Liason Officer

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI): The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality livestock science, communications and capacity building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI is one of 15 centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ILRI has campuses in Kenya (headquarters) and Ethiopia, with other offices located in other regions of Africa (Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria) as well as in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) and East Asia (China).

ILRI seeks to recruit a Liaison Officer. The role of the Liaison Officer is to deal with the Ministry of Foreign affairs on matters relating to importation and exportation approvals, first arrival exemption and privileges, identity cards, note verbal and renewal of re-entry permits.
The Liaison Officer is also a key contact with the Ministry on matters relating to ILRI’s Host Country Agreement with the Government of Kenya.

Job Purpose: The objective of the position is to organize, coordinate and advise on representation and protocol services to secure support for the institute and ensure compliance of activities with international norms of diplomatic protocol and the Host County Agreement, advise the organization and its constituents on protocol matters; and coordinate and organize official ceremonies.

Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Director, Finance & Operations, the job holder will

• Provide protocol services and advise to the Institute and its constituents
• Provide assistance to expatriate staff, their dependants and official visitors to the institute on matters of consular nature including application to the relevant authorities for visas, work permits, renewal of passports etc
• Ensure that all matters relating to import/export approval, exemption or privileges (ILRI and IRS) are handled in a timely and efficient manner
• Deal directly with the appropriate Government offices on procedural matters relating to the normal operation of the Institute such as immigration and getting work permits
• Maintain a professional relationship with Customs and Security Officials at the JKIA and provide assistance with arrival and / or departure formalities at JKIA, as requested.
• Receive and manage motor vehicle registration, disposal, de-registration of all ILRI official vehicles and personal vehicles with diplomatic plates
• Coordinate and organize official ceremonies, such as official visits, and official social functions, such as receptions and luncheons; advise on policies and procedures regarding the use of the Host country’s flag; and represents the Institute in according VIP facilities to ministers and other visiting dignitaries to the Institute.
• Lead the Liaison unit to ensure it responds effectively to the Institute’s needs and follows best practice
• Plan, coordinate and supervise the activities of the Liaison/Protocol office
• Represent the Institute on a day to day basis in all activities requiring documentation processing as well as personal interaction with Protocol officers.
• Advise and assist the Institute in maintaining good relationships with the Government Ministries, Foreign Missions and Agencies based in Kenya

Qualifications and Experience

• First degree in any relevant field with at least 10 years work experience in senior administration/public relations in government or private industry
• Wide experience and knowledge of Government of Kenya operations.
• Demonstrated diplomatic ability
• Ability to work in cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments and knowledge of an international organization will be a definite advantage
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Good personal organizational skills, accuracy and attention to detail
• Highly effective multi-tasking skills, with ability to co-ordinate, prioritize and organize workload and meet deadlines
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and uphold integrity of information.

Post location: This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position based at ILRI’s Nairobi campus and is open to Kenyan nationals only.

Duration: The position is on a 2-year contract renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Job level and salary: This position is job level 3A and starting salary is KES 149,000 per month. This is exclusive of other benefits provided within ILRI’s National Recruited Staff Scheme.

Applications addressed to the Human Resources Director, a cover letter, curriculum vitae and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience should be emailed to: recruit-ilri-Ken@cgiar.org by 26 January 2011.

The position title and reference number “LIAISON OFFICER: LO/FO/01/11” should be clearly marked on the subject line of the email applications.  Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

To find out more about ILRI, visit  www.ilri.org.