastern Africa in sourcing stories about their work for the BioInnovate website and E newsletter, ensuring the accuracy of the science as well as the liveliness of the news and pictorial interest;
* Provide support to BioInnovate Project principal investigators and their research and development teams on generating appropriate communications materials to reflect the work of the BioInnovate Program and its partners;
* Manage public awareness events with the media, linked with events such as the launch of the BioInnovate program and the annual technical meeting, amongst others;
* Assist in the BioInnovate Administration and Financial Officer in maintaining valid and accurate records pertaining to funded projects and financial utilization by projects in the Bio-Innovate program thematic areas;
* Provide other administrative and financial support to the Program Manager and the Administration and Finance Officer as requested;
* Manage procurement and logistics services for the Bio-Innovate Management Office;
* Carry out other duties as requested by the BioInnovate Program Manager.

Requirements

* Minimum first degree in the field of biosciences and/or business administration;
* Post graduate training in communications is an asset;
* Minimum 3 years related work experience
* Experience in organizing conferences and meetings;
* Computer skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office and communications tools, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop;
* Excellent communication skills, in written and verbal communications in English, including web based communications; knowledge of other languages an advantage;
* Administrative and financial management skills for project monitoring and program management;
* Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a multicultural environment and team building capability;
* Capacity to take initiative, demonstrate good judgment and work under minimal supervision;
* Multi-tasking skills, with ability to coordinate, prioritize and organize workload, meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Terms of appointment: This is Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at Nairobi headquarters and is on initial 2 year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Job level and salary: This position is job level 2C and starting salary is KES 105,833 per month. This is exclusive of other benefits provided within ILRI’s Nationally Recruited Staff Scheme.

Applicants should send a cover letter expressing their interest (detailed CV, names and contact details (Telephone, E-mail) of three professional referees to e-mail: recruit-ilri-Ken@cgiar.org by 12 October, 2011.

Only shortlisted candidates will contacted.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our website at www.ilri.org

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.