WORLD AGROFORESTRY CENTRE (ICRAF)
RECRUITING HEAD OF RESEARCH METHODS GROUP (RMG)

The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) is supported by the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), generates
science-based knowledge about the complex role that trees play in
agricultural landscapes, and uses its research to ensure that policies
and practices benefit the poor and the environment. Our vision is an
'agroforestry transformation' in the developing world-a massive increase
in the use of trees on landscapes by smallholder rural households to
ensure security in food, nutrition, income, health, shelter and energy,
and a regenerated environment. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) conducts research in 23 countries in
Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The Africa-based, globally networked International Livestock Research
Institute (ILRI) helps reduce poverty, hunger and environmental
degradation by enhancing animal agriculture in developing countries.
ILRI positions its work at the dynamic interface of poverty alleviation
and sustainable livestock livelihoods. Our staff work in partnerships
and alliances with hundreds of organisations in developed and developing
countries, including some of the finest universities and research
institutions in the world. ILRI's headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya,
with a second principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ILRI staff are
also based in 7 partner institutions in other parts of Africa, in Asia
and Latin America. ILRI employs more than 700 staff from about 40
countries and is also one of the 15 centres around the world sponsored
by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR).

The Position
The ICRAF/ILRI Research Methods Group (RMG) is a joint unit of the two
organizations. Its purpose is to continually drive and support the
improvement in quality of the complex, integrative, multi-scale research
for development undertaken by ILRI and ICRAF. It does this through
advice to research managers and support to project teams, scientists,
partners and students. Though the RMG is a small unit, it can be very
influential in the evolution of approaches to research of the institutes
and in determining the effectiveness of research projects. ICRAF and
ILRI are currently recruiting for a new Head of the Research Methods
Group to be based at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya reporting
directly to the ICRAF Deputy Director General and to an RMG Advisory
Group comprising of senior staff from both ILRI and ICRAF. While the
background of the Head is likely to be in statistics, biometrics or
similar, the successful candidate will take a broad view of research
processes and the levels at which principled thinking on methods can
improve the quality and effectiveness of research. They will need to
engage with managers and scientists at all levels, introducing
innovative methods and approaches drawn from across a wide spectrum of
applied research disciplines.

Duties and responsibilities:
1. Advise ICRAF and ILRI senior management on processes and policies to
maintain and improve the quality of their research. This includes, but
is not limited to, policies and processes for:
* Planning research
* Integrating research with development and other activities * Reviewing
research plans, progress and outputs * Providing incentives that support
quality 2. Design, manage and monitor a service providing technical
support in research design and data analysis, including spatial
analysis, to research project teams, scientists, partners and students.
This includes, but is not limited to:
* Engaging with project teams in improvement of research methods during
research planning, monitoring and reviewing * Providing access to
current tools and expertise required by the evolving research agenda of
ILRI and ICRAF * Identifying gaps in available methods and finding ways
of overcoming them * Designing and implementing policies for the
provision of statistical, data management and spatial software.
* Building the technical skills of scientists in research design and
analysis * Ensuring these services are available to projects based both
at headquarters and elsewhere.
3. Ensure research data of the institutes is managed in a way that
maximises their value, by designing, implementing and monitoring
suitable policies and processes. This includes but is not limited to:
* Providing tools and guidance for the efficient processing of research
data * Ensuring high quality data are accessible and usable, both within
the institutes and in the public domain * Ensuring data are securely
archived 4. Support the improvement of capacity in research methods for
agricultural, environmental and rural development within the East and
Southern Africa region generally.
5. Provide overall leadership of the group, including development of RMG
strategies, ensuring continued funding, monitoring performance and staff
development, and guiding the continued RMG alignment of ILRI and ICRAF.
6. As a senior staff member of ICRAF and ILRI, take part in strategic
planning, monitoring and review of the institutes and represent them in
external fora.

Minimum qualifications and skills
1. Postgraduate qualifications in quantitative research methods such as
Biometrics, Statistics or Social Science Research Methods.
2. Experience in the design and analysis of problem-solving research
that integrates social and biophysical aspects, preferably in natural
resource management or rural development.
3. Familiarity with the current trends and priorities in Research for
Development in tropical areas.
4. Understanding of the principles of research methods within many
disciplines, including qualitative methods.
5. Ability to adapt and apply innovative methods to new problems.
6. Ability to work within applied research teams, including skills in
communicating technical information and influencing researchers.
7. Ability to communicate with and influence senior managers.
8. Experience and interest in teaching research methods to
non-specialists.
9. Experience and interest in mentoring.
10. Commitment to the goals of ICRAF and ILRI.

ICRAF offers an internationally competitive salary and benefits package,
and a collegial and gender-sensitive working environment. The position
is for an initial period of three (3) years, subject to a nine (9) month
probation period, assessment of performance and availability of
resources. Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating
their suitability for the above position against the listed
qualifications and skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae,
including names and addresses of three referees. All correspondence
should be addressed to the Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry
Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya OR via email:
[log in to unmask] Applications will be considered until 22nd August
2008 and applicants should indicate "Application for Head of Research
Methods Group (RMG)" on their application letters and email submissions.

Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be
contacted.

We invite you to learn more about ICRAF by accessing our web site:
http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org


Jane Poole
Assistant Head
-----------------------------------------
ILRI~ICRAF Research Methods Group
-------------------------------------------------------------
International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254-20 422 3000 (Switchboard) 422 3722 (Direct)
Fax: +254-20 422 3001
Email: [log in to unmask]
---------------------------------------------------
Via USA ~Tel: +1 650 833 6660
Internet: www.ilri.org
          www.worldagroforestrycentre.org
 
ILRI and ICRAF are supported by the CGIAR