Director, Research and Knowledge Development Employment Opportunity – AfriChild Centre

Organisation: AfriChild
Centre
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
About US:
AfriChild Centre was established in January 2013 to improve child
protection practice and inform policy through a systematic process of
scientific research, analysis and knowledge development. The Centre seeks to
deepen the quality of evaluative research and effectiveness measurement of
child wellbeing interventions, in line with ensuing global discourse among
child rights activists and child protection actors.
Job Summary: The Director,
Research and Knowledge Development will oversee the research, innovation and
knowledge development program functions of The AfriChild Centre to ensure that
the organisation is at the forefront on children issues in the region, and to
be a credible and influential force for change. The role will also aim to
improve the quality of AfriChild’s ongoing programming and to generate and
disseminate new knowledge and evidence relevant to AfriChild’s mission so as to
influence policy and practice in the East Africa region and globally.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:  
  • Manage the design and management of
    AfriChild’s research and programming:
    Lead a process to assess
    research opportunities for AfriChild, identify opportunities for, and
    oversee the design and management of: formative research; studies;
    surveys; innovative demonstration projects; operations research projects.
    • Build innovative research and
      policy partnerships, with academia, think tanks, trusts and foundations,
      NGOs and others, that deliver new and emerging research work for
      AfriChild.
    • Identify and coordinate
      associate researchers for AfriChild so as to build a database of
      researchers who would be associated and involved in advancing the work of
      AfriChild.
  • Tasked with the identification and
    Coordination of researchers under the AfriChild Mentorship Program:

    Play a leading role in the identification and coordination of upcoming
    researchers under the AfriChild mentorship program. This will involve the
    identification of mentees and mentors and also in developing the criteria
    of selection.
  • Generate new knowledge and evidence:
    Maintain a high level of professional and academic standing by leading the
    generation of publications and other technical materials to support child
    rights programming.
  • Policy, procedures, strategy and
    guidance:
    Convene and coordinate working group(s) of experts
    working on research activities and publications. Establish or update
    policies, procedures and guidance for research work, for generating
    publications. Develop and update the AfriChild impact strategy, which will
    be a framework to assess the impact of AfriChild’s activities in meeting
    its objectives. The collection of this information and data is critical
    when it comes to the mid and final evaluation of the project.
  • Team Leadership: Lead and
    coordinate the work of the team within the Research and Knowledge
    Development Unit; including the project team staff and consultants as
    required, ensuring that the team functions as a coherent unit within a
    wider institutional mandate.
  • Planning and management:
    Develop and propose plans and budgets for inclusion in the annual Program
    of Work and Budget, issue program and funding approvals for research
    projects, ensure programming in innovative areas and other research work
    in accordance with delegated authorities, and ensure that all projects are
    managed within budget and tracked correctly in the contracts database.
  • Strategic Management:
    Contribute to strategic management of AfriChild and support institutional
    development.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience: 
  • The ideal candidate for the Director,
    Research and Knowledge Development job opportunity must hold a Masters
    Degree in any of the following disciplines: social sciences, education,
    statistics humanities, development studies, public health or economics,
  • Possession of a PhD qualification is an
    added advantage.
  • A minimum of ten years of relevant
    research experience with research, academic institution or think tanks in
    a developing country
  • Excellent track record of publications in
    peer reviewed journals, books, book chapters and other relevant
    publications.
  • Extensive knowledge and experience in
    implementing and/or interpreting a range of analytical research tools and
    methods, both economic and social, as well as quantitative and qualitative
    data;
  • Strong strategic planning, prioritisation,
    and execution skills. Proven ability to manage multiple objectives,
    competing demands, and monitor progress and impact;
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate
    effectively on technical issues to diverse audiences in both large and
    small group settings;
  • Innovative thinker;
  • High-level analytical skills;
  • Proven ability to work with multiple teams
    in a collaborative and contributory manner;
  • Previous working relationships with think
    tanks, academic institutions, donors, government departments, UN agencies,
    NGOs, trusts and foundations, and media;
  • Track record of team management and
    ability to lead projects from inception to completion;
  • Knowledge and ability to implement
    principles of management, leadership, conflict resolution, negotiation,
    and motivation; and
  • Possess an ability to think strategically,
    delegate responsibility, listen carefully, build consensus and communicate
    and advocate effectively in a complex matrix organisation.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested individuals should send their
applications and updated CVs addressed to the Executive Director of the
AfriChild Centre to info@africhild.or.ug or hand deliver to the AfriChild
Centre located at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere
University, Plot 103, Mary Stuart Road, opposite Lumumba Hall of Residence.
Deadline: 17th May,
2017
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