ILRI analytical chemist : Nairobi, Kenya

Vacancy Number: AC/SLF/10/12
Department: Sustainable Futures Team
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: 2-year contract renewable

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with other offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China).

ILRI will be working on a number of CGIAR Research Programs (CRP) that bring together CGIAR centers and partners from the research, development and private sector communities around the world.

The Position: ILRI seeks to recruit an Analytical Chemist for the Sustainable Futures Team to provide support                   to ILRI research projects on estimation and mitigation of greenhouse gases in smallholder systems .
Responsibilities

• Conduct soil incubation studies to produce reliable and precise data on greenhouse gas emission potential of different soils to support the development of regional greenhouse gas emission inventories;
• Carry out routine tasks such as soil sampling following strict protocols and contributes to the development of laboratory protocols for measuring soil quality parameters; demonstrate practical procedures during training courses, explain work instructions and adapt general methods and procedures to meet the needs of the work area
• Prepare soil and plant samples for further analysis e.g. yield and biomass determination, isotope signals in biomass;
• Construct, maintain and operate standard laboratory equipment such as gas chromatographers, gas supplies, autosamplers, analytical balances, centrifuges and pH meters, spectrophotometers, flame photometers, autoclaves;
• Ensure that laboratory facilities are well-stocked and resourced;
• Prepare chemical reagents and biological media according to formulae; assume responsibility for accuracy in the preparation and standardization of solutions, gases, samples;
• Record and interpret results to be communicated with colleagues and other project members and is familiar in the use computers to process data for the preparation of graphs (Microsoft Office and a graphic program is a prerequisite),
• Keep up to date with technical developments, especially those which can save time and improve reliability of measurements;
• Follow and ensure strict laboratory safety procedures and safety checks.

Requirements

• MSC Degree in analytical chemistry, environmental engineering
• Knowledge of soil laboratory tests and analyses.
• Knowledge of laboratory terminology and equipment.
• Knowledge of methods of preparing soils, solutions, and media
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance Procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively and to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to organize and coordinate technical activities of the work unit.
• Ability to determine work priorities and assign work to other laboratory technicians
• Ability to organize and carry out an assigned program.

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 2D with a starting gross salary of KES 154,917.00. The benefits package includes pension, medical and other insurances within ILRI’s Nationally Recruited Staff Scheme.

Location: The position will be based at the ILRI campus in Nairobi, Kenya with travel to other countries where ILRI works.

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 Send email to ILRI Human Resources:recruit-ilri@cgiar.org
. Closing date for Applications is 17th October 2012.

The position title and reference number REF: AC/SLF /10/12 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email applications.  Only applications sent via email to the indicated address will be considered, and only short listed candidates will be contacted.

To find more about ILRI, visit our Website at www.ilri.org
To find out more about working at ILRI visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/ilricrowd/
ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.