Director, Knowledge and Research

Position: 

Director, Knowledge and Research

Department: 

Knowledge, Monitoring and Evaluation (KME)

Grade: 

PS-7

Type of Contract: 

Fixed Term Renewable (subject to probationary period of 1 year)

Duty Station: 

Harare, Zimbabwe

Deadline: 

Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Foundation seeks to recruit a Director, Knowledge and Research whose overall responsibility is to lead, guide and oversee the intellectual leadership, strategic development, planning and implementation of knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation functions in line with the Foundation’s mission and long-term strategy. The specific responsibilities of the Director will include, but are not be limited to:

 1.         Leadership and Management

 a)      Provide overall intellectual leadership, guidance and management of ACBF’s Knowledge Management  strategy development and implementation in line with the organisation’s vision of making of ACBF a globally recognized center of excellence and a leader for knowledge in capacity building in Africa

b)      Lead the development and implementation of the KME framework.  This includes the development of plans, policies, rules, procedures, standards and platforms that guide the overall implementation of all KME activities.

c)       Ensure that the KME framework has continued relevance and is well mainstreamed in all the activities of the Foundation through carrying out regular assessments, reviewing systems and implementation of new changes and enhancement for sustained relevance and fitness for purpose and to inform decisions.

d)      Anticipate and advise the Executive Secretary on KME initiatives that ACBF should be taking to address existing and emerging capacity challenges and in support of the developmental priorities of the continent.

 e)      Manage the KME department providing the overall supervision and coordination of the work of the department and the Monitoring and Evaluation unit; development of the annual business plan ensuring compliance and providing guidance to staff to ensure that objectives are met.

 f)       Provide overall supervision to the Monitoring and Evaluation team ensuring the development of capacity across the organisation and facilitate organisational learning and the sharing of lessons learned from M&E findings.

2.         Knowledge Management

 a)      Coordinate the development and strengthening of the Foundation’s knowledge generation, sharing and utilization process by creating a strong internal and external awareness leveraging knowledge generated through implementation of ACBF’s capacity development interventions.

b)      Integrate and promote knowledge sharing through the Foundation’s operational business processes and systems to facilitate seamless exchange of information systems while strengthening the importance of knowledge management into all strategic planning at all levels synthesizing results generated, success stories and lessons learnt.

 c)       Establish and manage the building of knowledge sharing networks among the Foundation’s donors, member countries, think tanks and other partners based on the areas of the Foundation’s interventions; Serve as the Focal Point for the Foundation’s Strategic Studies Group.

 d)      Collaborate with the IT in the development of knowledge infrastructure and selection of knowledge and learning instruments, ranging from the application of advanced state-of-the art electronic/digital systems and online virtual knowledge networks to support learning, knowledge dissemination and information sharing. 

 e)      Lead and coordinate operations-related quantitative and qualitative research and thematic/development-oriented research relating to capacity development and management issues aligned to the Foundation’s key areas on intervention to capture and share key lessons learned.

 f)       Serve as Task Leader/Coordinator of the ACBF’s Flagship Africa Capacity Indicators Report (ACIR); the preparation and production of knowledge database and products such as Occasional and Working papers, Brown Brown Bag seminars, High Level Forums (HLFs).

 g)      Ensure overall coordination of Component 1 (Knowledge Management) of the ACBF-AfDB partnership – African Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results.

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Selection will be on a competitive basis   and the following minimum qualifications, experience and competencies are required:
2. Advanced University degree in Social Sciences (Economics, Public Administration, Development Studies or a Knowledge Management discipline.
3. Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated and progressive experience in knowledge management, networking and/or organisational learning. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation methods especially in program design and implementation including designing M&E methodologies will be an added advantage.
4. A good understanding of the capacity building discourse with the ability to interact with officials at the highest levels of government, civil society, international organizations and the private sector.
5. Must be self-initiating and be able to work independently with strong organising, work planning and scheduling skills, capable of handling large volumes of assignments accurately and thoroughly without losing focus.
6. Excellent English Language skills. Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage.
7. Excellent research, communication and presentation skills, both oral and written, proven ability to clearly and concisely prepare, present, discuss and defend issues, findings and recommendations
8.  Demonstrated ability to design and conduct qualitative and quantitative research, studied with experience in using SPSS, STATA.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications, quoting “Director, Knowledge and Research including curriculum vitae with three (3) referees should be received at the address below by 28 February 2015.  Only candidates meeting the requirements will be contacted.

The Executive Secretary

The African Capacity Building Foundation

P.O. Box 1562

HARARE, Zimbabwe

 E-mail:  Recruitment@acbf-pact.org

Only shortlisted applicants being considered for interview will be contacted. The Executive Secretary reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

 ‘ACBF is a smoke-free environment.’