The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit an ICT Officer III – Research Computing and Linux Systems to provide advanced technical leadership in the management and optimisation of ILRI’s research computing platforms.

The position is responsible for the operation, performance, and security of ILRI’s high-performance computing (HPC) environment, Linux-based research systems, and institutional research repository platforms, supporting scientific computing and research data workflows across ILRI.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it 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

Key Responsibilities:

1. Research Computing Administration

  • Manage and optimize ILRI’s High-Performance Computing (HPC) environment, including configuration, user access, job scheduling, performance tuning, and resource allocation.
  • Administer and support Linux/UNIX systems that host scientific computing workloads and research applications.
  • Monitor performance, capacity, availability, and security of research computing platforms across ILRI’s Kenya and Ethiopia campuses.
  • Collaborate with ICT Infrastructure teams on server hardware, virtualisation, and network requirements supporting HPC operations.

2. Research Repository and Platform Administration

  • Administer ILRI’s research repository platforms (e.g., DSpace), ensuring availability, performance, backups, indexing, and secure access.
  • Implement software upgrades, patches, and performance enhancements for the repository and related platforms.
  • Support secure integration and data exchange between ILRI repository systems and CGIAR platforms using APIs or established protocols.

3. Systems Integration, Security, and Documentation

  • Ensure research computing and repository platforms comply with institutional performance, availability, and security standards.
  • Coordinate with ICT Infrastructure on network, firewall, and connectivity requirements for cross-campus and external system access.
  • Develop and maintain operational documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and user guides.

4. Research Support and Capacity Building

  • Provide technical support, training, and guidance to researchers and ICT staff on HPC usage, Linux environments, and best practices for scientific computing.
  • Promote efficient and responsible use of research computing resources through user education and capacity-building initiatives.

5. Continuous Improvement and Innovation

  • Evaluate and recommend improvements to enhance system performance, scalability, automation, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Explore emerging technologies that strengthen research computing, virtualisation, or repository platform capabilities.
  • Contribute to ICT operational standards, system monitoring tools, and disaster recovery procedures for research computing environments.

Perform any other related duties as may be required

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • Professional certification in Linux systems administration, virtualisation, or HPC environments (e.g., RHCE, CompTIA Linux+, or equivalent).
  • About Seven (7) years of relevant experience in Linux/UNIX systems administration, HPC environments, or research computing support.
  • Proven experience managing multi-user Linux environments, job schedulers (e.g., Slurm, PBS, Grid Engine), and data-intensive workloads.
  • Hands-on experience with repository or web application administration, preferably: DSpace, Tomcat, PostgreSQL, MySQL or equivalent systems.
  • Strong scripting skills (Bash, Python, or Perl) for automation and operational support.
  • Solid understanding of networking, system security, backup, and recovery strategies.
  • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
  • Familiarity with FAIRER or open science frameworks is an added advantage.

Post location: Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

This position is graded at HG 15 and is open to Kenyan nationals only.

The position is a three-year contract, renewable subject to performance and funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including pension, medical cover and other insurances.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV,  including names and contact details of three professional referees, to the Head of People and Culture through ILRI’s recruitment portal by clicking on "Apply Now" on or before 1 February 2026. The position title and reference number REF: ICT/2094/2026 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not request or process applicants' bank account details.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our website at http://www.ilri.org/

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