The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works to improve food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for better and more sustainable use of livestock. ILRI is a CGIAR research centre - part of a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

Key Responsibilities

Livestock Health & Husbandry Management:

• Supervise all routine treatments, vaccinations, and disease prevention protocols.
• Ensure proper animal identification through notching, tattoos, branding, and RFID tags.
• Oversee supplementary feeding programmes and ensure nutritional requirements are met.
• Implement effective grazing management strategies, including rotational grazing and hay making.

Breeding & Selection:

• Conduct selection of breeding stock, culling candidates, and sale animals.
• Maintain and improve genetic quality through controlled breeding programmes.
• Perform or coordinate artificial insemination (AI) services as required.

Record Keeping & Data Management:

• Develop and maintain an electronic database for breeding data, production records, and sales records.
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of all livestock data, including herd movements and health interventions (cattlemax).
• Prepare monthly livestock reports for the Senior Manager/Head – Kapiti.

Asset & Infrastructure Management:

• Oversee the management and maintenance of livestock-related assets, including waterholes, boreholes, machinery, equipment, and livestock housing.
• Schedule and supervise routine maintenance and repairs to prevent downtime.
• Recommend capital investments for infrastructure improvements.

Research Support:

• Support scientists during implementation of experimental trials involving livestock.
• Ensure research protocols are followed without compromising animal welfare.
• Provide technical input on livestock-related research designs.

Security & Safety Coordination:

• Work in close collaboration with the Kapiti Head of Security on all livestock security issues, including theft, predator control, and boundary integrity.
• Implement livestock movement controls to prevent straying and losses.

Administrative & Financial Duties:

• Assist in budget preparation for livestock operations and ensure financial resources are properly utilised through effective monitoring.
• Authorise and track livestock-related expenditures (feed, veterinary supplies, fuel).
• Approve sales invoices for livestock and track receipts in coordination with the Kapiti Accountant.

Personnel Management:

• Manage livestock department staff, including recruitment, orientation, and training of new personnel.
• Allocate tasks and responsibilities and monitor performance.
• Prepare staff appraisals and recommend remuneration adjustments.
• Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the Senior Manager/Head – Kapiti.

Requirements

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in animal Husbandry, Animal Science, Livestock Production, Veterinary Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive, hands-on management experience in livestock operations, preferably in a ranch or research setting.
• Demonstrated experience in livestock breeding programmes, animal identification systems, and the sale of livestock.

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of animal health, husbandry, breeding programmes, and grazing management.
• Proven ability to manage livestock-related assets, including machinery, water infrastructure (waterholes and boreholes), and animal housing.
• Proficiency in electronic record-keeping, database management, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated capability in developing, planning, and implementing short- and long-term operational goals.

Leadership & Management Competencies

• Demonstrated team leadership and people management skills, including staff supervision, training, and performance appraisal.
• Proven ability to supervise, organise, prioritise, and schedule work effectively across a diverse team.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement in the management of day-to-day ranch operations.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with researchers, security teams, and ranch management.

Key Attributes

• Results-oriented and capable of balancing competing operational priorities.
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving skills in a dynamic ranch environment.
• Commitment to animal welfare, productivity, and continuous genetic improvement.

• Supervise all routine treatments, vaccinations, and disease prevention protocols.
• Ensure proper animal identification through notching, tattoos, branding, and RFID tags.
• Oversee supplementary feeding programmes and ensure nutritional requirements are met.
• Implement effective grazing management strategies, including rotational grazing and hay making.
• Conduct selection of breeding stock, culling candidates, and sale animals.
• Maintain and improve genetic quality through controlled breeding programmes.
• Perform or coordinate artificial insemination (AI) services as required.
• Develop and maintain an electronic database for breeding data, production records, and sales records.
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of all livestock data, including herd movements and health interventions (cattlemax).
• Prepare monthly livestock reports for the Senior Manager/Head – Kapiti.
• Oversee the management and maintenance of livestock-related assets, including waterholes, boreholes, machinery, equipment, and livestock housing.
• Schedule and supervise routine maintenance and repairs to prevent downtime.
• Recommend capital investments for infrastructure improvements.
• Support scientists during implementation of experimental trials involving livestock.
• Ensure research protocols are followed without compromising animal welfare.
• Provide technical input on livestock-related research designs.
• Work in close collaboration with the Kapiti Head of Security on all livestock security issues, including theft, predator control, and boundary integrity.
• Implement livestock movement controls to prevent straying and losses.
• Assist in budget preparation for livestock operations and ensure financial resources are properly utilised through effective monitoring.
• Authorise and track livestock-related expenditures (feed, veterinary supplies, fuel).
• Approve sales invoices for livestock and track receipts in coordination with the Kapiti Accountant.
• Manage livestock department staff, including recruitment, orientation, and training of new personnel.
• Allocate tasks and responsibilities and monitor performance.
• Prepare staff appraisals and recommend remuneration adjustments.
• Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the Senior Manager/Head – Kapiti.

• Strong knowledge of animal health, husbandry, breeding programmes, and grazing management.
• Proven ability to manage livestock-related assets, including machinery, water infrastructure (waterholes and boreholes), and animal housing.
• Proficiency in electronic record-keeping, database management, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated capability in developing, planning, and implementing short- and long-term operational goals.
• Demonstrated team leadership and people management skills, including staff supervision, training, and performance appraisal.
• Proven ability to supervise, organise, prioritise, and schedule work effectively across a diverse team.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement in the management of day-to-day ranch operations.
• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with researchers, security teams, and ranch management.
• Results-oriented and capable of balancing competing operational priorities.
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving skills in a dynamic ranch environment.
• Commitment to animal welfare, productivity, and continuous genetic improvement.

• Bachelor’s degree in animal Husbandry, Animal Science, Livestock Production, Veterinary Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive, hands-on management experience in livestock operations, preferably in a ranch or research setting.
• Demonstrated experience in livestock breeding programmes, animal identification systems, and the sale of livestock.