Assistant Director Job in Kenya at British Institute in Eastern Africa

British Institute in Eastern Africa
 

Assistant Director
 

Applications are invited for this full time post to be based in Nairobi on a 2 year contract from 1 October 2012.
 

The British Institute in Eastern Africa has been active since 1960 and has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The Institute exists to promote research in all the disciplines in the humanities and social sciences within the wider region of eastern Africa – from Eritrea and Sudan in the north to Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the south, extending westwards to Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and including Madagascar and the islands of the Indian Ocean. 

It has a strong tradition of research in anthropology, archaeology, history and linguistics, and recent projects have embraced political, environmental and development studies, geography, public health, and art and performance. Its renovated research centre provides work space and accommodation for researchers and visiting academics, an excellent reference library and seminar / lecture facilities. 

The Institute offers financial support and logistical assistance to research projects, and runs a graduate attachment scheme. 

The Institute publishes the journal Azania: A Journal of African Archaeology, a leading archaeological periodical for the region, [four issues per year] and the Journal of Eastern African Studies [four issues per year]. Both are produced in conjunction with Taylor and Francis.
 

The Institute is sponsored by the British Academy and has its London office at their headquarters in Carlton House Terrace. It is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital, and is a registered charity. It is governed by its Council, which is based in London and is elected by its members.

The post holder will play a key role in continuing to transform the BIEA into an internationally recognised British Academy centre for research excellence in African studies. 

S/he would be responsible for

• Pursuing his/her own research in areas of current strategic importance to the BIEA. This would strengthen the core team of full-time researchers at the BIEA whose work contributes innovative and policy-relevant scholarship in the humanities and social sciences as they concern East Africa in particular and Africa more generally. The Institute is keen to develop pioneering research of strategic importance and open up new research themes. It would like to intensify its research engagement across Eastern Africa, to include areas such as South Sudan, as well as extending its geographical range to include west and southern Africa.
• Supporting graduate trainees and researchers at the Institute. The BIEA runs a graduate attachment scheme and offers research funding to individual researchers. The Assistant Director would be involved in organizing programmes and activities for the graduate attachees, as well as assisting researchers make solid academic contacts in the region.
• Organising BIEA stands at international conferences. This will assist the Institute in deepening its connections with UK and international academic institutions and raise the BIEA’s profile in Britain through frequent participation in workshops and seminars in the UK, as well as through an extended range of individual links and collaborations.
• Organising BIEA’s Nairobi seminars and workshops. These regular events are well attended by wide range of local academics and interested individuals
• Developing the BIEA’s online strategy and ensuring that our website contains up-to-date information and recent seminar/lecture Working Papers and that podcasts reach a wide audience 
• Deputising for the Director. 

The Assistant would be expected to make a major contribution to the administration of the Institute and to take responsibility for much of the day to day running. 

S/he would be expected to stand in for the Director in her absence
 

The successful candidate must possess a doctorate. 

Applications will be considered by candidates whose doctoral thesis has been submitted and who expect to have the viva voce examination on or before 1 April 2013, subject to supervisor’s reference. 

S/he should demonstrate a commitment to research in any of the subject areas of interest to the BIEA, including anthropology, archaeology, heritage studies, history, law, political science and public health, preferably in eastern Africa. 

S/he should be able to demonstrate the potential to publish their research work to international standards of excellence.
 

Administrative experience and good IT skills are essential. 

It would also be useful for the candidate to have a knowledge of the UK and / or eastern Africa academic research environment.

A full driving licence is essential.
 

Terms and Conditions
 

The post holder will be expected to reside in Nairobi and will be based at the BIEA headquarters there. 

Salary package is negotiable, but will be in line with university pay scales for an early career position. 

Membership of a contributory pension scheme will be available. 

The BIEA will cover medical and travel insurance for the post holder.
 

Application process
 

Please apply by sending
 

1. A covering letter
 

2. Curriculum Vitae
 

3. A statement of interest. This should be one sheet of A4 and should state clearly why you are interested in the post, how you see your research interests fitting with the research strategy of the Institute and explain why you consider yourself suited to the role
 

4. The names, addresses, email addresses and contact telephone number of TWO referees. References will be taken up if you are offered an interview, but you should let your referees know that the BIEA may contact them
 

In the first instance please email the above to post@biea.ac.uk and then send a hard copy to:
 

Ms Jane Gillespie
London Secretary
British Institute in Eastern Africa
10 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AH
 

All email applications must be received by 6.00 PM [UK time] MONDAY 25 JUNE 2012 and hard copies by MONDAY 2 JULY 2012.
 

Short listed candidates will be invited for interview by Tuesday 10 July 2012 and all candidates will be notified that week.

Interviews will be held in London on Monday 16 July 2012

Our Director, Dr Ambreena Manji, would be pleased to answer any informal requests for information. 

Please email her on post@biea.ac.uk