Director

The British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) seeks to appoint a director to replace Dr Jane Humphris, who is stepping down at the end of her term. The post is based in the UK. It is open only to applicants holding non-fixed term appointments in UK HEIs or Independent Research Organizations (IROs), and is a 0.8 FTE position, with BIEA reimbursing 80% of salary, USS and NI costs  to the current employing institution for the period of the appointment. It is therefore only open to applicants whose  current employers would be willing to support this arrangement and applicants should provide evidence  that their current employer is agreeable in principle to this arrangement. 

The appointment will commence on 1 September 2024, and will be made for a fixed term of three years, with a potential for extension should all parties (including the employing institution) agree. Applications are welcome from academics in any discipline of the humanities and social sciences who have demonstrated research interests in eastern Africa (which is broadly defined to encompass the region from Zimbabwe to Sudan). Applicants should be mid-career academics with an outstanding record of research and publication, some experience in management and a track record of securing research grants. Applicants must have a good understanding of the research grants landscape in the UK, and in Europe more widely.

Criteria

Essential

An established record of outstanding research publications on eastern Africa, in any discipline of the humanities and social sciences.

An established international reputation as a scholar.

Clear evidence of experience in successfully managing people and budgets.

Evidence of a track record of securing external funding.

Evidence of a collegial approach and an ability to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries.

Understanding of the research grants system in the UK. 

Desirable

Understanding of the research grants system elsewhere in Europe, and/or in North America.

Good connections with researchers, universities and other stakeholders in Eastern Africa.

Experience of managing and reporting on funded research programmes

Experience of working with charitable trustees