Vacancies at International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Ranch/Farm Management

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Kapiti Research Station and Wildlife Conservancy, including supporting the Board of Kapiti with strategy development and operational planning aligned with institutional goals.
• Lead budgeting and resource allocation across ranch, conservancy, and team functions.
• Develop and implement annual work plans for the different teams in line with institutional objectives and investment plans.
• Lead the development and implementation of organizational policies, guidelines, and procedures.
• Oversee fundraising for conservation efforts at Kapiti and partner management.
• Oversee all ranch operations and activities ensuring effective and efficient use of financial and other resources including revenue generated from both livestock and farming operations.

Livestock farming and forage production 

• Oversee daily farm activities including feeding, breeding, and health management of livestock.
• Monitor and maintain animal health and well-being of livestock including vaccination, disease management.
• Develop and implement breeding and multiplication program to improve production, productivity and commercialisation.
• Maintain accurate records of farm activities.
• Develop short-term and long-term plans for production and commercialisation of fodder.

ILRI, CGIAR and partners research facilities

• In close coordination with the ILRI and the CGIAR research and development leadership manage and support research projects under implementation at Kapiti.
• Develop and implement a costing for project implementation at Kapiti.

Conservancy Management and community relations

• Lead the implementation and update of the conservation management plan in collaboration with KWS and AKPCA.
• Oversee the development of institutional monitoring systems that track ILRI’s progress in achieving strategic objectives and impact targets for conservation.
• Enhance the marketing and conservancy visibility at the local and national level.
• Represent ILRI and Kapiti in the conservation community in Kenya and East Africa.
• Lead Fundraising efforts to raise funding for the conservation of the AKPCA.
• Develop conservation and tourism plans by utilizing the resources at the Kapiti Ranch and Wildlife Conservancy.
• Undertake capacity building and community relations with neighbours and neighbouring communities.
• Work in close collaboration with national and county governments.
• Raise the funding and resources necessary to provide long-term development support to communities neighbouring Kapiti, focusing on education, animal and human health, agriculture and livestock extension and enterprise development.

Ecotourism and hospitality

• Oversee Kapiti housing and conferencing facility.
• Ensure optimum guest management and collaboration with local communities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree or PhD in veterinary or animal science, conservation, business administration, or relevant field. Relevant professional certification.
• Ten years’ relevant experience with masters’ degree or five years relevant experience with PhD.
• Experience in managing similar research facilities.
• Experience with operating environment of ranches and conservancies in Kenya or East Africa.
• Strong success in leading organizations in the areas of conservation, community/rural development, livestock farming, tourism, fund raising.
• Proven experience implementing and monitoring strategies and establishing long term partnerships.
• Ability to research information and analyse data to arrive at valid conclusions, make recommendations effectively, and execute plans of action within a team dynamic.
• Prior experience working with donor organization in conservation.

go to method of application »

Key Responsibilities

Digital Transformation

•  Strategic Vision & Leadership: Develop and lead ILRI’s digital transformation and data strategy leveraging AI, analytics, and emerging technologies (including Gen AI), ensuring alignment with the 2030 Corporate Strategy and long-term institutional goals.
•  Operational Management & Innovation: Oversee departmental planning, budgeting, and performance management to ensure cost-effective delivery of high-impact data and digital solutions while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
•  Governance & Policy Development: Establish and implement policies, standards, and governance frameworks (including business continuity plans) to ensure secure, efficient, and strategic use of digital technologies across ILRI.
•  Cross-Sector Collaboration: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify digital needs and co-create solutions; build partnerships with CGIAR Centers, academia, industry, and vendors to access shared services, technologies, and innovation pipelines.
•  Talent Development & Change Leadership: Provide strategic leadership in staff development, mentoring, and change management to build a digitally capable workforce and ensure delivery of KPIs and SLAs institutional wide.

