Senior Innovation Officer at Kenya National Innovation Agency

Job specification

An officer at this level may be deployed in the following functional areas:- Capacity Development and Management, Commercialization, Ecosystem Coordination and Advancement and Policy and Standards and Quality Assurance

Capacity Development and Management

Duties and responsibilities will entail:

• Executing and overseeing the implementation of training curricula, ensuring that programs are delivered in accordance with established standards and objectives;
• Coordinating specific training sessions, ensuring all logistical requirements are met and participants are well-prepared;
• Identifying and leveraging technology-based solutions for training delivery;
• Assisting in the development of pre and post-training assessments;
• Collecting and analyze participant feedback for continuous improvement;
• Maintaining accurate records of participant attendance, assessments, and feedback for reporting purposes;
• Conducting assessments after training programs to gauge the effectiveness of the sessions and gather insights for improvement;
• Conducting Training needs assessments to establish the areas of the innovation ecosystem that requires enhancement of innovation capacity and skills in the country;
• Identifying the various learnings areas that require training as per the training needs assessment outcome;
• Matching the identified learning areas to the respective training curriculum(s);
• Rolling out training programs through various channels such as webinars and workshops etc;
• Identifying Startups, HEI's and research instutions for potential partnerships and linkages;
• Designing survey questions for both trained innovators and untrained ones to gain more insight on gaps and feedback of the training offered;
• Implementing a strategic plan for innovation that aligns with the organization's overall goals and objectives;
• Consolidating and analyzing recommendations for reviews of training programes from stakeholders within the innovation ecosystem;
• Periodically consolidating draft recommendations for reviews of policies and regulation on protection and intellectual property;
• Periodically consolidating and analyze list on identified Intellectual Property from the innovation ecosystem activities;
• Conducting training programs and awareness campaigns to educate researchers, innovators, and relevant stakeholders about the importance of protecting intellectual property and how to navigate the legal processes;
• Consolidating and analyze review training programs for capacity building of researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses within the innovation ecosystem
• Formulating the initial draft of certification policies;
• Evaluating certification applications and generate reports;
• Guiding candidates throughout the certification process;
• Coordinating logistics for certification examinations and training sessions;
• Maintaining and updating database records of certification activities and candidates;
• Staying up-to-date with industry standards and contribute to program improvements;
• Consolidating and analyze draft guidelines for the institutional support program, incorporating feedback and recommendations;
• Participating in workshops and progress meetings with institutions, offering guidance on masterplan strategy development;
• Compiling and analyze data on key areas for training programme;
• Compiling reports on feedback on proposed programme for institutions of higher learning;
• Periodical reviewing of the institutional support programme to align with the international standards;
• Submitting of screened proposals for funding;
• Ensuring the timely processing of proposals for institutional support;
• Drafting policies to enhance mainstreaming of innovation, commercialization, and startup training programs in institutions of learning;
• Compiling reports on the stakeholder’s forum discussion and provide recommendation;
• Recommending solutions faced in the mainstreaming of the of innovation, commercialization, and startup training programs in institutions of learning; and
• Compiling and analyzing feedback on post mainstreaming of innovation, commercialization, and startup training programs in institutions of learning.

Person Specification

For appointment to this grade a candidate must have: -

• Served for a cumulative period of six (6) years relevant work experience as Research and Innovation Officer I or in a comparable position the Public or Private Sector;
• Bachelor Degree in any of the following disciplines: Business Management, Technology, Marketing, Law, Economics or any other relevant qualifications from a recognized Institution;
• Membership to a professional body and in good standing where applicable;
• Member to a professional body; and
• Proficiency in computer applications.