Vacancy: Director, Research, Innovation & Outreach - Institute for Educational Planning and Administration
The University of Cape Coast invites applications from qualified and competent professionals to fill the position of Director, Research, Innovation & Outreach at the Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA) which has become vacant.
Position Description
Position Title: Director of Research, Innovation, and Outreach
Job Level: Managerial/Executive
Location: Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (IEPA), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
Reports to: Director-General, IEPA
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, fuelling 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 are 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).
Term of Office
The appointment shall be for an initial term of three (3) years, renewable for a further term of up to three (3) years, subject to satisfactory performance as assessed by the Governing Board, provided the extension does not extend beyond the statutory retiring age of sixty (60) years.
Conditions of Service
Salary and fringe benefits attached to the positions are attractive.
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, 31st July, 2026.
Application forms are obtainable 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
REGISTRAR
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