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Vacancy Announcement: Mechanic / Driver, ITOC Mbita
Ref. No. NRS/87/122014
icipe – African Insect Science for Food and Health is a world-class research centre with a mission to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world through the application of insect sciences.
Employing more than 450 national and international staff, icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia and on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya.
icipe has a proud reputation and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial contributions to African food and health policy, delivered development outcomes to rural communities and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s biological research capacity.
The Centre’s research activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research organsiations not only across Africa but also the globe.
icipe wishes to urgently recruit a suitable person to fill the position of Mechanic / Driver in the Finance & Administration Department, Workshop Section.
The position is tenable at the icipe Thomas Odhiambo Campus (ITOC) in Mbita, Kenya.
This is a national position and applications are invited from qualified Kenyans only.
The appointment will be for two years, with a possibility of extension after successfully completing a six-month probation period of the first contract.
A competitive compensation package will be offered to the right candidate.
Overall purpose
- Service, repair and perform maintenance of icipe vehicles, tractors, motorcycles, boat, lawn mowers, farm machinery, and other equipment.
- Handle breakdown and recovery services for icipe vehicles.
- Inspection of departmental vehicles.
- Perform scheduled service, repair and maintenance of the mechanical components of generators and water pumps.
- Supervise mechanic students on attachment.
Specific duties include:
- Ensuring that all icipe vehicles, motorcycles and tractors are serviced as scheduled and to report any anomaly promptly;
- Inspecting, testing, diagnosis and repair of mechanical and electrical defects, including belts, hoses, steering system, spark plugs, fuel system, and so on;
- Disassembling units and inspecting parts for wear and tear using appropriate tools such as micrometers, callipers and gauges;
- Performing preventive maintenance (such as engine tune-ups, oil changes, tyre rotation changes and adjustment, realigning and adjusting brakes, wheel balancing, checking wheel bearings, replacing filters) by following a checklist;
- Performing periodic maintenance and repairs or replacements (such as gears, bearings, valves, lights, leaks, shock absorbers, engine overhaul);
- Ensuring that generators are serviced as scheduled and to report any anomaly promptly;
- Ensuring that vehicles are taken for mandatory inspection when due;
- Maintaining vehicle records of service and repairs;
- Conducting test drives to verify vehicle serviceability and adjusting controls and systems to meet manufacturers’ performance specifications;
- Enhancing vehicle appearance by cleaning and washing;
- Reviewing work orders and discussing work with supervisor.
Other duties include:
- Operating, repairing, servicing, and maintenance of generators, water pumps, speed boat, compressors and varied kinds of machines;
- Accident rescue and towing services for icipe vehicles when called upon;
- Driving icipe vehicles when called upon to do so;
- Maintaining vehicle work ticket as required and to seek authorisation of vehicle movement;
- Assisting in keeping daily records of fuel in storage tank;
- Assisting in receiving fuel from suppliers during delivery;
- Assisting in receiving and keeping records of fuel usage and balances;
- Assisting in training of students on industrial attachment.
Knowledge and skills
- Motor vehicle and power plant mechanics.
- Troubleshooting techniques.
- Working with manuals as well as computerised diagnostic devices.
- Occupational hazards and safety precautions, practices and procedures of the welding trade and workshop.
- Ability to use various types of hand and power tools used in mechanics.
- Motor vehicle driving skills.
- Ability to respond to an emergency.
- Accurate record keeping skills.
- Fire fighting and first aid skills.
- Must be computer literate, and be familiar with data entry using MS Word, and must also be fluent in communication via e-mail.
Requirements/Qualifications
- Possess a mean grade ‘D’ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), or equivalent level of education.
- At least 5 years’ hands-on experience in a busy automotive workshop/garage.
- Trade Test Certificate in Automotive Mechanics.
- Accident-free motor vehicles driving licence class “B, C and E”.
- Familiarity with the geography (road network) of the western region of Kenya will be an added advantage.
Other desirable attributes
- Excellent interpersonal, time management and organisational skills.
Reporting: This position reports to the ITOC Station Administrator.The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.How to ApplyThe position is available immediately.
All applications must arrive via email on or before the 20th March 2015.
Please quote the job reference number NRS/87/122014 on the email subject line. Interested applicants should submit:
(a) a confidential cover letter,
(b) detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers), and
(c) a one-page write-up on how you consider yourself suitable for the job, to: MechanicDriverMbita@icipe.org
icipe is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
