About this role
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women’s leadership across Africa.
The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives is a senior-level position responsible for leading the Center’s research, knowledge production, archives, oral history, and exhibition research and curatorial work. The Director will lead implementation of the Center’s Fostering Knowledge and Preserving Voices strategic priority and support the Center’s goal of strengthening its position as a Pan-African knowledge institution focused on African women’s public leadership.
The Director will oversee the development of the Center’s research and policy products and Data Hub; expansion of the Oral History and Archives Program; preservation, digitization, and public access to archival collections; and development of permanent, temporary, traveling, and digital exhibitions.
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer Position Status: Full-time Position Location: Liberia
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives will carry out the following specific tasks and responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
• Lead implementation of the Center’s Fostering Knowledge and Preserving Voices strategic priority.
• Develop and oversee annual plans, priorities, budgets, and performance targets for the Research, Knowledge & Archives department.
• Provide strategic oversight of the Center’s research, archives, oral history, and exhibition initiatives.
• Lead and manage the Research, Knowledge & Archives department and oversee relevant staff, consultants, and technical specialists.
• Track progress against relevant strategic plan targets and report regularly to Executive Leadership on departmental progress, results, challenges, and priorities.
Research and Knowledge
• Lead the development and implementation of the Center’s research and knowledge agenda in alignment with its strategic priorities.
• Lead the research and production of the Center’s flagship State of Women’s Leadership in Africa report and related research and policy products.
• Oversee the development and publication of policy briefs addressing timely policy questions related to women’s leadership and the Center’s strategic priorities.
• Establish editorial standards and peer or expert review processes to ensure the Center’s research is rigorous, credible, and accessible to academic and policy audiences.
• Lead the expansion of the EJS Center Data Hub to strengthen the availability of data on women’s representation and leadership across Africa.
• Ensure that the Center’s research draws appropriately on its archives, oral histories, programmatic evidence, and other institutional data.
• Establish systems for disseminating the Center’s research to relevant academic, policy, government, multilateral, donor, and media audiences and tracking citations and uptake.
Archives and Oral History
• Provide strategic oversight of the Center’s archives and Oral History Program.
• Oversee the preservation, digitization, management, and accessibility of the Founder’s personal papers, presidential and government papers, oral histories, and related archival collections.
• Oversee completion of the current phase of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Oral History Program and its expansion to document women who have held senior public leadership positions across Africa.
• Establish and maintain appropriate standards and processes for oral-history documentation, transcription, preservation, and publication.
• Support the development of a publicly accessible, searchable digital archival portal.
Presidential Library and Archival Systems
• Support the development and implementation of an integrated archival system for the Presidential Library at the African Women’s House.
• Oversee the development of appropriate cataloguing systems, access protocols, preservation standards, and digital infrastructure for the Center’s archival collections.
• Support the development and implementation of a gender-responsive public-access policy that facilitates use of the Center’s collections by African researchers, students, oral historians, and community advocates.
• Work with relevant partners and technical specialists on the design and operationalization of the Library and Reading Room.
Exhibitions
• Provide strategic and curatorial leadership for the Center’s permanent, temporary, traveling, and digital exhibitions.
• Lead research and content development for the permanent exhibition within the African Women’s House.
• Coordinate with exhibition designers, curators, historians, artists, and other partners on the development and installation of exhibitions.
• Collaborate with the Public Engagement function on educational programming, visitor engagement, and public access related to the Center’s exhibitions and archival materials.
Partnerships and Collaboration
• Develop and maintain partnerships with universities, research institutions, archives, and other organizations that support the Center’s research, archival, and knowledge objectives.
• Coordinate relevant academic and research partnerships, including relationships with Liberian, African, and international institutions.
• Identify opportunities for collaborative research, archival initiatives, and knowledge partnerships that advance the Center’s strategic priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
• Advanced degree in History, African Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, Gender or Women’s Studies, Archival Studies, Library and Information Science, or a related field. Ph.D. preferred.
• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in research, archives, policy, knowledge management, or a related field, including experience leading complex projects or teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing and producing high-quality research, policy reports, publications, or other knowledge products.
• Strong knowledge of African women’s leadership, governance, gender equality, or related policy and research issues.
• Experience working with archival collections, digitization, oral history, or archival systems.
• Experience managing partnerships with universities, research institutions, archives, or other relevant organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary projects involving researchers, technical specialists, consultants, and institutional partners.
• Strong research, analytical, writing, and editing skills.
• Passionate about the EJS Center’s mission and committed to strengthening the evidence base and historical record of African women’s public leadership.
HOW TO APPLY
The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives position is Open Until Filled.
Applications should be submitted through the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center job board.
Interested applicants are required to submit:
(1) a cover letter highlighting why you should be considered
(2) a copy of your CV detailing your professional and educational experience