KEMRI Vacancies

Research Scientist (Biotechnology) 

(2 positions)

Position description: 

The primary role of this position is research in the development of biotechnological innovations especially for diagnostic tools, vaccines and biological materials. 

This includes but is not limited to immunology and immunopathology of infectious diseases. Immunology of HIV/AIDS. 

Specialized services in immunology and immunodiagnoses, e.g tissues typing. Quality assessment in clinical histopathology. 

Vaccine and drug trials in animal models. Research on malaria and leishmania parasites and sandflies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

•  Support the conduct of ongoing research in the above mentioned fields,
• Development of research projects/grants in the same fields.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Degree a relevant discipline,
• Masters in Public Health or Epidemiology or a research related Masters (A PhD would be an added advantage),
• Knowledge and demonstrable skills in a wide range of research and/or laboratory science,
• Training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP)/ or GCLP,
• Excellent written and verbal communication,
• Competency in MS office,
• Must have demonstrated leadership skills,
• Must be a team player.

Research Scientist 

(Non Communicable diseases:-Mental Health/Lifestyle Diseases) 

(1 position)

Position Description:

The primary role of this position is to increase the capacity in research on mental health/lifestyle diseases at the institute cognizant of the expansion of the institutes programs to include a stronger non communicable disease program focusing on diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertensive disorders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Secure research grants particularly those in areas of Non communicable diseases, focusing on mental health and other related fields in Kenya. Develop a research program of mental health/lifestyle diseases at KEMRI.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Degree in Medicine and registered to practice with the Kenya Medical and Dental practitioners Board with current licensure,
• Masters in Psychiatry (recognition from the KMDPB for this specialty is an added advantage),
• Sub specialization in management of substance abuse and other relevant field will be an advantage,
• Management of mental health services in a larger organization,
• Proven track record of mentorship,
• Knowledge and demonstrable skills in a wide range of research including experience in conducting clinical trials is an advantage,
• Excellent written and verbal communication,
• Must be computer literate,
• Must have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills,
• Must be a team player.

Assistant Director (Finance) – MR/15

The main responsibility will be to oversee timely and accurate preparation of accounting and financial management information necessary to control income and expenditure as well as meet internal, statutory and donor reporting requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provision of leadership and mentorship in finance,
• Development, implementation and monitoring of a robust financial procedures and regulations in conformity with international financial reporting standards,
• Formulation, control and coordination of financial procedures and regulations in conformity with relevant Government laws and regulations,
• Development and implementation of prudent internal accounting and financial checks and controls,
• Development and management of internal budgetary controls in collaboration with other departments within the Institute,
• Budgetary planning with MTEF in liaison with line government Ministries and relevant sectors,
• Preparation of financial quarterly/annual reports in line with the Public Service Performance contracting guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Accounting/finance: CPA (K) or equivalent,
• MBA/MSc (Accounts/Finance), Diploma in Health Service Administration, experience in Public Sector Accounts and Finance Management are added advantages,
• Minimum of seven (7) years experience in Accounts and Finance in a large organization with an annual budget of over Ksh. 2 billion,
• Not less than five (5) years experience in a senior Managerial position,
• Between 30 to 50 years of age,
• In-depth knowledge in computerized accounting and financial software applications,
• Membership of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.

Additional Required Competencies:

• Ability to represent the Institute at a senior level in a professional manner with tact and diplomacy at National and International levels,
• Strong writing and oral communication skills,
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Team player with the ability to work with multi-disciplinary/multi-cultural stakeholders,
• Ability to work on multiple tasks with tight deadlines.

Senior Principal Legal Officer (1 position)

Position Description:  

The officer will be the overall in charge of the Legal Services Unit at the KEMRI headquarters and will report to the Assistant Director (Administration).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provision of sound legal advice to the Management of the Institute and staff thereof,
• Drawing and ensuring of proper execution of contracts/MOUs by authorized signatories,
• Drafting and lodging in relevant registries conveyancing documents for the Institute,
• Register title documents for the Institute's properties and ensure that all properties are properly accounted for,
• Liaise with external lawyers to facilitate collection and preparation of information related to court cases and court hearings,
• Represent the Institute in court cases,
• Ensure the Institute meets its legal obligations,
• Formulate policies that are in line with the Institutes mandates and day to day running.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Holder of a Bachelor of Laws degree from a recognized University,
• Be an Advocate of High Court of Kenya with current practicing certificate,
• Have three (3) years post-admission experience in civil, labour and criminal law,
• Be conversant with the Public Procurement and Disposal Act and Regulations,
• Have experience in contract negotiations and drafting,
• Be a person of integrity with high morals and ethical values.

