Maize Testing Technician

Position: Maize Testing Technician

Deadline to Apply: December 2nd, 2013

Start Date: December 5th, 2013

Location: Nairobi or Nakuru County

Eligibility: Position open to local Kenyan hires only

About Innovations for Poverty Action: 

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit research organization that creates and evaluates approaches to solving development problems.

IPA disseminates the results of its evaluations to policymakers, practitioners, investors and donors around the world.

About the project

 Consumption of high levels of aflatoxin can be fatal, and chronic exposure has been linked in numerous studies to liver cancer, suppressed immune response and child stunting. 

The legally allowable level of aflatoxin contamination in food for human consumption set by the Kenyan regulatory authority is no more than 10 parts per billion. 

However, there is currently no structure in place for enforcement of this standard, even in the formal market. 

This project will introduce aflatoxin-certified maize into the Kenyan market.

Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities:

General

We are seeking a maize testing technician, to be based in Nairobi or Nakuru. 

The technician will work in large-scale commercial mill, implement sampling and aflatoxin testing of maize according to a detailed protocol, and record test results using Microsoft Excel. 

The technician reports to a Kenya-based project manager, and will also liaise directly with US-based researchers via phone or Skype as required. 

This is a full time, one year contract. 

The candidate must be available for paid training in Nairobi December 5-6.

Qualifications:

Required:  

• Ability to perform basic laboratory procedures with careful attention to detail. 
• Proficiency in MS word, excellent communication skills in English.

Desired

• Background in chemistry or biology with laboratory experience.

To Apply: Please send a cover letter and detailed CV, 3 references, daytime phone number(s), and email address. Your CV should include your scores or grades and other measures of academic achievement, and details about any relevant work experience.

Applications can be submitted to any of our branch offices, or by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org,

or by post office using P.O Box 373, Busia area code 50400 Kenya. 

If you submit by email, please ensure that the subject line reads: “Maize Testing Technician.”REF No.DA-2013-11-1. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by email for an interview. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a Rolling Basis.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Maize Testing Technician. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org.