Job Vacancies at Partnership For African Social & Governance Research

Overall Purpose of the Job

Working as part of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) Uptake and Communications team, the Programme Officer – Uptake is responsible for supporting and delivering research uptake activities in ACRC to help raise the profile of ACRC’s work and enhance its potential for impact. The role will particularly focus on supporting city and national level uptake work across the focus cities and proactively engaging with regional organisations and stakeholders.

In line with the ACRC research uptake strategy, the post holder will proactively seek opportunities to promote ACRC’s research and uptake activities that support the use of research evidence by policy-makers, practitioners, community members, and other key stakeholders. Developing key relationships and networks (both internal and external) are essential to the successful delivery of duties and responsibilities.

While based in Nairobi, the role will proactively support partners and activities across the partnership, especially those seeking to achieve uptake of research in ACRC focus cities. The role be line managed by the ACRC Uptake Director (based at PASGR) and will coordinate closely with ACRC uptake staff at The University of Manchester on a day to day basis.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities or Duties

1. Research uptake and communications
2. Work as part of the ACRC uptake team to provide an oversight of research uptake activities undertaken by the consortium
3. Work with the ACRC research, uptake and communication teams to develop and implement city, and where relevant, national, regional and international research uptake strategies
4. Engage and liaise with ACRC research teams to actively plan ahead and identify upcoming opportunities that will raise the profile of ACRC research externally
5. Represent the consortium with external stakeholders and the funder (FCDO) in workshops and online/physical meetings as may be required
6. Monitor programme uptake activities within cities and support the evaluation of the effectiveness of uptake and communications activities and tools
7. Develop capacity and commitment of ACRC research users to access, evaluate, synthesise and use research evidence
8. Programme management
9. Establishment and management of an ACRC stakeholder engagement database ensuring it is updated on a regular basis.
10. Monitoring progress against agreed timelines, milestones and budgets across ACRC cities
11. Highlight research uptake progress, opportunities and outputs, then formulate discussion points for the ACRC Uptake and Communication team
12. Occasional travel and out-of-hours working may be required.
13. Any other related activities as required by the ACRC Uptake Director or Communications Manager.
14. Social media and digital content
15. Support ACRC city and domain researchers to effectively synthesise, package and disseminate research results
16. Support ACRC communications manager in developing regular and engaging content for the ACRC website and social media platforms
17. Copy edit, proof read and write outputs for the project, including website text, blogs, press releases, poster presentations, donor reports, and newsletters
18. Identify and develop content for ACRC social media platforms, such as Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
19. Identify and help establish additional social media platforms that may be particularly useful to engage key stakeholders within focus cities.
20. Work with digital officer to ensure all research is clearly presented and easy to find on the ACRC site and within other online research repositories.
21. Promote, support and enhance online webinars and similar events.
22. Contribute to ACRC monthly e-newsletter to keep people updated about ACRC progress and activities.
23. Contribute to regular ACRC internal communications to keep consortium partners updated about ACRC progress and activities.
24. Media monitoring and tracking
25. Monitor, review and record media coverage of ACRC, research news daily for circulation to relevant teams and authorities
26. Develop and distribute the ACRC media analytics report to relevant ACRC staff each quarter
27. Support ACRC programmes in capitalising on media visibility opportunities; to include arranging media interviews, accompanying senior leadership to interviews, amplifying media opportunities

Person specification

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Educated to degree level in a research synthesis and communications related subject
• Have experience of designing, delivering and evaluating targeted research or policy related materials and activities.
• Strong relevant experience gained in a research evidence uptake and communications role, ideally within a research or policy related environment.
• Demonstrate a working understanding of key global development issues, stakeholders and debates relevant to the African Cities Research Consortium.
• Have a good knowledge of leading social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube e.tc), an understanding of best practices, and a keen interest in the constantly evolving nature of the environment, new media innovation, and technology and measurement tools.
• Excellent writing and editorial skills with experience of writing for different audiences.
• Highly proficient information MS Office applications, including Word, Project, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as experience of establishing professional working relationships with both internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.
• Demonstrably good organisational skills, a high degree of accuracy and a methodical approach to work.
• A positive and proactive approach to team working, including with people and organisations beyond your immediate employer and from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work on own initiative and to manage a demanding and dynamic workload in a professional manner.
• A positive ‘can do’ attitude and the ability to problem-solve and contribute new ideas.
• Ability to work effectively with internal/external partners in a multicultural environment.
• Desirable Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications
• A Master’s Degree in Communication, Journalism, Media, Public relations, development, planning, politics – or a related area.
• Knowledge of urban governance and development
• Knowledge of the theory underpinning research uptake, communication and evidence informed policy development
• Experience of running online events.
• At least 3 years’ experience of working within international development, or a related policy or research oriented role.

