EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFRICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFRICAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
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Job Description
Organisation Overview
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a non-aligned non-political not-for-profit pan African organisation headquartered in Nairobi Kenya. The new vision of the AAS Strategic Planis Transforming lives through Science Technology and Innovation . Our mission is to leverage Science Technology and Innovation for sustainable socioeconomic development and the values driving the implementation of the mission and the vision statements are Integrity Diversity Excellence Empathy Collaboration and Fairness.
The tripartite mandate of the AAS include:
- ensuring the provision of an enabling environment that cultivates learning and that enhances growth for sustainable development in Africa;
- nurturing expanding and building partnership engagements and enhancing AAS brand visibility to transform STI in Africa to address developmental challenges and take advantage of available opportunities; and
- supporting the best STI people institutions and programmes to undertake relevant research and foster knowledge sharing and skill development in the digital age.
The 2023- 2027 strategic plan of the AAS focuses on five strategic focus areas. These are: environmental and climate change health and well-being natural sciences policy and governance and social sciences and humanities.
Position Overview
It is within the above context that AAS is looking for a suitable dynamic visionary and impactful Executive Director who will provide leadership and a new strategic direction for AASs programs to achieve the Academys vision mission and objectives for driving a scientific technological and innovative continental agenda for Africa. The Executive Director works under the guidance of the President and Governing Council of the AAS. The position is responsible for the programmatic and operational management of the organisation. The incumbent will sustainably drive the mandate of the AAS through the secretariat team and report directly to the President and the Governing Council.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
1. Strategic Management and Leadership
Under the supervision of the Governing council the ED shall:
- Lead the development and implementation of the overall AAS strategy. Develop the annual business plans and performance targets that are aligned to AAS goals;
- Work with the President and the Governing Council to develop sustainable strategies and policies for the AAS anc co-Lead the engagement with all stakeholders to sustain the AAS vision. Lead the management team in realising the AAS vision for the overall programmes agenda.
- Implement policy direction by capacitating the AAS to become Africas strategic advisory body and think tank.
- Shape strategies and policies by implementing key science technology and innovation programmes. Provide oversight to all finance and administrative services to ensure compliance with organisation financial grants contracts and donor requirements.
- Lead the team in designing policies that contribute to creating an environment where partnerships can thrive and ensure AAS has an effective framework for creating and maintaining relationships.
Under the oversight of the Governing Council the ED shall:
- Provide management and financial oversight of all programmes activities training and technical assistance.
- Supervise the implementation of all Programme activities; ensuring that performance schedules are observed and outputs are completed and delivered according to schedule and within budget.
- Present requests for the approval of new programmes and report regularly on the progress of on-going programmes to the Governing Council;
- Work in liaison with the various stakeholders to ensure that programmes and activities approved by the Governing Council are appropriately implemented;
- Mobilise funds for the Academy. This includes engaging with African governments International governments philanthropists and donors through AASs fundraising efforts to drive the agenda of the Academy.
- Keep abreast of the trends within the donor environment to ensure funding diversification initiatives both locally and internationally to strengthen program funding and organisation stability
- Provide regular reports to the Governing Council on programmes funding operations and activities.
- Foster a learning environment among the team members to encourage innovation and sharing of ideas.
- Ensure appropriate training and capacity building activities for program staff members to support high-quality program implementation.
- Coordinate AAS Fellows and affiliates recruitment nomination evaluation and induction procedures.
- Build a strong global advocacy strategy for the Academy to ensure its visibility and credibility.
- Work to secure long-term commitments from our global partners.
- Participate in international meetings make strategic visits (as required and in consultation with the President and GC) to key stakeholders and show continued interest in those that contact the Academy;
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with key policy decision-makers within donors partners governments and other relevant regional and international bodies to secure AASs ability to influence policy decisions favouring its strategic agenda.
- Serve as the principal liaison officer for the Academy and keep in contact with the scientific community and donor agencies.
4. Academy Administration
- Ensure that the academy accounts are audited annually;
- Oversee the management of human resources within the AAS.
- Maintain oversight on developing and implementing management information systems.
- Develop a risk management framework that must be adhered to when approved by the Governing Council.
- Provide management leadership in staff supervision performance appraisals hiring and mentoring employees to ensure quality and retention of core program staff.
- The successful candidate should have the following qualifications and attributes:
- Degree from a recognised university.
- A relevant PhD earned from a recognized University with a record of scholarship.
- Clear demonstration of the attraction of research project grants.
- An established record and history of leading building and managing a successful organisation or institution.
- The ability to raise funds and build sustainably beneficial networks with governments major scientific communities the private sector institutions of higher learning and relevant NGO/Foundation.
- Ability to build a self-sustaining Academy.
- Excellent managerial and leadership skills.
- At least 7 years experience in a senior leadership role.
- Knowledge of other African Union languages (e.g. Arabic French and Portuguese) will be an advantage.
Additional Information
This is a fixed term engagement. The successful candidate will be engaged full time (40 hours/ week) for a period of 3 years working at the AAS offices in Nairobi Kenya.
Interest Applicant should fill and submit the job application form Online through the Interlink Management Recruitment Portal at by 29th August 2025 17:00 HRS EAT attaching a one-page cover letter curriculum vitae/ resume academic certificates and testimonials
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Employment Type
Full Time
