• Position Title: Program Management Associate
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya (ILRI Campus – Hosting IITA Biotechnology Program)
• Employment Type: Full-Time (2-Year Contract, Renewable)
• Number of Vacancies: 1 (Kenyan Nationals Only)
• Reporting To: Program Manager / Head of Biotechnology Program (IITA)
• Application Deadline: December 22, 2025
• Category/Department: Project Management / Biotechnology
• Salary: Estimated KES 100,000 – 140,000 Monthly (Note: This is an estimate based on 2025 market data for HG12 at ILRI/CGIAR centres – typical range for program associates with Bachelor’s + 2 years or Diploma + 5 years. Includes pension, medical, insurance. Final salary determined by ILRI/IITA.)

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Introduction

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), on behalf of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), is recruiting a Program Management Associate to provide operational, financial, and administrative support for the effective implementation of IITA’s biotechnology projects hosted at ILRI Nairobi. The Associate plays a key role in project tracking, financial assistance, and process improvement within the Biotechnology Program of IITA.

Requiring a Bachelor’s degree in project management, business administration or related (2 years experience) or Diploma (5 years experience), demonstrated experience in accounting, and proven skills in **project coordination, reporting, and stakeholder communication, this HG12 position (Kenyan nationals only) is a 2-year renewable contract. Ideal for organized, analytical professionals passionate about agricultural biotechnology, this opportunity aligns with Kenya’s KES 200 billion agribusiness sector and Vision 2030’s food security goals. This role suits proactive, detail-oriented team players ready for impactful, inclusive program support in two leading CGIAR centres.

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About ILRI & IITA

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty through livestock research, hosting IITA’s Biotechnology Program in Nairobi. IITA (headquartered in Ibadan, Nigeria) reduces producer/consumer risks, enhances crop quality/productivity, and generates wealth from agriculture across Africa and beyond.

Together, ILRI and IITA foster a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and impact, delivering biotechnology solutions for tropical agriculture. For Program Management Associates, the centres provide mentorship, cross-institutional exposure, and career growth, creating a workplace where your coordination advances food-secure futures in a diverse, inclusive team.

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Key Responsibilities

As Program Management Associate at ILRI (for IITA), you will support biotechnology projects. Core duties include:

• Maintain updated calendar of project deliverables, milestones, donor reports, technical submissions.
• Support project leads in tracking progress against work plans and coordinating activities across scientific/support/admin teams.
• Assist in preparing/consolidating technical reports, dashboards, program documentation.
• Maintain regular communication with partners/collaborators for information consistency and updates.
• Coordinate project startup/closure with PDAU in compliance with IITA/donor guidelines.
• Support filing/archiving program data into IITA databases.
• Contribute to monitoring/evaluation, documentation of results, lessons learned, process improvements.
• Support preparation of project budgets, financial forecasts, expenditure monitoring, variance highlighting.
• Assist Project Manager in reviewing/consolidating financial reports for accuracy/compliance.
• Maintain organized financial records and support audit requirements.
• Coordinate with PDAU/Finance during proposal development, budgeting, sub-agreement management.

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Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in project management, business administration, or related field (2 years experience) OR Diploma (5 years experience).
• Demonstrated experience in accounting.
• Effective administrative skills.
• Effective communication and writing skills.
• Experience facilitating teamwork across multiple functions.
• Experience working in an international organization.

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Company Culture and Values

ILRI and IITA foster a culture of scientific excellence, equity, and impact, delivering biotechnology for tropical agriculture. With global teams, the centres promote diversity through inclusive research and youth focus, encouraging collaboration via cross-centre projects. Values of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity guide operations, with Program Management Associates central to project success.

The centres support growth with training and exposure, creating a purposeful workplace. For the Program Management Associate, this means enabling biotech breakthroughs in a supportive environment, aligned with Vision 2030, offering a fulfilling path in agricultural development.

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How to Apply

Apply now for the Program Management Associate position at ILRI (for IITA).

Submit cover letter + CV via https://www.ilri.org/join-us/jobs-careers?jid=58867-program-management-associate by December 22, 2025.

Subject: REF: PA/IITA/2025

ILRI is an equal opportunity employer; only shortlisted contacted. No fees.

