Programme Officer Gca (Innovations) at African Academy of Sciences

Department: Programmes 

Reporting to: Programme Manager- GCA

Position Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Duration: 3 Years Renewable

Position Overview 

The Programme Officer is responsible for providing operational and business development support in the implementation and delivery of the Grand Challenges Africa Programme phase 2 projects. Specifically, this requires that innovations that have moved through proof of concept are supported through transition of scale and eventual scaling. The incumbent works in close collaboration with other AESA Programmes through the provision of operational and business development support in order to achieve the overall strategic goals of the Academy. GCA (Grand Challenges Africa) is a programme that supports big, bold, innovative and impactful ideas in health and development moving them along the continuum of discovery, development and delivery to make them scalable and sustainable.

Key Responsibilities  

Innovations support 

• To initiate and maintain effective relationships with innovators and to provide them with appropriate support and information as they deliver phase 2 support
• To communicate with other Innovation providers in Africa and globally to access the necessary additional support for innovators
• To ensure effective communication with other members of the programme team is maintained to achieve programme targets
• To develop and implement innovative strategies to promote GCA as an accelerator for phase 2 projects i.e. to build capacities for AAS to become a reputable innovations accelerator on the African continent
• Perform program related research to inform the grant application process; perform research work in archives, or through interviews, online, or whatever may be appropriate to assist the supervisor. Assist in the preparation of articles, reports, and presentations
• Prepare reports, articles and presentations for accountability and dissemination to stakeholders, agencies and foundations that fund the programme’s research.

Grants Management

• Manage the grant application, review, and award process using the grant management system to ensure accountability, measurability, reportability, and verifiability of the grants
• Launch calls for funding on the online grant management platform; provide support to applicants during the application process and generate reports upon awarding of grants
• Liaise with the grant management system providers to ensure a seamless flow of the grant administration process
• Participate in committees forged for purposes of managing grants under the GCA Programme
• Close grants in a diligent way ensuring all the monitoring and evaluations are adequately captured.

Programme Support

• Manage the GCA E-Marketplace including the online moderation of the relationships between innovators, funders, businesses, regulators, mentors and other stakeholders, including linkages with global innovation accelerators and actors
• Support the formation and work of a GCA Investment Advisory Group that will assist the programme team to evaluate, rank and fund the best projects that have demonstrated value for money and potential for development and delivery
• Prepare relevant programme material required for submission to agencies and foundations that fund research and innovation
• Attend programme-related meetings and represent the Programme Manager/AAS at the meetings
• Manage engagement with the digital community in collaboration with the Communications Manager to ensure content on the programme website is updated on a timely basis. This includes providing image and video content for the website
• Perform routine clerical to ensure smooth running of the office including handling programme related correspondence, inquiries (both phone calls and walk-ins), record and bookkeeping, and completing reports
• Undertake administrative duties by organizing meetings/conferences, following up with vendors to ensure delivery of supplies, and being the contact person for clients
• Support other programmes and departments within the organization in the delivery of their mandate through provision of operational and research support, and, participating in the procurement committee and its activities.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree qualification in science or business field
• Masters qualification in science or business field desired
• A professional qualification in programme management will be an added advantage
• At least 3 years’ relevant experience
• Knowledge and experience in innovation support for innovators in the science field with demonstrated ability to transition ideas into businesses.

Knowledge and skills

• Ability to collect, synthesise and disseminate research data generated from a defined programme/project area of work and to convert these into business plans that can support innovators secure collaborations, partnerships and business support
• Knowledge of the African innovations space, the opportunities and challenges, and a good appreciation of how to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem, especially focussed on low resource technologies in health, agriculture, climate sciences, engineering and other key scientific areas
• Possess well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to communicate across different levels of the organization, with external partners and grantees
• Able to perform work independently with minimal supervision, but also participate as a team member
• Possess strong attention to detail and maintaining a timely and efficient work flow
• Have strong planning organisational skills and ability to work under pressure
• Ability to multi-task and to priorities work amidst competing demands
• Have unquestionable integrity, confidentiality and respect
• Demonstrate excellent writing and presentation skills and ability to communicate, network and to be productive team members internally, and externally with grantees and with various AAS stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project, Outlook.