Position Description

Position Title: Director of Research, Innovation, and Outreach
Job Level: Managerial/Executive
Location: Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast, Ghana
Reports to: Director-General

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for driving transformative change through
research, innovation, and impactful outreach? The IEPA UNESCO Category II Institute at the
University of Cape Coast, Ghana, invites you to seize a unique opportunity as our next
Director of Research, Innovation, and Outreach (DRIO). This isn't just a role; it's a chance to
shape the future, leading a dynamic directorate that will amplify our global standing, foster
groundbreaking discoveries, and extend our reach to communities far and wide. Reporting
directly to the Director-General, you'll be at the heart of our mission, turning ambitious ideas
into tangible impact.

Key Responsibilities

As the DRIO, you'll be vested with broad responsibilities and the authority to champion our
strategic ambitions. Your leadership will span a comprehensive range of duties, including but
not limited to:

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Provide visionary strategic leadership for the Research, Innovation, and Outreach
  Directorate, ensuring every initiative resonates with the Governing Board's approved
  Strategic Plan and our profound institutional mission.
• Uphold unwavering compliance with all statutory policies, governance frameworks,
  and our foundational Strategic Plan, setting the gold standard for operational
  excellence.
• Orchestrate dynamic strategic planning processes, charting a clear, forward-looking
  course for the directorate's initiatives and inspiring our collective pursuit of
  excellence.
• Oversee the astute formulation, seamless implementation, and rigorous review of
  policies vital to pioneering research, cutting-edge innovation, and impactful outreach.
  Ignite and cultivate a vibrant culture of innovation across every facet of the Institute's
  methodologies, research processes, and service delivery, constantly seeking new
  horizons and transformative solutions.

Research Development and Management

• Coordinate, develop, and spearhead the Institute’s overall research agenda and
  priorities, passionately fostering interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary collaborations
  both within our walls and across global networks.
• Proactively identify, secure, and masterfully manage diverse funding opportunities
  and grants from national and international bodies, fueling our groundbreaking
  research.
• Ensure the development and submission of compelling, high-quality research
  proposals that not only attract significant funding but also promise successful
  execution, profoundly enhancing the Institute’s national and international standing
  and impact.
• Champion and actively support the publication of scholarly outputs, including
  journals, books, and other academic contributions originating from the Institute,
  promoting an ethos of open science and knowledge sharing.
• Advise the Institute’s management on strategic pathways, innovative procedures,
  and best practices that cultivate and amplify research-informed teaching, dynamic
  learning, and impactful policy engagement.
• Establish and rigorously track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for research output,
  funding success, and societal impact, ensuring every decision is data-driven and
  propels us towards continuous improvement.

Innovation and Outreach

• Design, develop, and coordinate truly impactful outreach programmes and activities
  that effectively disseminate our research findings, meaningfully engage diverse
  stakeholders, and amplify our community impact and societal relevance.
• Continuously identify, evaluate, and implement innovative approaches, cutting-edge
  technologies, and transformative digital solutions to elevate the Institute’s
  effectiveness, efficiency, and knowledge dissemination capabilities.
• Actively represent the Institute on prestigious national and international platforms,
  forging and nurturing strategic partnerships with peer institutions, vital research
  networks, and influential international organizations to expand our global footprint
  and influence.

Directorate Management and Operations

• Exercise robust managerial leadership, encompassing the effective management,
  strategic development, and inspiring mentorship of human resources within the
  directorate, cultivating a supportive, high-performing, and growth-oriented team.
• Oversee the prudent and transparent management of the directorate's budget and
  financial resources, upholding the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and
  institutional policies.
• Establish and maintain rigorous audit processes, comprehensive risk management
  strategies, and ensure unwavering compliance with all regulatory and internal
  requirements across the directorate.
• Uphold and champion the highest standards of institutional integrity and social
  responsibility in every activity undertaken by the directorate, solidifying our reputation
  as a trusted global leader.

Key Competencies

We're searching for an individual who embodies the following essential competencies, ready
to make a profound difference:

• Visionary Leadership: You're a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating passion for
  IEPA’s vision, and empowering others to achieve our ambitious institutional goals.
  Your leadership is marked by innovation and a relentless drive for positive change.
• Strategic Acumen: You possess an innate ability to formulate impactful strategies
  and policies, innovate new approaches even in challenging situations, and elevate
  the Institute's image through pioneering research, dynamic outreach, and invaluable
  consultancy.
• Relationship Management & Global Networking: You excel at forging and
  nurturing positive, productive working relationships with key stakeholders,
  commercial enterprises, international organizations, and academic partners,
  effortlessly expanding our collaborative ecosystem.
• Problem Solving and Analysis: Your analytical mind and critical thinking skills allow
  you to dissect complex issues, unearthing root causes and crafting brilliant,
  data-informed solutions.
• Communication & Influence: You're a master communicator, articulating your vision
  with clarity and passion, disseminating findings effectively, and influencing diverse
  audiences with compelling narratives.
• Digital & Technological Fluency: You're conversant with the latest digital research
  infrastructure, data management platforms, and emerging technologies that promise
  to revolutionize research, innovation, and outreach.
• Governance & Executive Management: You bring extensive experience
  collaborating with governing boards, providing professional, accurate, and strategic
  advice, and a proven track record of effectively implementing and delivering on
  executive decisions and policies.
• Personal Excellence & Integrity: Your unwavering commitment to personal
  excellence is matched only by your profound sense of honesty, integrity, and fairness,
  making you a trusted leader in every endeavor.

Qualifications and Experience

To embark on this transformative journey with us, you will need:

• You must be a citizen of an ECOWAS member state.
• A PhD with proven professional experience in education or a closely related
  field, demonstrating a profound understanding of our core mission.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive working experience in a reputable
  university or related academic/research institution, with significant, demonstrable
  leadership in a senior role.
• You must not be older than 55 years by the date of appointment.
• A proven track record and extensive international exposure in your areas of
  expertise and practice, coupled with a robust network of international collaborators.
• An individual of undeniable stature and integrity, possessing exceptional leadership,
  interpersonal, and communication skills that inspire confidence and collaboration.
• Excellent knowledge of English, a fair working knowledge of French will be an advantage, enabling seamless communication across our diverse networks
• Membership of a relevant professional body, underscoring your commitment to professional excellence.

Term of Office

The initial appointment for this impactful role shall be for a term of three (3) years, with the
exciting possibility of renewal for one additional term of three (3) years. Renewal is
contingent upon satisfactory performance, as rigorously assessed by the Governing Board,
and provided the appointment does not extend beyond the statutory retirement age of sixty
(60).

MODE OF APPLICATION & CLOSING DATE

1. Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should please submit their
applications and comprehensive curriculum vitae, together with relevant supporting
documents and a Three-Page Vision Statement (completed application documents
should be ten copies each) to:

The Registrar
University of Cape Coast
Cape Coast

2. Applicants should request three (3) referees to submit reports on them directly to the
above address.

3. The closing date for the receipt of applications is Friday, 31 st July, 2026.
Application forms are obtained from the Senior Members Section, Directorate of Human

Resource, University of Cape Coast. The forms could also be downloaded from the
University’s website: www.ucc.edu.gh