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Job Ref:  PA/RP/03

Open to:  Kenyan Nationals

Application Requirements:  CV and Application Letter

PASGR’s Research Programme works with African social scientists to produce high quality governance and policy relevant research through periodic selection of research themes that have broad relevance to African development. The programme provides grants and technical support to researchers to examine development challenges and policies through a governance lens. To inform and influence policies, the programme facilitates a variety of research-policy communities (Utafiti Sera) in the countries where the studies are conducted. Reporting to the Head of Research Programme, the Programme Assistant is required to provide programmatic support to the Research Programme to ensure efficiency of operations and effective delivery of the programme’s activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support in the preparation of grants agreements/MoUs, proposals, programme reports and service contracts.
• Coordinate logistics for the Research Programme workshops/meetings.
• Organizing travel for PASGR Research Programme staff for meetings within and outside Kenya.
• Provide support in the preparation and tracking of research budgets and programmes of work.
• Support and carry out monitoring and evaluation activities for the research programme. Collect and collate data for the department’s monitoring and evaluation.
• Respond to general enquiries about PASGR research programmes and activities, as well as requests from research communities.
• Assist in the overall development and implementation of new and ongoing projects.
• Screen proposals submitted on new projects for basic completeness and handle related follow-ups, provide support on minute taking for internal programmatic meetings and arrange appointments for meetings of senior staff with senior government officials, donor representatives and members of PASGR network.
• Principal assistant to the head of programme

Skills and Knowledge and Work Experience

• Bachelor degree with minimum of 1 year’s experience in programme support;
• Prior work experience in a non-profit organization;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Attention to detail and efficient tracking of all active projects;
• Ability to do multiple tasks;
• Ability to think ahead, take personal initiative, work both independently and as a team member, collaborate and coordinate with others;
• Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills;
• Proficiency and experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook and also internet research.
• Knowledge and experience in conducting literature reviews and report writing.
• Some background in finance and M&E will be an added advantage.

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Job Ref:  PO/RP/02

Open to:  Kenyan Nationals

The overall role of the jobholder is to coordinate the implementation of PASGR research programme portfolios and outputs.

The post holder will need to be a motivated and experienced research and development professional with a commitment to contributing to research that addresses Africa’s development challenges, ready to oversee, or support and coordinate a wide range of programmes.

Within PASGR, the jobholder will be in regular contact with staff from other programmes and units namely professional development and training, higher education, finance and administration as well as the Executive Director’s office.

Externally, the jobholder will be in regular contact with PASGR partners namely, Government officials, development partners, resource persons, funders and service providers.

The jobholder will be line managed by the Head, Research and Policy.

Duties and Responsibilities

The jobholders will be responsible for effective programme coordination of RP projects, ensuring effective delivery, assisting the programme head with all stages of project cycle management. This will require familiarisation with PASGR systems, rules and regulations. The post holder will, in liaison with the head of research and policy and other members of the research and policy team, work closely with our partners in: –

· project identification and design, including:

• facilitating the engagement of external resource persons, including drafting TOR’s (Terms of Reference)
• assisting with drafting of research concept notes and contributing to proposal writing to ensure that all submissions are competitive and complier with both PASGR requirements;
• ensuring electronic copy of all final documents is saved on to research programme share-drive.

· project start-up activities, including:

• facilitating engagement of resource persons;
• drafting of MOUs, contract agreements and/or arranging for the issuance of contracts and offer letters;
• drafting ToR for service providers and overseeing procurement processes.

· project implementation, including:

• monitoring and reviewing project and financial reports, undertaking spot checks;
• resolving problems (with possible visits to partners and projects) and drawing the attention of the Programme Head to significant issues requiring attention;
• drafting terms of reference for project reviews/evaluations;
• drafting documentation for project extensions/allocation increases;
• managing the processing of incoming invoices and monitoring of accountable grant expenditure;
• ensuring programme financial information is accurately recorded and monitored;
• monitoring resource persons’ performance and ensuring any contract amendments required are advised;
• manage budgets, ensuring annual and monthly forecasts are accurate
• technical support/leadership for research areas of interest including leading drafting of journal papers, working papers, policy briefs etc

· project completion tasks, including:

• drafting project completion reports, in liaison with field managers and consultants where appropriate;

· Developing and maintaining contacts with a wide range of funders, and implementing partners and representing PASGR RP in external meetings as advised;

· Helping the Head of research programme to improve the overall quality and delivery of research outputs;

· Input into PASGR corporate reporting and support monitoring of progress against team objectives;

· Make decisions quickly and effectively, taking into account evidence, options and risks

· Provide cover for the Head of research programme and other team members during absences and contribute to coherent team working.

Skills & Knowledge

Pre-requisite skills for this position include: excellent written and spoken English and IT skills, including excellent knowledge of Windows Word and Excel applications, and an ability to learn PASGR systems. The jobholder will be expected to demonstrate good financial management skills and experience and acuity with numbers. They will also be able to represent PASGR credibly and effectively with partner organisations and governments.

The ability to work well in diverse teams is essential, and it is a key requirement that the post holders demonstrate the will, interest and ability to contribute to high levels of morale in the office and to participate in organisation-wide activities.

Competencies

• Master’s degree in the social sciences, development, governance or related fields. Candidates who are either completing PhD or those who have obtained a PhD within the past two years are encouraged. Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage.
• At least three (3) years of post-qualification work experience in the field of social science including engagement with policy, practice and government constituencies
• Experience of managing projects, events and stakeholder engagement including budgets and budget tools
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills; evidence of publications in peer reviewed platforms will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with the development of concepts for research or other projects and with the search for and engagement of funding opportunities
• Evidence of willingness to work as part of a team
• Proven ability to multitask and work in a self-directed and self-driven proactive manner without supervision
• Proven ability to actively reach out to and forge strategic connections and partnerships with a spectrum of stakeholders

Continuing Professional Development

• Continuing professional development activities within the post-holder’s technical area to maintain technical skills and credibility;
• Undertake additional training as appropriate in skill areas required for successful performance in the research programme officer role;