Data and Research Systems

•  AI-Enabled Data Strategy: Provide strategic oversight for the collection, management, and analysis of complex research datasets using AI, and advanced analytics to enable evidence-based decision-making and maximize research impact.
•  Data Governance & Compliance: Maintain and enforce robust data governance policies to safeguard integrity, confidentiality, and ethical standards, ensuring compliance with FAIR principles and global regulations (e.g., GDPR) while preparing datasets for AI-readiness.
•  Collaborative Digital Innovation: Partner with researchers and departments to design and prototype human-centred digital tools that streamline research workflows and enhance scientific outputs.
•  Digital Solutions for Science: Lead the design and delivery of agile, user-centred research and business applications, ensuring secure, scalable platforms that support ILRI’s research agenda and global data sharing needs.

ICT Operations

•  Service Management & Process Optimization: Implement ITIL-based service management frameworks and optimized workflows to deliver consistent, SLA-driven support and seamless user experiences.
•  Strategic IT Partnership: Position the ICT department as a trusted business partner across ILRI, providing proactive, responsive and value-driven support and technical backstopping to research, business, and regional teams globally.
•  Infrastructure Leadership:   Govern the evolution of ILRI’s IT infrastructure, comprising networks, servers, and communication platforms, integrating automation and AI to enhance efficiency and reliability.
•  Cybersecurity & Risk Mitigation: Lead organization-wide information security strategy, including policy development, threat detection, vulnerability management, and business continuity planning to minimise risks.
•  Innovation & Compliance: Drive adoption of emerging technologies through structured scouting and pilot programs, ensuring IT systems comply with global security standards and institutional policies.

Requirements

• Advanced degree i.e PhD, MSC, Masters in Information Systems or MBA equivalent with significant relevant experience.
• 9 years’ experience with PhD or fifteen years’ relevant experience with masters and progressively responsible experience in leadership roles overseeing digital transformations and data science in a research or academic environment.
• Experience in digital strategic planning, budgeting, and people management by delivering efficient and effective digital leadership and delivering technology solutions within a global/international organizational setting.
• While technical acumen is important, success in this role will depend equally on interest and track record on strategic thinking, change management, and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural, decentralized environment.
• Ability to build trust and alignment across scientific, operational, and regional teams in a matrixed and multi-stakeholder environment.
• Capacity to influence without authority and to navigate institutional complexity through strategic communication, listening, and coalition-building.
• Ability to translate technical vision into organizational priorities and to adapt messaging for diverse cultural and disciplinary audiences.
• Ability to manage some ambiguity, balancing institutional priorities, and supporting teams through change and transformation.
• Ability to communicate with a diverse group of stakeholders and influence change through relationship and referential power
• Ability to build and strengthen partnership with internal teams — including researchers, country offices, and operational units is essential, as is the ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement and digital learning.

go to method of application »

Key Responsibilities

Thought Leadership and Strategy Development

• Develop ILRI’s MELIA plan and oversee its implementation.
• Develop the unit’s strategy, interface with research teams and other stakeholders, providing thought leadership and coordination.
• Develop and refine impact assessment studies and theories of change aligned with institutional goals.
• Design frameworks and indicators to track progress toward outcomes and long-term impact.
• Lead the development, management and updating of MEL tools, strategy/frameworks and systems.

Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Development

• Design and implement a comprehensive MEL framework to track program performance, outcomes, and impact.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and data collection methodologies tailored to program goals.
• Oversee the collection, cleaning, and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Ensure data quality through regular audits and validation processes. Utilize advanced data analysis tools and software to generate insights.

Implementation of Impact Assessments

• Lead and/or coordinate impact assessment studies aligned to the institute’s high-level goals such as baseline, midline, and endline studies, mixed method approaches, and modelling as required.
• Keep track of impact assessments carried out across ILRI and interact with implementing scientists to encourage alignment to the institute’s KPI.
• Compile the results of impact assessment studies for use in communication or fund-raising materials.
• Commission and/or manage internal/external evaluations.

Technical backstopping for project/program’s progress tracking

• Review and advise on project/program’s overall approach and adjustments and prepare regular and ad hoc updates.
• Lead the implementation of quality assurance and control protocols and ensure internal consistency and validity of project/program’s monitoring checks to enable improved capturing and narration of programmatic results and impact.
• Contribute to proposal development and grants’ negotiations including design of high-quality MELIA.
• Contribute to the review of existing grants’ overall performance and indicators against achieved cumulative results and make useful recommendations for performance improvement.

