Strategy and Policy Manager

Overview:

The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is both an honorific society and a development oriented mobilizer of the entire African science and technology community. It has recently developed a new programmatic unit, the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) in partnership with the African Union’s technical arm, NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and with support from three global funders. It aims to foster the long-term sustainable funding and development of global health research leadership and scientific excellence in Africa.

Key Objectives of the Strategy and Policy Manager:

To provide analytical rigor and creative thinking in the development of an evidence base to support the development and delivery of AESA’s scientific agenda for Africa.

To lead horizon scanning activities and contribute to the development of new schemes and initiatives, working in partnership with other funders where appropriate

To play a key advocacy role and mobilise African and International resources towards the support of research in Africa

Main duties:

The Strategy and policy manager will support the development of an overarching strategy to accelerate scientific excellence in Africa and ensure the direction of the scientific research agenda meets the strategic aims of AESA.

1.Leading benchmarking, horizon-scanning and gap analysis:

• Systematically examine and map the scientific research landscape across Africa to identify current gaps, issues and trends, emerging areas of interest and potential development and future opportunities.
• Develop and maintain mechanisms to keep abreast of the policy environment from national and international perspectives.
• Construct the evidence basis to inform decision-making and provide insights into improved delivery against the scientific research agenda.
• Lead research and analysis across a range of multiple sectors, topics and fields.
• Develop research reviews for internal, external and peer-review publication on research landscape in Africa or specific priority areas.
• Development of policy briefings on strengthening research across Africa
• Drawing on and supporting the inputs from AAS large Fellow network, develop understanding of funding landscape, mapping funding priorities spanning the 6 different programmatic areas of AAS, against research priorities as determined by the above activities.
• Support and manage policy research and stakeholder consultation activities, including externally commissioned activities as appropriate. Ensure all activity is designed and conducted in a consistent and rigorous way.

2.Leading on scientific strategic development:

• Keeping abreast of the broader scientific funding and policy landscape to inform the strategic direction of AESA and align it with AAS’s strategic plan;
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders, including other funders, partner organisations, and members of the scientific community, to identify, catalyse and promote opportunities for future areas of work;
• Collaborating with the Monitor & Evaluation Manager to integrate lessons learnt into the development of the scientific strategy and analyse quality of AESA’s funded work by supporting the development of output measures to asses scientific performance, delivery and impact across the portfolio.

3.Mobilising and securing resources and support for Research in Africa:

• Lead on development of successful proposals to major international, governmental donors and non-traditional donors to secure funds for AESA
• Working with the AESA Director and Executive Director AAS to secure resources from donors, including fundraising, advocacy, communications and negotiations with decision makers.
• Providing support and required evidence to NEPAD to broker translation of political commitments made by African governments into funding for science and technology, and ensuring that research and development become an important part of the agenda in the development of sustainable development and health impact in Africa.
• Act as an ambassador for AESA and AAS by actively participating in the scientific community to represent AESA’s views on the scientific agenda at meetings with partners and stakeholders;
• Build a network of strong relationships across stakeholder groups in Africa and internationally.

General

• Deputising for the Director of AESA as appropriate
• Provide support to the AESA Director developing and managing cross-cutting activities.
• Undertaking any other duties that may be required from time to time.

Organizational Relationships:

• Reporting to the AESA Director
• Working in partnership with staff in AESA ensuring integrated strategic development
• May be responsible for the line management of a small team of staff (would need to manage, recruit, develop, train and lead staff to support the activities needed to develop, execute and achieve the scientific strategic plan).
• Work with other team across AAS where appropriate.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential:

• PhD or post graduate qualification in a relevant science discipline

Desirable:

• Experience in policy analysis

BACKGROUND/EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• 10 years experience of scientific research in Africa, including experience as a primary researcher as well as involvement in policy analysis or the management of research programmes
• Significant knowledge, understanding and breadth of interest of the African research and policy environment.
• Proven experience developing publications and outputs for external audiences
• Proven experience in facilitating technical and strategic design processes, and developing workflow processes and tools
• Proven experience in working in African context
• Proven experience in leading a team and of direct line management

Desirable:

• Experience or knowledge of a number of grant giving activities

SKILLS

Essential:

• Highly organised approach to work.
• Demonstrable ability to write and communicate clearly and concisely.
• Articulate with the ability to put across ideas/opinions confidently and clearly both 1:1 and to groups.
• IT literate with experience of using database and other computerised systems.
• Experienced in use of Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to multi-task and to prioritize and manage a fluctuating, sometimes heavy, workload.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of second relevant language

PERSONAL QUALITIES/ INNATE ABILITIES

Essential:

• Alignment with, and commitment to, the broad vision of AESA.
• Confident and professional
• Able to step back from daily implementation to understand the bigger picture.
• Quality-focused and results-oriented
• Responsive, resourceful and determined
• Ability to absorb and analyse the constantly shifting research environment and country contexts, and adapt accordingly.
• Flexible approach to work
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to foster and develop the close working relationships required to ensure successful matrix working with the relevant funding division.
• Self motivated and able to demonstrate enthusiasm and drive to succeed.
• Good listening skills.
• Ability to cope with pressure and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to lead, motivate, manage and coach others.
• Robust approach to tackling issues.
• Setting clear performance objectives. Providing constructive feedback on performance together with the direct management of performance shortfalls
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to travel

MOTIVATION/ WORK RELATIONSHIPS

Essential:

• Ability to work both as a leader and as part of a team within a defined organisational structure.
• Ability to work effectively within a matrix structure.
• Ability to work well with people across the AAS and externally.

Application

Interested candidates are invited to access full job description and requirements for the position and the Job Application Form on this linkhttp://www.aasciences.org/ and submit a CV, the completed Application Form and a cover letter by email to recruitment@aasciences.org, no later than the 3^rdJuly 2015