Program Management Associate

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) on behalf of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) seeks to recruit a Program Management Associate to provide operational, financial, and administrative support to ensure effective implementation of biotechnology projects of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The Associate plays a key role in project tracking, financial assistance, and process improvement within the Biotechnology Program of IITA.

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa. 

ILRI hosts the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nairobi. IITA ) with its headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, works with partners throughout Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain an updated calendar of project deliverables, milestones, donor reports, and technical submissions.
• Support project leads in tracking progress against work plans/deliverables, and coordinating activities across scientific, support, and administrative teams to ensure timely implementation
• Assist in preparing and consolidating technical reports, dashboards, and key program documentation.
• Maintain regular communication with partners and collaborators, ensuring consistency of information and timely updates.
• In liaison with PDAU, coordinate project startup and closure processes in compliance with IITA and donor guidelines.
• Support the Program Manager (PM) in filing and archiving the program data into respective IITA databases.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, documentation of results, lessons learned, and process improvements.
• Support preparation of project budgets, financial forecasts, monitoring of expenditure including highlighting variances requiring corrective action
• Assist the Project Manager to review and consolidate financial reports to ensure accuracy and compliance with donor and institutional guidelines.
• Maintain organized financial records and support audit requirements
• Coordinate with Project Development & Administrative Unit (PDAU) and Finance teams during proposal development, budgeting, and management of sub-agreements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in project management, business administration, or a related field
• 2 years of experience with Bachelors or 5 years' experience with Diploma
• Experience in project or program management, preferably within research, or donor-funded environments
• Demonstrated experience in accounting
• Effective administrative skills 
• Effective communication and writing skills
• Experience in facilitating teamwork and collaboration across multiple functions
• Experience working in an international organization

Post location: The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya

Terms of Appointment

This position is at job level HG12 and it is only open to Kenyan nationals. The position is a 2 year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes pension, medical and other insurances.

How to apply: Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate's professional qualifications and work experience to the Head of  People and Culture through our recruitment portal by clicking on "Apply Now" on or before 22 December 2025. The position title and reference number REF: PA/IITA/2025 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the cover letter.

We thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

To find out more about ILRI, visit our websites at 

More ILRI jobs