Ecosystem Ecologist, Livestock Systems and the Environment

Base salary starting from USD 55,000 per annum depending on skills and experience, with an attractive international benefits package (tax free*).

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to enhance the roles livestock play in pathways out of poverty in developing countries. ILRI is a member of the 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 East, West and southern Africa and South, Southeast and East Asia. www.ilri.org.

CGIAR is a global agricultural research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is carried out by15 research centres that are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations. www.cgiar.org.

The Position: ILRI seeks to recruit an ecosystem ecologist to contribute to its research on Dryland Systems, within its Livestock Systems and Environment Programme. This research will contribute to developing environmentally sound strategies to sustainably increase productivity, reduce vulnerability and increase the resilience of pastoral and agro pastoral livestock-based livelihoods to hazards like weather conditions and climate change, market fluctuations and insecurity. Current research includes options to reduce vulnerability, such as early warning systems which monitor rangeland conditions, and options for diversifying livelihoods through payment for ecosystem services for biological conservation and climate change mitigation.  Much has changed in terms of ecosystem dynamics in rangelands in the last 20 years, and hence new interventions such as livestock insurance and restoration of degraded lands will have unknown ecosystem feedbacks, and ILRI needs the tools to evaluate these. We also work on rangeland and climate impact models, where a sound and up to date understanding of rangeland dynamics is required.  ILRI seeks someone with a systems ecology research background to work within multi-disciplinary teams on these topics.

Responsibilities:

Contribute to the assessments of environmental and ecological impacts of ILRI’s Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) program (www.ilri.org/ibli)
Support collaboration around spectral ‘ground-truthing’ of remotely-sensed data that underpin IBLI contracts with the aim of increasing the precision and value of satellite-based measures of forage availability and quality.
Undertake research on ecosystem services in rangeland systems, including how management practices affect the quality and quantity of these services.
Undertake research on restoration of degraded lands under pastoral and agropastoral systems.
Undertake research on the dynamics of change in rangeland ecology, particularly how changes in mobility and access to key grazing areas and water points are affecting rangelands.
Work with climate and ecosystem modellers on future scenarios for African rangelands.
Support proposal-writing efforts on the above topics.
Requirements:

A PhD in ecology or natural resource management, ideally with some knowledge of combining research on social science and biophysical perspectives.
Knowledge of rangeland ecological research in pastoral/agropastoral systems in developing countries, with a minimum of five years of post-doctoral experience but preferably more (remuneration commensurate with experience).

A systems perspective, especially related to the challenges of sustainability and vulnerability of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods.

Experience with GIS/Remote sensing analysis and natural resource modeling.
Good publications record with strong written and oral communication skills in English and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences.

Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams in developing country environments.
Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.  Extensive travel to other countries and regions will be required.

Position level: The position is Scientist/Research Level 2 dependent on qualifications and experience.

Duration: 3 years with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon individual performance and continued funding.

Benefits: ILRI offers a competitive international and salary and benefits package which includes 15% Pension, Medical insurance, Life insurance and allowances for: Education, Housing, Relocation, Home leave, Annual holiday entitlement of 30 days + public holidays.

*Benefits are tax free subject to compliance with tax regulations of country of citizenship.

Applications: Applicants should provide a cover letter and curriculum vitae: a list of publications and names and addresses (including telephone, fax 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 title and reference number: EE/LSE/07/2013 should 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 21 August 2013.

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

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

Suitably qualified women and citizens of developing countries, with experience of working internationally, are particularly encouraged to apply.

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