Background
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Financial and Administrative Assistant to coordinate administrative and financial issues, and manage operational logistics including travels of a livestock technology scaling program to be implemented in the regions of Sikasso, Mopti and Timbuktu of Mali.
ILRI works with partners worldwide to enhance the roles that livestock play in food security and poverty alleviation, principally in Africa and Asia. The outcomes of these research partnerships help people in developing countries keep their farm animals’ alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, find profitable markets for their animal products, and reduce the risk of livestock-related diseases. www.ilri.org
ILRI is a not-for-profit institution with a staff of about 700 and in 2015, an operating budget of about USD 83 million. A member of the CGIAR Consortium working for a food-secure future, ILRI has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and offices in other countries in East, West and Southern Africa and in South, Southeast and East Asia. www.cgiar.org
As part of the Mali Feed The Future livestock value chain component – Livestockfor growth in household incomes, nutrition and for national gross domestic product growth-, ILRI is leading a program entitled Feedthe Future Mali Livestock Technology Scaling Program or FTF-MLTS.   The overarching goal of the program is to contribute to the inclusive growth in ruminant livestock value chain for increased income, food and nutrition security through the scaling up of productivity enhancing technologies among ruminant livestock keepers and other value chains actors in the Mali regions of Mopti, Timbuktu and Sikasso.
Responsibilities
The key responsibilities for this position include:
– Handle all secretarial responsibilities and duties for the office.
– Handle and account for petty cash payments.
– Assist with preparation of technical and financial reports and submissions as needed;
– Manage, review and respond to internal and external communication flow, including drafting correspondence and responding to queries.
– Maintain and update collaborators’ contacts information and coordinates distribution of materials and information.
– Plan drivers and vehicles for official duty trips; Update vehicles documents and renewal of technical control. 
– Assist in communications with partners on project implementation;
– Arrange travel of program and other ILRI staff and collaborators for field visits, meetings and training in Mali;
– Arrange visas and other travel documents;
– Assist with maintenance of ILRI asset database;
– Maintain proper filing and other office management systems;
Requirements
– Diploma in Secretarial Science, Office Management, Business Administration or other relevant field of study from a recognized university or college.
– At least 5 years of relevant professional experience preferably in administration, finance, human relations in a multidisciplinary working environment.
– Excellent command in written and spoken English and French. 
– Strong computer skills in relevant office applications software packages (i.e. MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access, and relevant accounting software).
– Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and to take initiative and exercise good judgment;
– Competency in personal organization and priority setting with the ability to work effectively under time pressure and manage multiple priorities;
– Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with people in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment and to be an effective team player;
– Ability to interact positively and maintain good relations with ILRI and ICRISAT staff as well as partners/collaborators;
– Possess excellent interpersonal communications skills and participate as a team member in accomplishment of tasks;
– Highly effective planning, organizational and multi-tasking skills with a positive attitude and strong administrative service orientation;
– The Administrative and Finance manager will work closely with relevant units at ILRI Headquarters and should be responsive to requests from the Headquarters in a timely and professional manner.
This is a nationally recruited position. ILRI offers a competitive remuneration commensurate with skills and experience.
The appointment will be for a period of two years, inclusive three months’ probation, with a possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
The duty station will be at ILRI office in Bamako, Mali.
How to apply:
Applicants should apply on or before 18 March, 2016 by email to: icrisat@icrisatml.org, with a letter of motivation, latest Curriculum Vitae, and names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. The reference name of the position should be clearly indicated in the subject line of the email.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.