ILRI Vacancy: Analytical Chemist

Vacancy Number: AC/LSE/03/14
Livestock Systems and Environment
Duration: 2 years

ILRI seeks to recruit an Analytical Chemist to provide support to the research projects of Forests, Trees and Agroforestry and Climate Change, Agroforestry and Food Security on estimation and mitigation of greenhouse gases in forest and forest transitions.

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.

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. 

Responsibilities

• To conduct soil incubation studies to collect data on greenhouse gas emission potential of different soils to support the development of regional greenhouse gas emission inventories;
• To carry out routine tasks such as soil sampling following strict protocols and to prepare soil and plant samples for further analysis;
• To contribute to the development of laboratory protocols for measuring soil quality parameters;
• To demonstrate practical procedures during training courses, to explain work instructions and to adapt general methods and procedures to meet the needs of the projects;
• To operate and maintain standard laboratory equipment such as gas chromatographers, gas supplies, auto samplers, analytical balances, centrifuges and pH meters, spectrophotometers, flame photometers, autoclaves;
• To ensure that laboratory facilities are well-stocked and resourced;
• To prepare chemical reagents and biological media according to formulae; to take responsibility for accuracy in the preparation and standardization of solutions, gases, and samples;
• To record and interpret results to be communicated with colleagues and other project members;
• To be familiar in the use computers to process data for the preparation of graphs (Microsoft Office and a graphic program is a prerequisite);
• To keep up to date with technical developments, especially those which can save time and improve reliability of measurements.

Requirements

• Master of Science degree in Analytical chemistry, Environmental engineering or Physical Chemistry;
• At least 3 years of laboratory experience;
• Knowledge of soil laboratory tests and analyses;
• Knowledge of laboratory terminology and equipment;
• Knowledge of methods of preparing soils, solutions, and media;
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance Procedures.

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:

This position is job level 2D with a starting salary of KES154,917 per month. This is exclusive of other benefits provided 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 Director through: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ before 25 March 2014. The position title and reference number REF: AC/LSE/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/

ILRI is an equal opportunity employe