Director of Research, Innovation, and Outreach

Position Description

Position Title:

Director of Research, Innovation, and Outreach

Managerial/Executive

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

• 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.
• 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

• 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.
• You must be a citizen of an ECOWAS member state.
• A PhD with proven professional
• 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.

Education

• or a closely related field, demonstrating a profound understanding of our core mission.
• •A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive working

Benefits

• attached to the positions are attractive.
• Cape Coast
• How To Apply For The Job
• 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
• Applicants should request three (3) referees to submit reports on them directly to the above address
• 28 August, 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
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