Research &Developement Engineer Contrat : CDI

Africa initiative’s mission is to initiate, develop, oversee, and contribute to the management of strategic partnerships and collaborations with HESTI institutions across Africa. We work collaboratively with relevant teams and entities to create synergies while enhancing the visibility of UM6P. To address its mission, Africa Initiative manages four workstreams: 1. Envisioning the African futures in science, technology, and education; 2. Exploring R4D frontiers towards SDG; 3. Fostering academic excellence; 4. Harnessing the power of partnerships and networking driven by benchmarking analysis and due diligence; and 5. Connecting innovation to entrepreneurship.

To strengthen its teams, Africa Initiative is recruiting a Research Assistant:

Responsibilities:

The main role of the Research Assistant is to assist the Director of Africa Initiative (IA) in accomplishing its mission. The candidate is expected to work with the entire AI team when executing the tasks listed below. The following is the list of tasks to be executed by the candidate.

• Collection, analysis, and report writing on current status and trends in education, research, development, and innovation in Africa.
• Conduct, benchmarking analysis on African Universities and Research Centers and make recommendations regarding the opportunity for topical collaborations.
• Set up and update, in collaboration with the different research, education and support units, a comprehensive database on ongoing, upcoming and terminated collaborations and partnerships between the university and African universities and research centers.
• Conduct regular quantitative and qualitative analysis on the above stated database and make recommendation related to the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the different collaborations and partnerships.
• Conduct, in collaboration with the Outreach Officer of the team, necessary due diligence on incoming expressions of interest for collaboration by Universities, Research centers and other entities and advise the Director on the relevance and value addition of the of proposed collaborations.
• Follow up and day-to-day management of the ongoing partnerships and joint initiatives.
• Contribute actively as a team member to the implementation of the various workstreams and tasks such as Envisioning the Africa futures in science, technology and education, Exploring R4D frontiers towards SDGs, Linking Innovation to entrepreneurship, etc.
• Assist, when necessary, in the organization of in presence and virtual seminars and conferences, webinars and other events namely the preparation of the CN, rolling out of the event and any communication and reporting activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of the work program, annual workplan and budget and AI reporting.
• Attend to different day-to-day tasks and activities, as requested by the Director.

Preferred skills:

• Experience in a consulting firm or advanced research institution.

• Motivation and quick learning ability, with a strong willingness to understand research and innovation for sustainable development in Africa.

• Ambition and ability to contribute to the development of high-level strategic plans and studies.

• Versatility and mastery of multitasking.
• Good ability to collaborate with stakeholders and take productive initiatives.
• Good teamwork spirit and ability to work independently.

Profile sought:

• Minimum of 2 to 3 years of experience, preferably in a similar scientific field
• Mastery of office tools and computer skills, especially Excel.
• Ability to assimilate editorial standards.
• Proficiency in French and English (written and oral).

Comfortable using software and digital management tools.

• Priority will be given to candidates who have demonstrated leadership capacity in strategy and/or scientific research.

Qualifications:

• Master’s or engineering degree or business school, with experience in research and innovation.
• Strong knowledge in science and data processing, innovation for sustainable development.
• Good critical sense of analysis and ability to synthesize and present salient findings.
• Solid quantitative (e.g., mathematical modeling) and qualitative (economic and social sciences) skills.
• Demonstrated communication skills (oral and written English) and project leadership skills.