ICIPE Director of Research and Partnerships Jobs in Kenya

ICIPE Director of Research and Partnerships Jobs in Kenya

icipe is a pan-African and non-profit Centre of Excellence for research and development and capacity building in insect science and its applications.

Its mission is to help alleviate poverty, ensure food and nutritional security and improve the overall health status of peoples of the tropics by developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful arthropods, while preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building.

Since its establishment in 1970, icipe has
become a significant contributor to science and innovation required to meet the health and food security challenges of sub-Saharan Africa.

The Centre has achieved this status by developing alternative and environmentally friendly pest and vector management technologies and products that are effective, selective, non-polluting, non-resistance inducing, and are affordable to resource-limited rural and urban communities.

icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with offices in Benin, Ethiopia and Uganda, a major
station on the shores of LakeVictoria, and several other field stations in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Employing close to 500 international and national staff, icipe also has approximately 150 graduate students who contribute to its research portfolio annually.

The Centre currently has operations in more than 40 African countries and thriving partnerships with universities and research organizations across the world.

icipe is seeking to appoint an outstanding, dynamic and self-motivated Director of Research and Partnerships.

The position is tenable in Nairobi, Kenya at the icipe Duduville campus.

The position will be offered for an initial contract of three years, renewable, subject to continued project needs, funding for the position, and performance of the staff member.

A competitive and generous compensation package that includes housing and transport allowances, education allowance, comprehensive health
and life insurance cover, and an offshore retirement package (all payable in US Dollars), will be offered to the right candidate.

Furthermore, the incumbent will receive paid annual vacation, return airfare for themselves and their dependents to their nominated home base each year.

If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered some duty-free privileges and support to
relocate to the country and settle in Nairobi, Kenya.

Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.
Living in Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million, hosts all the urban and social amenities, and offers a comfortable, convenient and pleasurable life.

A wide variety of excellent international schools and well-equipped medical facilities are open 24/7 in Nairobi.

The city is also accessible by various reputable international airline carriers.

Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres, as well as several UN agencies.

Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are warm and welcoming of visitors.

Vacancy Announcement
(Ref. No. IRS/507/092022)

Overall Purpose of the Job

Reporting to the Director General (DG), the Director of Research and Partnership (DRP) is one of icipe’s

Key senior managers and acts as the DG in the latter’s absence.

S/he is expected to provide strategic, political and policy analysis and advice on key programmatic and operational issues, proactively drawing attention to growth and risk areas.

Specific Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to:

Develop strategies for and management of icipe’s R&D programmes and advise the Director
General on strategic planning and science governance matters.

Identify innovative pathways for development impact and provide scientific leadership and
planning to implement and monitor a coherent research agenda and research portfolio consistent
with the Centre’s vision and strategy.

Supervise the Centre’s senior scientists, coach direct reports, and promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.

Monitor staff performance and development goals and oversee their professional development.

Take the lead in monitoring the quality and relevance of science at icipe, ensuring that research is innovative and yields publications in high impact journals and leads to concrete outcomes and impact.

Oversee the implementation and management of research projects through the various stages
of the funding cycle from proposal preparation to funding, execution, reporting and closure.

Spearhead discussions on icipe’s key foci of upstream and downstream research and oversee
the implementation of Vision and Strategy that can guide the Centre’s research, capacity building, and resource mobilisation activities.

Work with the Senior Management team to attract world class scientific staff and maintain a stimulating environment for teamwork, scientific interactions, and performance.

Develop and oversee mechanisms for evaluating the potential of research products for intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and/or commercial development and facilitate the
evolution of relevant partnerships with the private sector.

Take the lead in institutional expansion, as well as advocacy and partnership efforts and
cooperation with international, regional and national institutions, including host country
institutions and the private sector.

Contribute to raising the profile of icipe through influencing at regional and global levels and communication through public speaking at seminars, conferences and professional networking.

Represent icipe externally as necessary and position the Centre as a research leader, serve on
committees, and analyse and respond to change.

Contribute significantly to resource mobilisation, including building good donor relations, identifying funding needs and gaps, and supervising the development of project proposals.

Provide strategic guidance and support in governance matters and prepare programme reports
to the icipe Governing Council, donors and various stakeholders of the Centre.

Ensure compliance with Centre policies and procedures, propose upgrades, and develop relevant policies and procedures.

In partnership with the Director of Finance and Administration, strengthen financial and risk
management systems and approaches and provide authorisations of transactions, oversee
budgeting and spending and sign documents on behalf of the Centre.

Requirements/ Qualifications

PhD in Entomology or similar level qualification in related natural sciences.

At least 10 years of experience in areas directly relevant to agricultural/ health/ environmental or related sciences (such as animal or human health), and administrative responsibilities at a senior level.

Excellent scientific credentials, including a substantive history of scientific publication in peer reviewed journals.

Willingness to do extensive travelling to other countries and regions.

Core Competencies

Strong research management skills.

Ability to mobilize resources and foster and manage interdisciplinary and multicultural research teams.

Experience in managing research in organizations going through key transition and restructuring.

Excellent command of the English language, both written and verbal.

Strong oral communication skills, including Microsoft PowerPoint presentation skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills required, including ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels, as well as with colleagues, donors, IGO, NGO, UN Agency personnel and individuals with diversified backgrounds and nationalities.

Reporting

This position reports to the Director General.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted up to 25th October 2022.

Interested applicants should submit:

(a) a confidential cover letter that illustrates suitability against the listed qualifications/ competencies/ abilities,
and skills.

(b) Detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees, including e-mail addresses.

Candidates are required to apply online

For more information and job application details, see: ICIPE Director of Research and Partnerships Jobs in Kenya

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