ICIPE Legal Officer Jobs in Kenya

ICIPE Legal Officer Jobs in Kenya


Title:

  • Legal Officer

    Location:

  • icipe Duduville Campus, Nairobi

    Duration:

  • 2 years

    Preamble

    icipe seeks to recruit a suitable person to fill the position of Legal Officer, Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF).

    The position is tenable at the icipe Duduville Campus, and is available to commence immediately.

    The position will be offered for an initial contract of 2 years, renewable subject to continued project needs, funding for the position, and performance of the staff member.

    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.

    The position is tenable at the icipe Thomas Odhiambo Campus in Mbita, South Nyanza, 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.

    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 Mbita.

    Qualified candidates from Africa (and especially females) are invited to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

    Living in Nairobi and Mbita, Kenya Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya, with a population of over three million, and 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.

    icipe Thomas Odhiambo Campus (ITOC) is situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, with excellent housing facilities for staff and students.

    The Campus sits on 24.5 hectares of land, 40% of which consists of experimental
    fields and buildings with landscaped gardens.

    ITOC’s research structures include state-of-the-art laboratories and offices, as well as insect and animal rearing facilities. The Campus also hosts St. Jude’s Clinic, a kindergarten, primary school, and the Mbita Guest House.

    Job purpose

    The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund is one of the flagship programmes of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), an initiative by African governments to address systemic gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for long-term, sustained economic growth
    in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

    PASET was launched in 2013 by the governments of Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

    The governments of Kenya and Ivory Coast have since joined the initiative, while several others have expressed commitment to enter the partnership.

    With funding from African governments, the World Bank and the Korean government, RSIF aims to support PhD training, and research and innovation in various African universities selected as centres of excellence in fields identified by

  • Vacancy Announcement
  • (Ref. No.
    Irs/263/092018)
  • Legal Officer

    PASET as priority economic sectors for growth and development, including food security, ICT and materials science.

    A competitive grants scheme, RSIF has two components:

  • the general fund, which supports PhD training, research and innovation projects annually;]

  • The permanent or endowment fund, whose return proceeds will become part
    of the general fund.
  • In July 2018, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology was appointed the Regional
  • Coordination Unit (RCU) of RSIF.
  • The mandate of the RCU includes managing the two funds and supporting the capacity of the universities and partnering institutions to administer the PhD scholarships. The assignment also includes creating partnerships with governments, universities and national and international research organisations for
    research training, e.g. through sandwich training, to promote collaboration with and among the centres of excellence.
  • As well, the RCU will help introduce more African governments and other potential strategic partners to PASET to fund
    and to ensure continued continent-wide support.
  • Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the provision of practical and useful legal advice and services to the RCU, including but not limited to policy, contracts, and procurement and programme related legal matters.

    Specific duties

    The successful candidate is expected to:

  • Provide legal advice to guide the decisions of the RCU, and protect the interests of the RSIF;
  • Ensure the RCU meets its legal obligations within its contractual agreements with the World Bank, donors, various governments and suppliers;
  • Ensure compliance with all necessary legal requirements in countries of operation;
  • Write, review, and edit reports, opinions, correspondence, contracts, and other legal documents. Review and guide the execution of partnerships, investments, and procurement agreements and other contracts relating to
    the work of RCU;
  • Direct legal intellectual property matters, and transactional and business issues involving technology and innovation. Build a legal Intellectual Property (IP) management capacity of partner institutions;
  • Negotiate agreements on the work of the RCU;
  • Conduct and coordinate research into a variety of legal issues;
  • Manage external legal experts and any litigation. Represent the RCU as appropriate in any legal proceedings,across various jurisdictions where problems may arise;
  • Keep abreast of developments in the legal field that could affect the RCU and prepare reports on relevant matters for consideration by the RCU management;
  • Anticipate and guard against legal risks facing the programme. Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk avoidance and mitigation; develop and implement corrective action plans for resolution of
    problematic issues, and provide general guidance on how to avoid similar situations in the future.

    Requirements/Qualifications

  • Be a qualified solicitor with an LLB degree and have a good standing as an advocate of a Higher Court.
  • 5 years’ relevant work experience.

    Core competencies

  • Considerable experience of legal work in a complex corporate setting.
  • Experience working in an in-house legal unit offering advice on compliance and regulatory requirements of multilateral and bilateral donors.

    Other desirable attributes

  • Highly developed negotiating and interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent representation skills.

    Reporting

  • This position reports to the Chief Legal Officer.
  • The selected candidate should be available to start as soon as possible.

    How to Apply

  • Applications will be accepted up to 2nd November 2018.
    Interested applicants should submit:
  • a confidential cover letter
  • detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers),
  • a statement illustrating suitability against the listed
    qualifications/competencies/abilities, and skills.
  • Candidates are required to apply online
  • icipe is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equity, teamwork, and respect for diversity.
  • For more information and job application details, see; ICIPE Legal Officer Jobs in Kenya

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