Posts
International
Livestock Research Institute
Closing
date: 21 Aug 2013
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.
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.
How to apply:
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.