Capacity Strengthening & Technical Advisory

• Build capacity of program teams and partners in outcome mapping, impact metrics, and data use.
• Advise project teams on integrating impact thinking from inception to closure.
• Train staff and partners on MELIA concepts, tools, and best practices.
• Build the capacity of teams to implement MELIA activities effectively.

Learning, Communication & Uptake

• Prepare high-quality MELIA reports, dashboards, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Communicate evaluation findings and recommendations clearly to diverse audiences.
• Translate impact findings into user-friendly products such as briefs, dashboards, infographics or case studies).

Resource Mobilisation: Contribute to resource mobilisation by working with program leaders, scientists and business development unit during proposal development.

People Management:

• Lead talent management initiatives including recruitment, management and development of a high performing MELIA team and promote a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.
• Oversee the unit’s operations.

Requirements

• 7 years’ experience with PhD or 12 years with masters in MELIA roles within development programs or projects.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing MELIA systems for complex programs.
• Experience in international agricultural or development sector with not less than 3 years in management role for MEL or IA. Extensive knowledge of MELIA concepts/systems/approaches, research design, data management, quality assurance and control procedures.
• Strong knowledge of MELIA frameworks, methodologies, and tools (e.g., logical frameworks, theories of change, results-based management).
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, or R) and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Proactive, creative, self-motivator, detail-oriented and results-driven.
• Ability to establish goals and priorities, to plan, coordinate and effectively monitor tasks, milestones and target achievements.
• Sound expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting of international donor-funded programs/initiatives.
• Digitally savvy with a demonstrated affinity for electronic systems, analytical software packages and other online tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage with diverse teams and stakeholders.

go to method of application »

Key Responsibilities

Understanding the demand and identifying solutions

• Work with country and regional (demand partners) to understand the needs on the ground and identify solutions to these drawing from across ILRI and partner capabilities.
• Drawing from across ILRI and partner capabilities, lead the identification and synthesis of research findings into practical, user-friendly tools, guidelines, and frameworks for diverse stakeholders.
• Ensure that the identified solutions are context-specific, sustainable, and culturally appropriate.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

• Build and maintain partnerships to align efforts and maximize the impact of livestock development programs.
• Work with a variety of internal ILRI stakeholders to design and deliver opportunities for the different livestock commodities.
• Represent the institute at conferences, seminars, and other forums to share insights and gather feedback.

Impact Monitoring and Reporting: Measure the effectiveness of research translation efforts by using robust monitoring frameworks.

Advocacy and Policy Support: Engage with policymakers to promote evidence-based livestock policies and interventions.

Resource Mobilisation: Identify opportunities to raise resources by engaging program leaders, scientists and business development unit to pursue funding opportunities while maintaining a high level of understanding of country plans, donor priorities and planned funding initiatives.

People Management: Contribute to talent management initiatives across regional and country offices, including recruitment, management and development of high performing regional and country-based staff and fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture that enhances staff engagement.

Requirements

• PhD or MSc in animal science, veterinary medicine, agriculture economics, environmental science, social science, development science or relevant discipline.
• 7 years’ working experience with PhD or12 years’ experience with masters, with at least 5 years of experience in livestock development, extension services, or a related role.
• In-depth knowledge of livestock systems and how they relate to addressing the global challenges of hunger, poverty, climate change, human disease and environmental degradation.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge research and practice for development impact.
• Proven experience in building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, networking, partnership building and relationship management at a strategic level.
• A thorough understanding of current national and regional agenda and how ILRI can contribute to addressing these through different livestock commodities.
• Ability to think strategically and to synthesize and distil key messages from complex issues.
• Creative approach to applying research insights to real-world challenges and capacity to adapt solutions to different cultural and environmental contexts.
• Ability to work with and lead cross functional teams.
• Excellent advocacy and influencing skills.