Director of Research African Population & Health Research Center

The African Population & Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to conducting high quality and policy relevant research on population, health, education, and development issues facing sub-Saharan Africa.

The Center seeks to recruit a Director of Research.

This is an internationally-recruited position, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Position:

The Director of Research at APHRC will report to the Executive Director and will supervise research program leaders. S/he will be part of the Executive Leadership Team and will be primarily responsible for overseeing the Center’s research division.

The candidate will:

• Provide overall direction and guidance to the Center’s various research programs in health, education, population, urbanization and development, ensuring synergies across these programs;
• Lead the translation of the Center’s strategic plan into annual work plans for the Research Division
• Work with research program leaders in setting research priorities and in resource mobilization;
• Support research program leaders in providing quality assurance for all research work, including proposals, ethical reviews, and research/donor reports;
• Manage and nurture the Center’s network of partners and collaborators at national, regional and international levels;
• Work with the Head of the Statistics and Surveys Unit to ensure efficient systems for data collection, processing, management, archiving, analyses, and sharing;
• Work with the Director of Policy Engagement and Communication to enhance the role of research in informing policy decisions and the Director of Research Capacity Strengthening to enhance research competencies of scientists within APHRC and across sub-Saharan Africa; and
• Work with the Director of Operations to ensure prudent and efficient deployment of the Center’s human and financial resources in implementing the Center’s research agenda

The Candidate:

APHRC is looking for an accomplished researcher and/or a research manager with:

• At least 10 years of post-doctoral experience in an academic or research institution, five of which must be at a senior management level
• A PhD in a field relevant to APHRC’s research program with good understanding of the broad issues across other research program areas
• Extensive experience working in sub-Saharan Africa
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, supervisory, and leadership skills with past experience in managing senior staff in research or academic institution
• Excellent track record in resource mobilization and publications.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of time, internationally.

Preference will be given to nationals from sub-Saharan Africa with demonstrated experience in research management, strong commitment to developing other researchers, knowledge and experience in financial and human resources management, as well as excellent writing and publication records.

The candidate must also be self-driven and demonstrate high-aptitude in assessing risks, conflict resolution, and team building.

Interested candidates should send via email or mail their letter of application and CV with contact details of three referees to the address below.

Please, indicate ‘’Director of Research’’ on the subject line for email applications or on the envelope for mailed applications.

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application by March 30, 2012.

The position will remain open until filled.

The Human Resources Manager
African Population and Health Research Center
APHRC Campus, 2nd Floor,
Manga Close, Off Kirawa Road, Kitisuru
P.O. Box 10787 – 00100 GPO, Nairobi

Email: jobs@aphrc.org;
Website: www.aphrc.org