Programme Assistant-CCAFS-EA

Vacancy Number: PA-EA/CCAFS/06/13
CCAFS
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 2 years with the possibility of renewal

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI has two main campuses in East Africa and other hubs in East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. http://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. http://www.cgiar.org/.

Overall purpose of the job

 The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is a 10-year research initiative of the CGIAR and Future Earth. CCAFS seeks to overcome the threats to agriculture and food security in a changing climate, exploring new ways of helping vulnerable rural communities adjust to global changes in climate.

Under the supervision of the Program Management Officer (PMO), this position exists to provide administrative, program management and logistical support to CCAFS East Africa programme, hosted at ILRI.

 Key responsibilities 

• Support program documentation – maintain a filing system and data bases for project concept notes and proposals, consultancy and institutional contracts, invoices and payment requests among others.
• Assist the PMO in reviewing CCAFS East Africa expenditure listings and following up with finance on disbursement of funds to partners.
• Organize conferences, workshops, science write shops, internal and external meetings, program annual retreat and quarterly meetings, and other events as required.
• Assist in preparing and managing consultancy contracts.
• Support the Communications Officer in maintaining program calendar on CCAFS Intranet and compiling input for CCAFS monthly internal knowledge sharing.
• Provide administrative support to the program team – preparing of TAs and TERs, visa appointments, flight bookings, and maintaining the calendar and travel schedule of the Regional Program Leader.
• Update and maintain a database of key CCAFS East Africa partners, including their mailing, telephone and email addresses.
• Assist in managing procurement, vehicle bookings with transport department, and liaise with other ILRI service units.
• Respond to routine correspondence, handling e-mail and telephone communication, requests and enquiries.
• Supervise office assistant and other temporary administrative staff.

Requirements

• First Degree in a relevant field. Possession of basic accounting skills is an added advantage.
• 3 years’ experience working in an administrative support role with progressive responsibility. Experience working in a research institution an added advantage.
• Considerable experience with all MS Office packages
• Experience in updating databases for monitoring purposes.  
• General office administration skills
• Good communications skills
• Experience working  in a multicultural environment
• A strong team player

 Terms of appointment

This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is open to Kenyan nationals only.  The position is on a 2-year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

 Job level and salary

This position is job level 2C with an attractive salary and benefits package.  

 Applications

Applicants should send a cover letter and CV combined as one document 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. Applications should be submitted online to the Human Resources Director at our recruitment portal:http://ilri.simplicant.com/job/board on or before 3 July 2013.

 Please apply for only one of the Programme Assistant position at CCAFS that you qualify for. The position title and reference number “Programme Assistant-CCAFS-EA: “PA-EA/CCAFS/06/13” should be clearly marked on the online applications. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

 To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/

To read more about CCAFS, visit http://www.ccafs.org/ 

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.