icipe Laboratory Manager Job in Nairobi Kenya

icipe - African Insect Science for Food and Health is an intergovernmental organisation funded by governmental aid agencies, UN organisations and private foundations to carry out research and training in environmentally sound and sustainable management of arthropods for improving health and agricultural productivity in the tropics. 

icipe has 400 staff to support its research and capacity building programmes located at various sites in Kenya and Ethiopia.

icipe wishes to urgently recruit a suitable person to fill the position ofLaboratory Manager in the Director of Research and Partnership’s Office.

Ref No. NRS/68/082014

A competitive compensation package will be offered to the right candidate. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

The position is tenable in Duduville, Nairobi, Kenya. 

This is a two-year contract, with opportunities for renewal pegged on individual performance and availability of funds.
 

Overall purpose of the job

• Maintain all icipe laboratories in Duduville and Mbita, and ensure compliance to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) and Biosafety Standards according to the statutory regulations.
• Maintain and update the laboratories’ records, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), equipment maintenance, chemicals and sample storage records.

Specific duties:

• Establish, implement, maintain and lead a robust QA/QC and safety programme for all laboratory work.
• Ensure that the available laboratory space is utilised appropriately with full adherence to safety standards and regulations.
• Ensure that all the laboratory personnel and students admitted to the laboratory are trained and qualified for the work at hand.
• Monitor the conduct of all the laboratory staff and students (adherence to set laboratory safety, security and QA/QC procedures).
• Ensure that every laboratory personnel or student (anyone performing any work in any of the laboratories) receives annual training on laboratory safety, biosecurity and all laboratory SOPs, and ensure that such training is documented.
• Cross-train periodically with established regional and internal laboratories’ SOPs and QA/QC programmes to update such programmes where necessary in the laboratory.
• Delegate specific duties to lab personnel and students to ensure the accomplishment of all laboratory duties and responsibilities with respect to QA/QC and safety (e.g. equipment routine maintenance and cleaning, SOP writing and revision, etc.).  And, in consultation with PIs of the ongoing projects, ensure proper storage and management of laboratory equipment, consumables, supplies and records.
• Ensure that SOPs are developed for all procedures in the labs and are adhered to and filed in appropriate labs, and maintained/updated as necessary.
• Ensure full adherence to biosafety and biosecurity in the laboratories, and prepare reports and documentation as required by the regulatory agencies.
• Ensure that all pieces of laboratory equipment are in good working order and are closely and continuously monitored according to the set equipment SOPs.
• Facilitate timely procurement of necessary laboratory supplies.
• Manage the laboratories in the event of a disease epidemic or other public health emergency in consultation with relevant national programmes and ministries, and comply with any other necessary duties and responsibilities.
• Document all laboratory accidents and injuries.

Requirements / Qualifications:

• BSc degree in biomedical sciences or equivalent
• Knowledge and experience with laboratory quality standards, and biosafety and biosecurity
• Good interpersonal, time management and communication skills
• Good work attitude and resilience
• Database computer skills.
• 5 years experience in a busy laboratory

Other desirable attributes:

• Excellent report writing, analytical and communication skills.
• Previous experience working in a not-for-profit organisation will be an added advantage.

Reporting

This position reports to the Director of Research and Partnerships.

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

How to Apply

All applications must arrive via email on or before the 3rd September 2014. 

Please quote the job reference number NRS/68/082014 on the email subject line. 

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 one-page write-up on how you consider yourself suitable for the job, to:

LabManager@icipe.org

icipe is an equal opportunity employer