Position: Head of Division Science, Technology and Space

Job Type: Contract

Salary: $50,746.00/annum

Application Deadline: July, 14/2023

Organization Information

Reports to: Director, Education, Science, Technology and Innovation

Directorate/Department/Organ: Education, Science, Technology and Innovation

Division: Science Technology and Space

Number of Direct Reports: 2

Number of Indirect Reports: 2

Job Grade: P5

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Regular

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Purpose of Job

To provide strategic and technical leadership for the Science, Technology, and Space Division of the AU Commission.

Main Functions

• Supervises and manages the work of the Division to ensure its effectiveness.

• Design strategies and policies to address the pertinent issues and challenges related to current practices in relevant areas.

• Contributes to the development of business continuity plans and oversees expansion and development of new and existing activities and ensures their implementation.

• Ensures risk management and mitigation as well as monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the programs;

• Engages stakeholders within Members States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Development Partners in designing and implementing strategies;

• Represents the AU in bi-lateral, multi-lateral and global engagements.

• Mobilises funds from donors and allocates them towards the implementation of strategies and activities of the division.

• Prepares periodic financial and program implementation reports and monitors budget execution.

Specific Responsibilities

• Formulates appropriate policies, strategies and action plans for development programs, and project proposals at the continental level in line with Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (STISA), the Space Policy and Strategy and other related strategies to contribute to the African Union Agenda 2063.

• Promotes intra-African and international cooperation in the area of STI and Space development for mutual benefit, through diplomacy, networks, including diaspora.

• Promotes knowledge sharing and ensures a strong African position.

• Liaises with other African Union Commission Units and Directorates for programmatic synergies and quality assurance in science, technology, innovation and Space, to maximize impact and elimination of overlaps and duplication;

• Provides policy support to strengthen the alignment of regional STI and Space agenda in close collaboration with the RECs in order to effectively support Member States;

• Mobilizes financial and technical resources with account management to support science, technology, innovation, and space programmes.

• Ensures overall management of the Science, Technology, Innovation and Space Division (M&E, budgeting, reporting, recruitment, supervision, procurement etc.) 

• Ensures production of working documents and draft decisions in Science and Technology, Innovation and Space for the STC-EST and the AU relevant Policy Organs.

• Performs any other duties that may be assigned by the Commission.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Science, or other closely related fields, with twelve (12) years of postgraduate work experience of which a minimum of seven (7) years must have been served at a managerial level and five (5) years at a supervisory level.

• Proven experience in assessing, monitoring, and evaluating Research and Development programmes will be an added advantage. 

• Certification in Project Management from recognized institutions will be an added advantage.

Required Skills

• Managerial skills, political tactfulness and supervisory skills to achieve documented objectives.

• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners

• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally

• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic); fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

How to Apply

Register using THIS LINK

Applications must be submitted no later than July 14, 2023 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

-The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

-Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia. 

Requisition ID: 1563