Crop Livestock Systems Scientist

Vacancy Number: LSS/IS/05/2013
Livestock Systems and the Environment
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal

Base salary dependent on experience – starting from USD 65,000 -75,000 per annum depending on skills and experience, with an attractive international benefits package (tax free*).

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the CGIAR Consortium, a global research partnership of 15 centres working with many partners for a food-secure future. 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 by 15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

ILRI seeks to recruit an experienced scientist to broaden our capacity to address issues related to the integrated assessment of biophysical, social and economic trade-offs that livestock keepers face in response to changing landscapes, climate, market conditions and others. The position will complement the biophysical and modelling skills present in the institute and will be especially concerned with aspects related to the consequences of, and adaptation to, global change by smallholders and pastoral groups in the developing world.

The successful candidate will be part of Livestock Systems and the Environment, a team that focuses on targeting options and investment opportunities for improving the sustainability of livestock systems and its contribution to pro-poor livelihoods as the demand for animal products increases. The candidate will provide leadership in assessing the household level impacts of potential livelihood strategies as agro-ecological systems change.

Responsibilities:

Working in collaboration with agro-ecological systems and spatial analysts, global change modellers, NRM scientists, geographers and agricultural economists the successful candidate will:

• Lead the development of knowledge on the impacts of climate change on household livelihood strategies and the adaptability of crop-livestock and pastoral systems
• Integrate field studies, experimental work, household-level studies with other modelling efforts at higher scales to upscale the impacts of promising interventions (technologies and policies) on smallholder’s incomes and food security.
• Develop empirical knowledge on opportunities and ways to sustainably intensify mixed crop-livestock systems
• Develop knowledge on ways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from livestock systems
• The scientist is expected to lead projects and teams when required, and to ensure the timely and adequate delivery of project outputs.
• The scientist will be expected to engage in mobilizing resources to support research and contributing to capacity building and communication of research findings.
• The scientist is expected to write high quality scientific papers and others

Requirements:

• A PhD in agro-ecological systems analysis, natural resource management or livestock science with a focus on smallholder crop-livestock and pastoral systems in the developing world.
• 5 years post-doc experience and proven experience working with multidisciplinary research teams.
• Proven modeling skills and their applications to developing country smallholder systems. Good knowledge of a wide range of agricultural systems modeling techniques.
• Excellent knowledge and fieldwork experience in livestock and crop-livestock systems in the developing world.
• Proven skills to lead and manage teams and to obtain positive results from working in diverse partnerships with national, regional and international institutions in research, extension, development and in public, private and civil society.
• Proven ability to think of, and analyze, empirical data across temporal and spatial scales.
• Proven ability to write high quality scientific papers and other documents.
• Experience in analysing spatial and temporal data at higher scales is an added advantage.

Position level: The position is senior scientist (Research Level 2 or 3) dependent on qualifications and experience.

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to areas where there are ILRI activities.

Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal contingent upon individual performance and funding.

Terms of appointment: ILRI offers a competitive international and salary and benefits package which includes 15% Pension – Medical insurance – Life insurance –and allowances for: – Education – Housing – Relocation – Home leave – Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays.

*Benefits and salary are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications and the names and addresses (including telephone, fax and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Applications should be sent to the Human Resources Office by email: ilri-IS-Livestocksystems@cgiar.org. The position title and reference number: REF: IS/LSS/05/2013should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the online application.

Closing date: The position will remain open until 24 June 2013.

To find out more about ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org

To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

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