Manager Jobs in Kenya at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

Job Title: Manager, Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) Screening Facility, CIMMYT

Employer: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center - CIMMYT

Duty Station: Naivasha, Kenya  

Application Deadline: 15th Nov 2013

The Organization

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT, is a not-for-profit research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries, and through offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Through strong science and effective partnerships, we create, share, and use knowledge and agricultural technologies to increase food security, improve the productivity and profitability of farming systems, and sustain natural resources in developing countries.

We participate in an extensive global network of people and organizations who share similar research and development goals, including the public and private sector, non-governmental and civil society organizations, farmers, and the development assistance community.

The Position

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the MLN Project Leader, to effectively manage the CIMMYT-KARI MLN Screening Facility (including research farm and other facilities) located at KARl-Naivasha Center, and actively support implementation of experiments on screening maize germplasm using optimized disease screening procedures (under artificial inoculation) for resistance to the maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease.

Responsibilities:

• Maintenance and management of the MLN Screening Facility’s physical assets (both fixed and movable), including lab-cum-office complex, fencing, greenhouses / screenhouses, borehole, irrigation and drainage system, and equipment to ensure proper functionality, safety and security.
• Effectively maintain the quarantine status of the MLN Screening Facility and ensure that all staff and labourers strictly adhere to established protocol.
• Oversee any future developments at the Facility.
• Manage the technical and general labour force working in the Facility, including lab, office, screenhouses and field.
• Assist the scientists in the design and execution of work related to generation of artificial inoculum, and other relevant experiments in the MLN Greenhouses and the Research Farm.
• Ensure proper management of trials (field / screenhouse) in the Facility.
• Actively assist in collection, curation and management of data from the field, greenhouse and laboratory experiments.
• Implementation and strict compliance of Operational Health, Safety & Environmental policies, and adherence to CIMMYT code of ethics and core values.
• Any other duties as assigned by the MLN Project Leader or by the Director, CIMMYT Global Maize Program.

Essential Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Plant Breeding/Plant Pathology or related field or its equivalent.
• At least five years’ experience in farm management in a government or private sector farm
• Demonstrated experience in managing lab or field facilities will be an advantage.
• Strong experience in a field crop research program
• Experience in the use of appropriate software for data and pedigree management
• Experience in working on maize, especially for breeding for biotic stress resistance, will be an advantage.
• Practical experience in working with field experimental design and layout.
• Practical experience in regulatory or management in quarantine or biosafety facilities will be an advantage.

Terms of Offer

The World Agroforestry Centre is an equal opportunity employer and offers a collegial and gender-sensitive working environment.

We believe that staff diversity promotes excellence and strongly encourage applications from qualified women.

This position is on local terms and will be for an initial period of three (3) years renewable, subject to six (6) months’ probation period, assessment of performance, continued relevance of the position and availability of resources.

The position will be based at the CIMMYT/KARI MLN Screening Facility in Naivasha.

How to Apply

Please combine into one document the following:
A cover letter illustrating your suitability for the position against the listed requirements and salary expectations;
A detailed curriculum vitae;
The names and addresses of three referees, including telephone, fax numbers and email addresses;
A copy of driving licence.
Go to http://worldagroforestry.org/working-for-icraf/vacancies


Please note that only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry Centre by accessing our web sites www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org