ILRI vacancy: Epidemiologist and Field Team Coordinator

Vacancy Number: EFTC/BECA/3/13
BecA-ILRI Hub
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Base salary from USD 45,000 – 55,000 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 also manages the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub at ILRI, a new 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.

The Position: ILRI seeks to recruit a Scientist to coordinate the next phase of an AusAID funded project that has the goal of improved knowledge-based African swine fever (ASF) disease mitigation in smallholder systems through a combination of better biosecurity, improved farmer awareness of the disease and rapid field-based diagnosis. The role of the Epidemiologist and Field Team Coordinator for CSIRO-AusAID funded project will be to improve understanding of African swine fever epidemiology as a prerequisite for improved disease control. The successful candidate will be involved in completion of the data collection and analysis begun in the first phase of the project, converting the data collected into outcomes relevant to the livelihoods of pig value chains actors in the smallholder sector and promotion of the wider dissemination of improved disease control recommendations more widely within Africa.

 Key responsibilities:

• Coordination and management of fieldwork performed by a multidisciplinary team of East African veterinary department staff, students and technicians;
• Mentor graduate students on specific projects that form components of the research project;
• Lead interactions with senior personnel in the ministries of livestock in Kenya and Uganda;
• Represent ILRI at meetings with international and regional organizations, particularly FAO and AU IBAR to strengthen the project impact pathway;
• Manage sampling of pig pathogens, particularly African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) and collection and storage of associated metadata;
• Oversee operations and management of a BECA-ILRI field laboratory in Busia;
• Perform data analysis in collaboration with CSIRO and other project scientists and students.

Essential Skills and Qualifications will include:

• PhD in Epidemiology or a closely related discipline;
• DVM with a minimum of five years of experience as a practising veterinarian;
• Current valid license to work with livestock in East Africa or willingness to obtain a licence through examination;
• Significant record of publications in refereed journals;
• Demonstrated competency in  sampling and experimental infection of pigs;
• Extensive field work design and practical experience. Relevant field experience in East Africa would be an advantage;
• Fluency in English essential. Knowledge of East African languages will be an added advantage;
• Proven track record of interaction with regional departments of veterinary services and international organisations, including The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations(FAO);
• Familiarity with use of Microsoft Access databases and GIS software;
• Excellent interpersonal and team leadership skills.

Post location: This position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Duration: Initial fixed term contract up to 31 December 2013, with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Position level: Scientist level 1.

Benefits: ILRI offers a competitive international remuneration and benefits package which includes: 15% Pensions Medical insurance for staff and dependents, Life insurance, Education allowance for children, Housing allowance, Relocation Allowance, Annual Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days+public holidays.

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

Applicants:

Applicants should address a cover letter and CV with full list of publications to the Human Resources Office 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. Email your application to eftc-BECA@cgiar.org on or before 24 April 2013. The position title and reference number: EFTC/BECA/3/13 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

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.