Head of Data Management, Modelling and Geomatics Unit

icipe—International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology—is a world-class research centre with a mission to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world through the application of insect sciences. Employing close to 500 national and international staff, icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia and on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya. icipe has a proud reputation and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial contributions to African food and health policy, delivered development outcomes to rural communities, and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s biological research capacity. The Centre’s research activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research organisations, not only across Africa, but also the globe. In addition, 100–150 graduate students and a number of postdoctoral fellows contribute to icipe’s research portfolio annually. For more information visit: www.icipe.org

Please also download icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2013–2020 http://www.icipe.org/images/stories/pdf/about_us/ icipe_ Vision_and_Strategy_2013-2020.pdf

icipe seeks to recruit a suitable person to fill the position of Head of Data Management, Modelling and Geomatics Unit. The position is tenable in Nairobi at the icipe Duduville Campus and is available to commence immediately. The position will be offered for an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to continued project needs, funding for the position, and performance of the staff member.

Living in Nairobi, Kenya
A competitive and generous compensation package that includes comprehensive health and life insurance cover (all payable in US Dollars) will be offered to the right candidate. Furthermore, the incumbent will receive paid annual vacation, return airfare for themselves and their dependents to their nominated home base each year, and duty-free privileges. If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered support to relocate and settle in Nairobi. Qualified candidates from Africa (and especially females) are invited to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million, hosts all the urban and social amenities and offers a comfortable, convenient and pleasurable life. A wide variety of excellent international schools and well-equipped medical facilities are open 24/7 in Nairobi. The city is also accessible by various reputable international airline carriers. Nairobi has a thriving international research scene, hosting various CGIAR centres and several UN agencies. Although it is important to be conscious of security, Kenyans are warm and welcoming of visitors.

Overall purpose of the job

The ideal candidate is a visionary thinker with broad experience in data warehouse, repository, archiving, sharing and modelling of complex systems with outstanding discipline to work in a fast-growing environment to keep the institution at the leading edge of modelling, remote sensing and conducting spatial analysis.

The successful leader will develop and deploy capabilities to support various programmes and projects including forging external partnerships with like-minded institutions in the field. We are looking for a scientist who has proven expertise in building, managing and analyzing complex geospatial datasets in support of integrated pest management (IPM) practices and interventions, disease vector control, climate change and variability. The selected candidate will contribute to a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team applying various technological approaches to improve plant, human, animal and environment health.

Specific duties

The successful candidate is expected to:

1. Lead data management, modelling, remote sensing and geomatics within icipe’s strategic R4D activities
2. He or she will provide thought leadership, influence and hands-on engagement in modelling, remote sensing and geomatics relevant to Animal, Environment, Plant and Human Health research
3. Lead a core team of domain experts that include an extended team of practitioners in the unit working across various strategic programmes and projects
4. Carry out cutting edge research on modelling, remote sensing and geomatics as related to insect population density, dynamic, interaction, risk of invasion and spread.
5. Develop, apply and explore new computation methods for decision support for good integrated pest management (IPM) practices and interventions, disease vector control, climate change impact and variability assessments.
6. Link mathematical, biological and physical principles for assessing the present and predicting the future as well as testing the models with experimental datasets.
7. Work closely with Entomologist/Biologist/Agronomist in the experimentation and interpretation of models and outputs.
8. Good knowledge in different computing languages (R and C/C++) and proficiency in complex and dynamic systems analysis is needed.
9. The candidate must have perfect manipulation of advance tools for knowledge discovering and data mining using intelligent algorithms
10. Promote and support cross-institutional and inter-disciplinary teams.
11. Build capacity of icipe’s scholars, scientists and partners to co-develop and use modelling, remote sensing and geomatics tools
12. Contribute to building capacity of national institutions through the identification and co-supervision or mentoring of graduate students.
13. Collaborate with other research institutions such as the CGIAR centres to support/ enhance research outputs and develop synergies with other icipe projects to maximize impact.
14. Communicate research results to various audiences and in various forms, with specific focus on peer-reviewed journals.
15. Have the ability to foster an innovative work environment and appropriate skills in research governance and resource mobilization.

Requirements/Qualifications

• The ideal candidate should have a PhD in Applied Mathematics related to entomology or ecological modelling, remote sensing, geomatics or a related discipline relevant to the skills listed above §§ Minimum 10 years’ experience in your chosen field/discipline.
• Excellent research and publications record
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to undertake field/ international travel

Core Competencies

• High level of proficiency in a relevant programming language, especially C/C++ and R.
• Experience in geographical information systems (GIS), spatial statistics, cellular automata (CA), individual and agent-based modelling (I/ABM) approaches.
• Experience in ecological niche and phenology modeling approaches.
• Experience in system dynamics, artificial neural networks (ANNs), fuzzy logic (FL), random forest (RF) and percolation theory applications.
• Good knowledge of scenario analysis, climate change impacts assessment and manipulation of large datasets. §§ Good knowledge of the development and analysis of continuous and discrete differential equations
• Proven track record of resource mobilization and managing large resources – both financial and human in a research environment
• Proven track record of managing complex projects – with financial, human resources and administrative responsibilities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience working with and interacting effectively with a variety of stakeholders (farmers, extension workers and other service providers, public and private sector entities, national programs), and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and international institutions and technical agencies.
• Knowledgeable in mobile phone applications and software development for decision making and dissemination of icipe technologies.
• Strong publication record in peer-review journals.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of French is a plus.

Reporting

This position reports to the Head, Environmental Health Theme.

The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted up to 14^th February 2019. Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter; (b) detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers); and (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications/competencies/abilities and skills.

Candidates are required to apply online through APPLY link below!

icipe is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equity, teamwork, and respect for diversity.