ESSA Job Vacancy: Director of Research and Programme Delivery

ABOUT ESSA

ESSA improves education using evidence and data from Africa in research, advocacy and programme design.

We take a systems approach by identifying challenges and co-designing solutions in partnership with local education researchers, higher education leaders, policymakers, funders and employers to improve education outcomes for young people. We support research that generates actionable insights to inform decisions, policies and practice and strengthen education systems. This is an exciting opportunity to join a small but passionate and driven team based in Africa and Europe, to play a key role in advancing our work, impact and partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

ESSA’s values are at the heart of everything we do, and they are:

• Evidence-driven: We are driven by data and evidence to find what works best, building an evidence alliance for education in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Solutions-focused: We seek the highest impact for young people and educators in sub-Saharan Africa with the cost-effective funds we invest.

• Strengthening Trust: We strive to create supportive environments, building trust with the communities we work with.

• Always learning: Everyone’s opinion is valuable; we develop solutions through teamwork.

To find out more about ESSA, visit essa-africa.org.

ABOUT THE ROLE

ESSA is looking for a senior leader with high drive and a passion for maximising impact through evidence and data. Motivational and ambitious, the Director of Research and Programme Delivery plays a critical role in the success of ESSA’s mission, with overall responsibility for ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and meeting ESSA’s high standards.

The Director of Research and Programme Delivery will become a core member of ESSA’s Senior Leadership Team and our fundraising group and will work closely with the CEO and other Directors to ensure that the research strategy delivers on ESSA’s charitable objectives. (S)He will also lead the strategic development and delivery of a range of projects designed to ensure evidence and data from Africa are used to improve education outcomes for young people. These projects will combine research with training provision, convening and sub-granting and will involve close collaboration with the Policy and Advocacy and Communications teams.

Furthermore, the Director of Research and Programme Delivery will be an advocate for ensuring that the right evidence is used by decision makers to increase the impact of education for young people in sub-Saharan Africa.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Lead a diverse research team working remotely across seven countries in Africa and Europe and supporting them to deliver donor-funded projects within time and budget constraints.

• Provide quality control for research outputs as well as guidance and support to junior members of the team to ensure quality work across our programmes.

• Build and strengthen ESSA’s network of research institutions and researchers in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, to collaborate on the implementation of projects and increase the production of actionable evidence and data.

• Lead ESSA’s research strategy and manage the research team to achieve our strategic goals.

• Collaborate with the ESSA fundraising group to secure funding for new (and existing) research projects and programmes.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of ESSA’s strategic plans (e.g., for risk management, fundraising, various policies, communication, and advocacy) and governance decisions made by the CEO, SLT and Board of Trustees.

• Work with the ESSA team to capitalise on the knowledge ESSA has already generated and will generate in the future and oversee our approach to knowledge management.

• Collaborate with universities and other research institutions in Africa to support increased production of high-impact education research.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

• Entrepreneurial in approach, with the ability to thrive in an internationally dispersed team.

• Deep knowledge of research in the field of education and passionate about the role of education in development.

• A track record of managing the delivery of multiple donor-funded projects on time and within budget.

• A track record of building partnerships with policymakers, funders and non-governmental organisations.

• Excellent multi-tasker with the ability to manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure.

• Experience of building and managing teams.

• Experience of generating and using evidence in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Proven track record of collaborating with other senior colleagues to achieve a common goal.

• Experience of budget preparation and oversight.

• Educated to PhD-level in a relevant discipline or equivalent through work experience.

• Fluent written and spoken English.

• Most importantly as a representative of ESSA, the person should be a team player with a pleasant disposition and hands-on, able to strike conversations and be respectful of diversities. You should be independent, creative, sincere and possess a powerful drive to pursue quality research and responsible data management systems.

• Resident in Kenya.

• Familiarity with MS Office.

DESIRABLE

• French speaking.

• Experience working with large employers of young people in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Experience of fundraising and/or grants management.

• Knowledge of universities and research institutions in Africa.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The importance of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) underpins our mission and values at ESSA. We prioritise inclusion and celebrate the breadth of knowledge and experience working across different cultures brings to the organisation.

EDI at ESSA is embodied in the current composition of our Board of Trustees and our workforce, which strongly reflects the communities we work in, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

HOW TO APPLY

Please ensure that your CV and cover letter are saved using your given name and surname. For example, firstname.surname CV.

To apply please complete the form by clicking on this link.

The closing date for applications is the 4^th of November 2024 at 0900hrs GMT.

You can also download a PDF file of the job description: 

Director of Research and Programme Delivery - JD