Deputy Executive Secretary – JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Deadline : 17 March, 2025 

The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) invites applications from suitably qualified African scholars for the post of Deputy Executive Secretary in its pan-African Secretariat located in Dakar, Senegal. This position is categorised as one of the most senior management posts in the Secretariat and the successful candidate is expected to function as part of a team of senior programme staff under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary of the Council.

Established in 1973 as a pioneering, independent, pan-African and not-for-profit organisation for the development of the social sciences in Africa, CODESRIA is today widely recognised as the premier center on the continent for the generation and dissemination of multidisciplinary research knowledge in the social sciences and humanities. The position of Deputy Executive Secretary is a key one both in the development of the programme mandate of the Council and the realisation of the strategic institutional objectives set by the General Assembly of its members. In addition to deputising for the Executive Secretary as may be called upon, the successful candidate will also be required to:

1. Take a lead role in the development of new programmes and activities, and in the mobilisation of researchers across Africa to participate in them in accordance with existing institutional rules and strategy;
2. Be directly responsible for the management of all the collaborative and special programmes undertaken by CODESRIA in partnership with other research organizations including, most urgently, a programme on ‘indigenous’ knowledge in Africa;
3. Play a supervisory role in the monitoring of all CODESRIA programme clusters and activities with a view to reinforcing synergies, sustaining efficiency, and verifying the quality of engagement between the Secretariat and the research networks which it supports;
4. Develop proposals for the funding of the work of the Council under the direction of the Executive Secretary and produce required activity reports for those who support the various programmes and activities of the institution;
5. Undertake representational duties on behalf of the Council as may be delegated by the Executive Secretary;
6. Promote contacts with researchers, professional associations and regional organisations within Africa, across the global South and in the rest of the world;
7. Lend support to other CODESRIA programme staff for the realisation of the scientific mission and mandate of the Council; and
8. Organise research and policy dialogue meetings within programme clusters for which s/he is directly responsible.

QUALIFICATIONS   

Applicants must:

1. Have a sound university education and at least seven years of post-doctoral working experience in a research and/or research training environment;
2. Have a good knowledge of CODESRIA and possess a demonstrable ability to mobilise and promote the work of African researchers;
3. Know and be familiar with the African and international scientific community;
4. Have a first-hand knowledge of the African university environment and a track-record of research;
5. Have a proven experience of programme management in an academic environment;
6. Be experienced in fund-raising, resource management and the preparation of reports for funders;
7. Have a distinguished record of publication in peer-reviewed journals;
8. Have demonstrable skills in the management of personnel in a diversified, multi-cultural environment; and
9. Be fluent in French or English and have a good working knowledge of the other language.

WORKING CONDITIONS 

The salary level that will be offered will depend on the successful applicant’s experience and qualifications and will be broadly comparable to those of similar posts in other international organisations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

More information about CODESRIA can be obtained from the Council’s website: www.codesria.org. It is CODESRIA policy to reflect the disciplinary, gender, generational and linguistic diversity of the African social science community in its structures. In this connection, female candidates and younger researchers meeting the qualifications set out are especially encouraged to send in their dossiers for consideration for these two positions.

HOW TO APPLY

All applicants wishing to be considered are required to supply the following documents :

1. A written application;
2. A detailed CV describing the candidate’s professional experience;
3. Three reference letters, two of which must come from people living in countries other than the applicant’s country of residence; and
4. Four of the candidate’s recent publications, three of which must be single authored.

The application documents should be sent through the submission portal available at https://submission.codesria.org/deputy-executive-secretary. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED VIA THIS LINK WILL BE CONSIDERED. The reference letters in support of the applicants MUST be sent separately by the referees to the official email: executive.secretary@codesria.org  with the subject line “Confidential Reference”. Both the application letters and the reference letters should be addressed to:

The President,

CODESRIA,

Av. Cheikh Anta Diop x Canal IV,

BP 3304, CP 18524,

Dakar / SENEGAL.

Closing Date

All applications, including reference letters, must be received by Monday 17^th March, 2025. Any application received after this date will not be considered.