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Tags

ILRI IITA Program Management Associate Nairobi, Biotechnology Project Coordination, Financial Reporting Audit Support, Full-Time Bachelor’s 2 Years Diploma 5 Years, Accounting Administrative Skills, Vision 2030 Agricultural Biotechnology

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Expert Tips for Success as Program Management Associate at ILRI/IITA: A Shortlister’s Perspective

As a recruiter shortlisting for ILRI/IITA’s Program Management Associate, I prioritize applications that demonstrate project tracking precision, financial diligence, and cross-team coordination in agricultural research. With a 70% rejection rate due to generic CVs or no accounting experience, these 10 tips are designed to place your application in the top 5% by showcasing your Bachelor’s/Diploma and 2–5 years. Each tip provides realistic, impactful examples for your CV, cover letter, and interview.

Tip 1: Lead with a Quantified Project Tracking Achievement

Why It Works: Recruiters seek associates who keep projects on schedule—50% of shortlists go to candidates with calendar/milestone metrics. A CV opening with a specific achievement (e.g., “Tracked 50 project milestones with 98% on-time delivery”) grabs attention, proving your tracking.

CV Example:
“Tracked 50 project milestones as Associate candidate with 98% on-time delivery.”
Why: This showcases your tracking, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s calendar needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As 2-year project coordinator, I monitored 100 deliverables with 95% compliance, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It links your experience to the job’s progress tracking needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I coordinated 40 activities quarterly with 92% milestone achievement, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story highlights your tracking with metrics.

How to Do It: Open your CV with a “Key Achievement” section featuring one bullet point with an on-time/compliance metric. Include “Program Management Associate” and “project tracking” in your CV and cover letter. Practice a 30-second interview story. Attach a redacted project tracker.

Tip 2: Highlight Financial Assistance with a Budget Example

Why It Works: Supporting budget preparation/forecasting/expenditure monitoring is core—recruiters prioritize financial assistants. A specific example of assistance (e.g., “Supported 20 budgets with 95% variance control”) shows diligence.

CV Example:
“Supported 20 project budgets as Associate candidate with 95% variance control.”
Why: This quantifies your diligence, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s financial needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As accounting experienced, I forecasted 50 expenditures with 90% accuracy, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s monitoring needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I assisted 40 financial cycles quarterly with 92% compliance, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your diligence with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Financial Assistance & Budget Diligence” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s expenditure monitoring. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted budget forecast.

Tip 3: Demonstrate Report Preparation with a Dashboard Example

Why It Works: Preparing/consolidating technical reports/dashboards is key—recruiters prioritize report preparers. A specific example of preparation (e.g., “Prepared 50 dashboards with 98% stakeholder satisfaction”) shows preparation.

CV Example:
“Prepared 50 technical dashboards as Associate candidate with 98% stakeholder satisfaction.”
Why: This quantifies your preparation, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s reporting needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As candidate, I consolidated 30 reports with 95% clarity, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s documentation needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I delivered 40 reports quarterly with 92% insight, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your preparation with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Report Preparation & Dashboard Documentation” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s key program. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted dashboard sample.

Tip 4: Highlight Stakeholder Communication with a Partner Example

Why It Works: Maintaining regular communication with partners/collaborators is valued—recruiters prioritize communicators. A specific example of communication (e.g., “Communicated with 100 partners with 95% information consistency”) shows communication.

CV Example:
“Communicated with 100 partners as Associate candidate with 95% information consistency.”
Why: This quantifies your communication, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s regular needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As candidate, I updated 50 collaborators with 90% timeliness, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s consistency needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I liaised 40 partners quarterly with 92% synergy, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your communication with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Stakeholder Communication & Partner Consistency” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s collaborators. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted communication log.

Tip 5: Demonstrate Startup/Closure Coordination with a PDAU Example

Why It Works: Coordinating startup/closure with PDAU is operational—recruiters prioritize coordinators. A specific example of coordination (e.g., “Coordinated 20 project startups with 98% compliance”) shows coordination.

CV Example:
“Coordinated 20 project startups as Associate candidate with 98% PDAU compliance.”
Why: This quantifies your coordination, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s processes needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As candidate, I closed 15 projects with 95% donor satisfaction, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s compliance needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I managed 40 cycles quarterly with 92% guideline adherence, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your coordination with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Startup/Closure Coordination & PDAU Compliance” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s donor guidelines. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted closure report.

