Technical Assistant

Vacancy Number:  A/056/14

Department:  Feed and Forages Bioscience

Duration:  Two years

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Technical Assistant who will be a member of the Feed and Forages Bioscience Program in Addis Ababa.

General: The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with other offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China). 

Responsibilities:

The Technical Assistant participates and assists in forage seed regeneration activities including:

• Maintains forage plots weed free and labeled and harvest seeds;
• Records field observation and characterization data and prepares update sheets;
• Takes herbarium specimens;
• Monitors plants for pests and diseases in greenhouses and field and takes remedial action;
• Supervises daily labour for field activities;
• Waters and takes care of plants in greenhouses and screen houses;
• Assists with pre-germination, planting and maintaining forage seedlings in the screen house;
• Assists with plant sampling and processing for germplasm health activities;
• Assists in seed processing and packing;
• Keeps the field, greenhouse and screenhouse areas clean and tidy;
• Assists in general implementation of forage research activities at the site.Measurable goals:After training the technical assistant should be able to handle all field, screenhouse and greenhouse activities following standard operation procedures.

Skills Required:

• Basic knowledge of plant propagation or seed production
• Good communication skills in English
• Good interpersonal relationships

Personal qualities required 

• Careful
• Accurate
• Reliable and honest
• Punctual

Education:

• 10^th and 12^th grade complete minimum and College Diploma preferred

Experience:

• 5 (Five) years for grade 10^th and 12^th completed or 2 (Two) years practical experience in plant propagation or seed production
• On the job training will be provided

Special requirements:

• The job requires work on weekends with day off during week days.

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Grade: 1C

Minimum Base:          Birr 6,529 (Negotiable, depending on experience, skill and salary history of the candidate)

Terms of appointment:  This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position, initial appointment is fixed term for two years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and the availability of funding. The ILRI remuneration package for nationally recruited staff in Ethiopia includes very competitive salary and benefits such as life and medical insurance, offshore pension plan, etc.

The ILRI campus is set in a secure, attractive campus on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. Dining and sports facilities are located on site.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae; names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to be included in the curriculum vitae. The position and reference number: REF: A/056/14should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the cover letter. All applications to be submitted online on our recruitment portal: http://ilri.simplicant.com/ on or before 27 October 2014.