Director Quality Assurance :::: National Agricultural Research Organisation-Entebbe

The National Agricultural Research Organization is established by the National Agricultural Research Act 2005 as a body corporate with the mandate to provide strategic direction for publically funded agricultural research in Uganda. The organization is composed of the Council as its governing body, Committees of Council, a Secretariat for its day-to-day operations with semi-autonomous Public Agricultural Research Institutes (PARI's) under its policy guidance. The Director General invites suitably qualified Ugandans to apply for the following positions at NARO Secretariat, Entebbe.

Job Title: Director Quality Assurance
Reports to: Director General
Salary Grade: UR 1(ii)
Age; 40-56 years

Overall Responsibility: He/She will head the Quality Assurance Directorate and will be responsible for the day-to-day administration and management of the Quality Assurance of the research programmes, services and outputs of the National Agricultural Research Systems.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
* Developing and recommending to the Council of quality standards and guidelines for conducting and delivering agricultural research services;
* ensuring that research programmes, services and processes meet the agreed standards;
*Maintaining a database of agricultural research service providers;
* monitoring the performance of agricultural research service providers and developing a dynamic and demand-responsive system for capacity strengthening of service providers, and overseeing the associated capacity strengthening activities;
* Ensuring that the process for agricultural research priority setting at national an zonal level complies with guidelines and agreed standards.
* Ensuring that the vetting process for the competitive grant awarding process complies with guidelines and agreed standards;
* ensuring that the quality of official publications, reports and information releases by the council and its secretariat are of a high standard;
* Deputizing for the Director General Requirements:
* At least Masters Degree in the field of natural sciences or socio-economics. Possession of a PhD will be an added advantage.
* Broad understanding of the role of agricultural research in agriculture and rural development.
*At least 10 years experience in agricultural research management at a senior level.
A track record in agricultural research or research in other related fields evidenced by peer reviewed publications
? Evidence of technical knowledge and skills relevant to research quality assurance
? Ability to facilitate and mentor a wide range of processes among peers
? Ability to design and implement institutional innovations for enhancing relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the national agricultural research system
Demonstrated leadership qualities as well as team building and administrative skills
? Some evidence of past finks and interactions with national, regional and international research institutions as well as with government and private sector research and development agencies.

Application Procedures:

Interested persons with the above requirements should submit hand-written applications together with a detailed curriculum vitae giving day-time telephone number and names and addresses of 3 (three) referees as well as copies of professional certificates and testimonials to the undersigned not later than 15th November 2010.

The Director General,
National Agricultural Research Organisation,
P.O.Box 295, Entebbe

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