ILRI Vacancy: Diagnostics Platform Manager

Vacancy Number: DPM/BECA/03/14
Department: BecA
Duration: 2 years

ILRI seeks to recruit a Diagnostics Platform Manager. This is a new position and the focus will be on establishing a platform for the development, validation and application of molecular diagnostics tools with a focus on animal and plant viruses that create major constraints in African agriculture. This is a nationally recruited staff position reporting to the Technology Manager of the BecA-ILRI Hub. The successful candidate will lead technology applications and have considerable experience working the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) on research and technology projects in east and central Africa.

ILRI works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (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 West and southern Africa and South and Southeast Asia.www.ilri.org.

The Centre’s headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya, and research is conducted in 31 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and receive funding from over 50 different donors.

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. http://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/

Responsibilities

•          Contribute to the establishment of a diagnostics platform for the detection of crops and animal diseases;
•          Conduct advanced molecular biology experiments focusing on the detection and quantification of animal and crops pathogens;
•          Perform detailed data analysis and interpretation;
•          Manage sample collections and repository for the all diagnostics activities;
•          Manage the acquisition and/or preparation of all reagents as part of the resources available for use in the platform;
•          Establish and curate databases containing overall project data and all available resources;
•          Ensure that laboratory facilities are well-stocked and resourced, including ordering and managing laboratory supplies;
•          Ensure observation of good laboratory practice including drafting risk assessments and monitoring of platform users’ activities;
•          Manages and organizes laboratory projects;
•          Ensure good laboratory practices including proper maintenance of laboratory equipment and proper documentation of all procedures and data
•          Create and update standard operating procedures (SOPs);
•          Carry out routine tasks using established SOPs the detection of plant and animal pathogens
•          Responsible for organizing and maintaining laboratory and platform inventory;
•          Contribute to capacity building at the BecA hub or at the NARS by training and supervising partners on the application of the assays developed on the diagnostics platform, for use in their research under the BecA initiative (visiting scientists, students and other BecA-ILRI hub users).
•          Keep up to date with technical developments, especially simple, cost-effective and robust diagnostic assays for rapid screening of plant and animal pathogens;
•          Conduct induction and periodical training of laboratory members and partners in country and possibly overseas;
•          Coordinate permit acquisition with the institute’s health and safety office;
•          Serve as liaison with other platforms and users;
•          Contribute to resource mobilization efforts of BecA-ILRI hub;
•          Contribute in writing peer reviewed articles.

Requirements

•          MSc degree in biological sciences or related field
•          At least ten years’ relevant experience in leading technology applications, laboratory management and operating a research service unit
•          Experience working with NARS on research and technology projects
•          Knowledge of next-generation sequencing strategies and methods with experience working with molecular diagnostics of plant or animal diseases
•          Experience and understanding of the following areas is required:

o    molecular biology methods and research

o    genomics tools and their applications to address a wide range of issues

o    acquisition and dissemination of novel molecular tools and technologies;

o    bioinformatics;

•          Ability to adapt new technology and methods to enhance program effectiveness;
•          Knowledge of quality assurance and laboratory health and safety procedures;
•          Ability to organize and coordinate technical activities of a research platform;
•          Excellent people and organisational skills
•          Strong English language skills, both written and spoken;
•          Computer literacy in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is essential;

Terms of appointment:

This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) positions based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is for a 2 years’ contract period.

Job level and salary:

An attractive salary and benefits package is on offer for the candidate meeting all requirements. In addition to salary, ILRI offers Medical insurance for staff and dependents, Life insurance, Pension at 12.5% employers contribution, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+ public holidays within ILRI’s National Recruited Staff Scheme.

How to apply:

Applicants should send a cover letter and CV 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 to the Human Resources Officer through: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ before 9 April 2014. The position title and reference number REF:DPM/BECA/03/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application.

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

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