Information Communication Technology officer II 

(2 positions)

Position Description: 

The primary role of this position is to provide support in data management, technical support and software development in the ICT Department at KEMRI.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Designing, developing and configuring databases,
• Supporting Local Area Network/Wide Area Network,
• Carrying out Network and Systems Administration,
• Installing and configuring servers,
• Hardware/Application software support,
• Maintaining Inventory of hardware and software,
• Developing, testing and implementing Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP),
• End user training on specialized hardware and software,
• Developing and maintaining software programs,
• Designing and developing websites, Intranet/Extranet applications,
• Technical writing/documentation of the network and inventory,
• Preparing monthly report for performance management.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology or Computer Science or Computer Engineering or equivalent from a recognized University,
• Certification in MCSE, MCDA, CCNA and ICDL,
• Must possess a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade B- (Minus) with at least a C+ (Plus) in Mathematics, English and Kiswahili or its approved equivalent,
• Diploma in Forensic Accounting will be an added advantage,
• Ability to work with minimum supervision,
• Good organizational and planning skills,
• Excellent interpersonal skills,
• Excellent communication,
• Strong analytical skills,
• At least five (2) years experience in ICT End User Support, LAN/WAN networks with more than 300 users,
• Multi-skills training and experience necessary (Hardware, Networking, Databases, Project management).

Senior Internal Auditor 

(1 position)
Position Description:  

Manage on a day to day basis the planning, performance and report delivery of allocated internal controls assignments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Undertake execution of specific audit assignments as dictated by the approved audit plan,
• Identify and discuss all control weakness and recommendations with management,
• Identify and promote good business practice within the organization,
• Monitor the implementation and operation of defined controls and recommendations on an ongoing basis,
• Ensure that execution of audit assignments is within defined timeliness.

Key Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance or other relevant degree from a recognized University,
• Fully qualified accountant (CPAK), ACCA or other internationally recognized professional accounting qualifications),
• Qualified CIA, CISA or working towards attaining the qualification,
• IT knowledge an understanding of the working of the various systems and use of computer aided auditing techniques,
• At least three (2) years internal audit experience from a reputable organization with strong internal control structure or audit firm,
• Knowledge of accounting packages especially Pastel or ERP,
• Must be a team player with good interpersonal, communication and presentation skills,
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and work with limited supervision.
• Be a person of integrity with high morals and ethical values.

Commercial Manager MR/12 

(1 position)

Three years contract renewable:

The duties of this job require a high degree of specialized expertise and skill in quality and accurate business information analysis. Drive, determination and a self-displined approach to achieving results that meet these established criteria are necessary for successful job performance.

Reporting to the Production Manager, the holder of this position will be responsible for coordinating and driving the sales management and commercial process, to ensure that KEMRI Production Unit is guided to make informed decisions through analysis of data and regular updated information that will ensure a more focused customer attention and improved customer service.

Main Responsibilities:

• Drive sales management target process from a commercial perspective
• Compile sales management information required for cluster business deployment plan process
• Periodically and on an ad-hoc basis carry out market research, identifying potential areas that can move into weakness within competitors, and reporting back with proposals designed to take advantage of opportunities
• Ensuring that promotional material including the website is kept up to date and relevant
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders to get monthly view on sales forecast
• Develop a value chain analysis model for the main products
• Co-ordinate and review pricing and price index for all products
• Design suitable databases or files for the collection, storage and sharing of relevant sales data
• Coordinate, compile and disseminate commercial reports both locally and to the cluster

Experience:

At least three (3) years experience in a manufacturing company dealing with medical and related products of which one year must have been at a senior level.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors of Science or Pharmacy
• Professional qualification in marketing
• Possession of a MBA will be an added advantage
• Knowledge of database systems

Core Competencies:

• Good sense of initiative
• Result oriented
• Excellent analytical skills
• Detail oriented
• Good client focus
• Commercial aptitude, can see an opportunity and follow through on it
• Someone who has the skills to work with the existing team and integrate work with that team.

Senior Marketing Officer 

(1 position)

Reporting to the Production Manager, the holder of this position will be responsible for coordinating and driving the sales management and marketing activities.

Key qualifications:

• Masters in Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing option
• Diploma in marketing will be an added advantage
• Must be computer literate
• Excellent Leadership and management skills,
• Capacity to work with minimum supervision to meet strict deadlines as well as willingness to work outside normal office working hours,
• Excellent written and verbal communication,
• Must be a team prayer with good interpersonal and presentation skills,
• Five (5) years experience in marketing,
• Must be a team player with good interpersonal, communication and presentation skills,
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and work with limited supervision.

Duties

• Create and execute innovative marketing strategies,
• Identify and promote good business opportunities,
• Assist in supervision, coordinating and controlling of marketing activities,
• Assist in scheduling, managing stock taking and maintaining inventory accuracy at all times.

Interested candidates should send their applications enclosing a detailed CV, copies of certified certificates, professional qualifications, email address, a day time telephone contact and the details and contact information for three referees to the following address, not later than 5th July, 2013 to, The Director, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840-00200, NAIROBI, Attn: Head of Human Resources or email address hr@kemri.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.