ILRI vacancy: greenhouse assistant

Vacancy Number: GA/BECA/01/13
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: two (2) year term renewable

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

ILRI also manages the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub, –the centre for excellence in modern plant and animal biology in Africa.  BecA is an initiative developed within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)/ African Union African Biosciences initiative. It consists of a Hub based on the ILRI campus in Nairobi, Kenya and a network of regional nodes and other affiliated laboratories and organizations throughout the region.  The BecA Hub facilities are world class, including a range of molecular, plant transformation, and genomics laboratories and equipment (e.g. 454 sequencing, Biosafety level 3 laboratory, plant growth facilities).  The Hub hosts and conducts research in crop, microbe and livestock areas where new developments in science offer promise to address previously intractable problems constraining Africa’s development.  Capacity building is a major goal of all activities. The scope covers agriculture and food security and their intersections with human health and nutrition, and the sustainable use of Africa’s natural resources.  Further information is available at http://hub.africabiosciences.org/

Job purpose: In hosting the BecA Hub on a shared research platform, ILRI seeks to recruit a Greenhouse assistant   to assist in the day to day running of the greenhouse and screen house facilities.

Responsibilities

• Plant Care, daily watering of plants in the greenhouse and growth chambers, performing scheduled requested fertilization, observations of plant health and pest and disease incidences;
• Soil and soilless media preparations; including continuous supply of sterilized soil / sand mixtures;
• Transition of tissue culture plants to Plant Growth Facility;
• Monitoring and programming of greenhouse and chamber daily environments;
• Performing crop sprays with pesticides to manage insect, disease and weed pests as needed;
• General greenhouse and screen house hygiene;

Skills and Competencies

• Diploma in horticulture, agronomy or biotechnology;
• 1-2 years relevant  work experience;
• Skills:
• Excellent communication skills;
• Computer literacy in MS  Office;
• Excellent written English

Terms of Appointment

Job level and salary: This position is job Grade 1C, with a starting gross salary of KES 45,019.00  per month. This is exclusive of other benefits provided by ILRI.

Location: The position will be based at the ILRI campus in Nairobi, Kenya.

This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position, whose initial contract will be for a two (2) year term renewable subject to availability of funds and individual performance. Salary and benefits will be in line with those provided within ILRI’s NRS scheme.

How to Apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV combined as one document explaining their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Applications should be submitted online to the Human Resources Director at: http://www.myjobsinkenya.com/ilri_jobs. Closing date for Applications is 1st February, 2013

The position title and reference number REF: GA/BECA/01/2013 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the application letters.  Only applications sent via the job link provided will be considered, and only short listed candidates will be contacted.

To find out more about ILRI and the BecA Hub, visit our websites at http://www.ilri.organd http://hub.africabiosciences.org

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates from African countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply.