Project Manager International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Vacancy Number: PM/LIVES/ET/09/11
Department: Livestock and Irrigation Value-Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES)
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration: 3-year term with possibility of renewal

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI is headquartered Kenya, with offices located in other regions of Africa (Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China).

The Livestock and Irrigation Value-Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project is an initiative designed by ILRI, IWMI (the International Water Management Institute) and their Ethiopian partners to enhance income and gender equitable wealth creation for smallholders and other value chain actors through increased and sustained market off-take of high-value livestock and irrigated crop commodities. It will design and implement interventions to improve market orientation of semi-commercial farmers for enhanced competitiveness, sustainability and equity in value chains in four regions of Ethiopia.

ILRI seeks to recruit a senior Project Manager to oversee and lead all aspects of the implementation of the 5 year Livestock and Irrigation Value-Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders project.

Responsibilities

* Oversee the planning and implementation of the LIVES project activities based on linking research outputs and outcomes to development actions for triggering innovation in value chains;

* Instill a process of active monitoring and learning to capture lessons of what is working and what is not, and their implications for improving the development actions and, to support development of a strategy for scaling up and out;

* Inject a business management perspective to guide the development of appropriate services and involvement of the private sector to stimulate and sustain the target value chains

* Develop and implement a strategy of training and mentoring to nurture and build capacity locally to support the interventions and continued development of the value chains;

* Foster effective partnerships through team-building and communication across the national and international project partners including stakeholders, agribusiness, researchers, policy makers;

* Support and manage technical and administrative staff to operate effectively as a team;

* Develop and implement a communication strategy for disseminating results and lessons from the project

Qualifications and experience

* The successful candidate should be an agriculturalist or livestock development practitioner with a broad range of technical and managerial skills and experience, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa;

* Advanced degree in livestock or agriculture;

* 10+ years experience in integrated rural or small business development activities, especially as it relates to the design, implementation and communication of applied research

* Understanding of the rural and small enterprise innovation processes;

* Proven skills in project management, team building and developing partnerships with national and international R&D actors and private sector;

* Proven ability to work in and facilitate a multi-institutional environment;

* Work experience in Ethiopia and an understanding of the CGIAR is desirable.

Post location: Initial appointment is for three years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The position will be based at ILRI-Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Position level: The position is Scientist/Research Level 3, dependent on qualifications and experience.

Benefits: ILRI offers a competitive international benefit package. * Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship. Benefits include: 15% pension contribution s Life insurance s International medical cover for staff and dependentss Education allowance for dependent children s Housing allowance sRelocation allowance s Annual home leave travel allowance s Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + 11 public holidays.

Applicants should send a cover letter explaining their interest, what they can bring to the job and indicating earliest availability. They should also send curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to email: ilri-project manager@cgiar.org by 15 October 2011.

The position reference number ‘PM/LIVES/ET/09/11’ must be clearly indicated in the email subject line.

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer. Suitably qualified women and developing country citizens are particularly encouraged to apply.