Tip 6: Highlight Data Filing with an Archiving Example

Why It Works: Supporting filing/archiving into IITA databases is administrative—recruiters prioritize archivists. A specific example of filing (e.g., “Filed 500 program data with 98% retrieval”) shows archiving.

CV Example:
“Filed 500 program data as Associate candidate with 98% retrieval accuracy.”
Why: This quantifies your archiving, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s filing needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As candidate, I archived 200 records with 95% compliance, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s respective databases needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I organized 40 archives quarterly with 92% accessibility, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your archiving with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Data Filing & Archiving Accuracy” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s IITA databases. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted archive index.

Tip 7: Demonstrate Monitoring & Evaluation Contribution with a Lessons Example

Why It Works: Contributing to monitoring/evaluation/lessons learned is valued—recruiters prioritize impact contributors. A specific example of contribution (e.g., “Contributed to 20 M&E reports with 95% lessons documented”) shows contribution.

CV Example:
“Contributed to 20 M&E reports as Associate candidate with 95% lessons documented.”
Why: This quantifies your contribution, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s monitoring needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As candidate, I documented 50 results with 90% process improvement, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s lessons learned needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I evaluated 40 outcomes quarterly with 92% recommendations, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your contribution with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Monitoring & Evaluation Contribution & Lessons Documentation” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s results. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted lessons report.

Tip 8: Highlight Financial Report Assistance with a Consolidation Example

Why It Works: Assisting review/consolidation of financial reports is financial—recruiters prioritize consolidators. A specific example of assistance (e.g., “Assisted 50 financial consolidations with 98% accuracy”) shows consolidation.

CV Example:
“Assisted 50 financial consolidations as Finance Associate candidate with 98% accuracy.”
Why: This quantifies your consolidation, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s review needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As accounting experienced, I consolidated 30 reports with 95% compliance, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s accuracy needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I reviewed 40 finances quarterly with 92% donor fit, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your consolidation with metrics.

How to Do It: Include a “Financial Report Assistance & Consolidation Accuracy” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s institutional guidelines. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted financial summary.

Tip 9: Demonstrate Audit Record Maintenance with a Compliance Example

Why It Works: Maintaining organized financial records/supporting audits is compliance—recruiters prioritize record keepers. A specific example of maintenance (e.g., “Maintained 200 audit records with 100% readiness”) shows maintenance.

CV Example:
“Maintained 200 audit records as Associate candidate with 100% readiness.”
Why: This quantifies your maintenance, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s records needs.

Cover Letter Example:
“As candidate, I supported 50 audits with 95% documentation, preparing me for biotechnology program requirements.”
Why: It connects your experience to the job’s audit needs.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I prepared 40 records quarterly with 92% compliance, aligning with ILRI/IITA’s standards.”
Why: This story emphasizes your maintenance with metrics.

How to Do It: Include an “Audit Record Maintenance & Compliance Readiness” section in your CV. In your cover letter, connect one example to ILRI/IITA’s audit requirements. For interviews, practice a 30-second story. Attach a redacted audit file.

Tip 10: Craft a Concise, Biotechnology-Impact Passion Interview Talk

Why It Works: Recruiters prioritize associates who convey biotechnology-impact passion and alignment with ILRI/IITA’s crop-livestock mission. A concise, 1-minute talk linking your skills to the goals (e.g., sustainable agriculture) makes you memorable.

CV Example (Summary Statement):
“Impact-driven Program Management Associate candidate with Bachelor’s Business, 98% project tracking, passionate about ILRI/IITA’s biotechnology for Africa’s food security.”
Why: This sets a strong tone, aligning your skills with the mission.

Cover Letter Example:
“With 95% coordination mastery and accounting rigor, I’m committed to ILRI/IITA’s efficient biotech implementation.”
Why: It conveys passion and ties your skills to the goals.

Interview Example:
“As Associate, I tracked 92% biotech milestones, ready to enable ILRI/IITA’s tropical agriculture revolution.”
Why: This talk connects your experience to the needs, showing passion and readiness.

How to Do It: Craft a 1-minute talk highlighting your program experience, a key achievement (e.g., “92% tracked”), and passion for ILRI/IITA’s mission. Include it in your cover letter’s closing and rehearse for interviews. Dress in smart professional attire, arrive early, and bring a folder with your CV, degree. Reference biotechnology. Follow up via ilri.org emphasizing ILRI/IITA’s transformative vision.

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