Research Technician

Vacancy Number: RT/AB/03/14
Department: Animal Biosciences
Duration: 2 years

ILRI seeks to recruit two Research Technicians to support research within the Urban Zoo suite of projects. He/ She will provide support for the investigation of the livestock value chains operating in the urban and peri-urban areas of

Nairobi, and will assist in exploring the risk of zoonosis emergence within those chains.

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. www.cgiar.org.

Responsibilities

• To provide support on the study and questionnaire design aimed at investigating livestock value chains in Nairobi and the zoonosis risks;
• To conduct interviews and focus groups with the different stakeholders in Nairobi;
• To collect biological samples in the different nodes of the livestock value chains, under the guidance of senior project staff;
• To assist with data analysis in order to describe the livestock value chains and the zoonosis risks;
• To help on the writing of project reports;
• To maintain relationships with different multi-disciplinary teams of the Urban Zoo project in order to link the value chain analysis with the other on-going studies;
• To organise seminars with the different stakeholders;
• Maintain a professional attitude at all times, especially with respect to confidentiality.

Requirements

• College Diploma in Animal Health;
• At least 2 years experience in a related role;
• An understanding of livestock value chain studies;
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment;
• Experience in conducting interviews and focus groups in the livestock sector in Nairobi;
• Experience in conducting focus groups and individual interviews with different stakeholders;
• Experience with data entry in electronic databases.

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 2A with a starting salary of KES71, 479 per month.  The benefits package includes pension, medical and other insurances for ILRI’s Nationally Recruited Staff.

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  31 March 2014. The position title and reference number REF:RT/AB/03/14 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application.