ILRI Vacancy: Program Leader – People, Policies and Institutions (Closing date: 16 November, 2024)

Are you passionate about driving cutting-edge research and shaping the future of innovation? ILRI’s Research and Innovation Directorate, People, Policies and Institutions program is seeking a dynamic and driven leader to spearhead cutting-edge research, inspire a dynamic team, and drive transformative innovations. The Program Leader shall provide leadership and management by developing evolving and expanding portfolio of research.

ILRI works to improve food security and nutrition and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe, and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 11 CGIAR research centers dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, ILRI has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. www.ilri.org

About the People, Policies and Institutions program

This program exists to improve and strengthen policy and institutional environments and support investment in livestock value chains for sustainable, resilient and equitable livestock systems. The program created a Policy, Investment and Advocacy Hub to provide evidence and options to support policy making and investment at sub-national, national, regional and global levels. It focuses on market system approaches for delivery of innovations, safe and affordable animal source foods and develops tested bundles of technological and institutional innovations towards scale. Another area of focus is gender, equity, diversity and inclusion in livestock systems.

Responsibilities

Science and Program Leadership

• Provide scientific and strategic leadership of the program and develop the program strategy in line with ILRI’s Strategy and CGIAR Research Programs strategies.
• Lead complex research and provide outstanding technical expertise as well as innovative and creative science
• Stay up to date on scientific and technological advances, supervise research and analysis across a range of disciplines, topics, and fields to inform the development of new schemes/products and initiatives to be designed and managed within his/her program
• Lead the collaboration and partnership efforts of the program and support teams to network and obtain positive results in partnerships with national, regional, and international institutions in research, extension, development, and public, private, and civil society
• Ably represent ILRI in various local and international forums, meetings, and visits, which require liaison, collaborations, and negotiations with current and potential partners, which include institutions, funders, government agencies, science advocacy groups, local and global meetings, other CGIAR centers, etc.
• Lead and oversee resource mobilization efforts to support research and capacity development in line with the program and ILRI strategies. Lead development of proposals to raise resources to support new research addressing the program’s target outcomes. Coordinate budget preparation and its execution
• Lead and facilitate the wide publication, dissemination, and communication of research findings

Team Leadership

• Lead a group of (senior) scientists, as well as post-docs and graduate students, support staff, and administrators, and create a culture of collaboration and transparent communication
• Responsible for the implementation of all programmatic and platform activities, ensuring that performance schedules are observed and outputs are completed and delivered according to expectations and within budget.
• Provide regular reports to the Institutional Leadership Team (ILT) and ILRI board in line with the business’s Critical Success Factors to facilitate analysis and reporting of programmatic performance against plans and budgets, as well as strategic objectives
• Lead and manage the Program team, maximizing effectiveness and efficiency by ensuring the implementation of work plans and program strategy, ensuring adequate staffing levels. Ensure adequate staff training, development, performance management, and routine supervision to maximize efficient productivity
• Provide technical expertise to the team, motivate and coach the team towards delivery of set goals and objectives
• Foster a performance culture to encourage learning, innovation, and continuous improvement; ensure appropriate training and capacity-building activities for program staff members to support high quality programs implementation
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agribusiness or other Social Science with application to agriculture or rural development or related fields of science and innovation expertise
• Minimum of 12 years’ experience post PhD; working in public or private sector research management at senior level
• A significant track record in research, grant writing and reviewing and fundraising
• Sound experience in research capacity strengthening
• Knowledge and thorough understanding of science, innovation and program design and planning
• Proven experience in successfully developing, leading, and supervising complex initiatives and high performing teams
• Proven ability to develop and manage program / platform budgets and timelines
• Proven experience in building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, networking, partnership building and relationship management at a senior level

Desirable:

• A good understanding of current international, national and pan-African issues in research priorities and pan-African agenda and how they can be addressed through best metrics of accountable management
• Sound knowledge of research processes in a similar environment – nationally and internationally

Post location: The position is based at ILRI’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Extensive travel to other countries and regions will be required.