Business Support Officer / Programme and Administrative Officer Job at ICIPE

ICIPE jobs NGO jobs

Established in 1970 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (www.icipe.org) is distinct, being the only research organisation in Africa working primarily on insects and other arthropods. icipe is also the sole institution that combines research and development activities across plant health, human health, animal health, and environmental health. icipe generates world-class scientific knowledge and translates it into insect based, nature-positive, One Health innovations that sustainably transform millions of livelihoods across Africa and beyond. Additionally, icipe nurtures Africa’s talent and leadership in insect science through the Centre’s long-standing programmes in doctoral and postdoctoral training, advancement of research and innovation in applied sciences, engineering, and technology, and the creation of a bioeconomy in Africa. The Centre has about 500 international and national staff, operations in more than 40 countries in Africa, and over 300 partnerships with diverse organisations across the world. For additional information, visit: (www.icipe.org).

Please also download icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2021–2025:
http://www.icipe.org/publications/corporate-publications/vision-and-strategy.

icipe seeks to recruit a Business Support Officer I (Programme and Administrative Officer) within the Office of the Deputy Director General, Research for Development (DDG-R4D). The position is tenable in Nairobi at the icipe Duduville campus. This is a two-year contract, renewable subject to continued position needs, funding for the position, and performance of the staff member. This is a nationally recruited position. A competitive compensation package will be offered to the right candidate. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Overall Purpose of the Job

The Programmes & Administrative Officer will assist in implementing research excellence across icipe’s 4H Themes and Platforms, coordinating and reviewing proposals, project progress reports, Governing Council reports, and partnership building, while ensuring an effective research environment. Additionally, the officer will manage normative office duties, calendars, and meetings.

Specific duties

The successful candidate will undertake tasks that include but are not limited to the following:

Programme Management and Coordination

• Assists the (DDG-R4D in the implementation of the Centre’s programmatic R4D and
  partnership activities to ensure effective and timely execution and reporting.
• Takes an active role in the technical review of proposals, project progress reports, and
  technical documents for assessment before submission to donors.
• Support the DDG-R4D in monitoring project outputs and deliverables to ensure alignment with
  agreed milestones, timelines, and donor requirements, while assisting in identifying and
  addressing any implementation delays or risks.
• Follow up with project teams and partners to ensure timely submission of inputs required for
  high-quality technical reports, workplans, and other project deliverables, emphasising
  completeness and alignment with project objectives.
• Assists the DDG-R4D in maintaining close working relationships with institutional partners,
  host Governments, and Scientists to foster partnerships and facilitate cooperation.
• Assists the DDG-R4D in building and enhancing institutional and human resource capacities
  of various Themes.
• Works closely with the DDG-R4D to uphold research compliance requirements and contribute
  to risk assessment and mitigation strategy development.
• Undertakes official missions to partners, either alone or within institutional teams, to document
  activities.
• Assists the DDG-R4D in the preparation, organisation, and servicing of various technical
  committees and Governing Council meetings of the Centre, including contributing to the
  preparation of reports, official documentation, and related submissions to the Director
  General’s office and the Governing Council.
• Conducts related training for junior colleagues by reviewing their work and providing feedback.
• Facilitate donor and partnership missions to/from icipe and media relations with the
  Communications Office.

Budget Coordination

• Responsible for the preparation and monitoring of the DDG-R4D budget.
• Monitor budget expenditures against planned allocations, track financial transactions, and
  support timely budget revisions where necessary.
• Support the DGG-R4D in monitoring financial and technical performance and the reporting
  process of various projects in collaboration with the Research Programme Manager and
  Officers.
• In liaison with the Project Accountant, support the Research Programme Manager and
  Officers as required to monitor budgets and spending on different line items, follow up to
  ensure the timely preparation and delivery of financial reports to the grants team for onward
  submission to the donor.

Programme Administration

• Plans and manages normative office duties, calendars, filing systems, good practices sharing,
  and linkages to Research for Development (R4D) and capacity building programmes.
• Supports planning and organising internal and external meetings, workshops, and events as
  required.
• Organises expert group meetings, conferences, and seminars; prepares draft speeches and
  presentations as needed.
• Coordinates with and ensures linkages and synergies with the Director General (DG) and
  Cooperate Service offices, particularly regarding R4D and capacity development.
• Provide comprehensive day-to-day administrative support to the DDG-R4D by managing
  travel schedules, coordinating logistics, processing travel advances, and ensuring timely
  liquidation of advances through submission and verification of receipts and supporting
  documentation.
• Other duties assigned by the Head of the Centre.

Requirements/ qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or its equivalent.
• At least 2-3 years of experience in administrative and programme management
  responsibilities.
• Relevant experience in reporting, budgeting, partnership engagement, and timesheet
  management.
• Experience working in an international organisation.
• Experience in the development and implementation of projects
• Willingness to work long hours and travel to other countries and regions.
• Excellent command of the English language, written and verbal.
• Solid experience in working independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Core competencies

• Ability to plan effectively and manage risks.
• Stakeholder engagement skills
• Problem-solving skills.
• Effective negotiation skills
• Excellent people management skills in a multicultural setting
• Excellent organisational skills, high level of accuracy with attention to detail, and ability to
  manage/prioritise a high-volume workload with strict deadlines.
• Demonstrates expert-level proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Reporting

This position reports to the Deputy Director General, Research for Development.

How to apply

Applications will be accepted up to 10th October 2025. Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter; (b) a detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses); and (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications, competencies, abilities, and skills.

Candidates are required to apply online through: http://recruit.icipe.org or by email: recruitment@icipe.org (Kindly quote the Ref. No. and the position title on the email subject).

(In your application, please include your current and expected basic salary per month. This is a mandatory requirement.)

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