Senior Animal Health Officer, Nairobi

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

SENIOR ANIMAL HEALTH OFFICER

The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa's rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African states as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located at Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

In seeking to achieve this objective, the African Union intends to achieve strengthen its capacity to deliver by, amongst others, the implementation of a new organizational structure and the filling of the vacant post of Senior Animal Health Officer in the Directorate for Administration and Human Resource Development.

The Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialised technical office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR's mandate is to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union (AU).

The Commission of the African Union invites applicants who are citizens of Member States for a position at the Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources, Nairobi/Kenya.

Post Job Title: Senior Animal Health Officer

Grade: P3

Supervisor: Director AU/IBAR Duty Station: AU/IBAR Nairobi, Kenya

Department: Director AU/IBAR HRM

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the institution in the domain of animal health
• Provide strategic and technical guidance to member countries and RECs in the area of animal health and control of animal diseases in particular
• Monitor general sectoral issues related to livestock health and propose an approach for their integration in the cooperation programmes to be negotiated with international partners;
• Coordinate programmes for the control of animal diseases in Africa, at national, regional and continental level;
• Maintain a continental network of public and private actors involved in animal health issues and assist the countries of Africa to work together to address issues of animal health, with a focus on epidemic diseases;
• Promote regional mechanisms for control of animal diseases and zoonoses, and quality control of importation and use of veterinary;
• Maintain, strengthen and diversify partnerships with international organizations, technical partners in the animal health area
• Maintain and strengthen the laboratory diagnostic network in Africa to efficiently address the main important diseases as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases,
• Assist the Director in the preparation of AU-IBAR's work plans and reports;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisors.

Qualifications

• Veterinary University Degree and Postgraduate degree (Masters), preferably, in Veterinary and/or Animal Health with a strong background of Veterinary Epidemiology. A PhD will be an added advantage.

Professional Experience Required

• At least 7 years related experience in research or government institutions or international organizations dealing with animal health.
• At least 5 years' experience in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of animal health programmes, identifying stakeholders' capacity gaps in animal health and formulating and implementing capacity building strategies.
• A minimum of 3 years in senior management position.
• Experience in an international work environment is highly desirable

Other Relevant Skills

Professionalism

• Proven expertise in animal production science, policy formulation and advocacy related to animal production and sustainable development;
• demonstrated in-depth technical knowledge and proven analytical skills on issues related to animal production and sustainable development;

Leadership

• Ability to lead and coordinate a team of professionals from diverse origins and backgrounds

Planning and organising

• Proven ability to plan and organise work within a project; ability to make timely decisions;

Communication

• Effective written, oral and presentation skills, particularly ability to present information in a concise and accurate manner; ability to develop consensus among people with varying points of view.

Teamwork

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively across organisational boundaries;
• ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity.

Judgement/Decision-making

• Good judgement and initiative, imagination and resourcefulness, energy and tact, ability to ensure an effective work structure to maximise productivity and achieve Unit's goals.
• Well-developed computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet applications and use of the Internet are required.

Language Requirement

• Proficiency in one of the African Union working languages.
• Proficiency of two or more of the other working language(s) would be an added value.

Tenure of Appointment

The appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract shall be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Least Representative Countries

Candidates from the following least represented countries are encouraged to apply: Eretria, Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Madagascar, Namibia, Sahrawi Arab Republic, SaoTome and Principe, Seychelles and Somalia.

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. 10. Remuneration Indicative basic salary of US$ 35,300.00 (P3 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements-e.g.Post adjustment(42% of basic salary), Housing allowance($1 7,222.40per annum), education allowance (75% of tuition and other education related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$7,800.00 per child per annum), etc. for internationally recruited staff of the Commission.

Applications must be made through the AUC E-recruitment Website http://www.aucareers.org not later than 29 th June 2014. Directorate of Administration and Human Resource Management African Union Commission