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Associate Director Knowledge Creation

Carnegie Mellon University

With a century-long history that has hosted 19 Nobel Laureates, Carnegie Mellon University is renowned as one of the worlds leading engineering institutions. We have played critical roles on breakthroughs in areas such as artificial intelligence, driverless cars and WiFi.

Carnegie Mellon University recently extended its global reach into Africa with its Center of Excellence in Information and Communication Technology. Focused on one of the fastest growing economic regions of the world, the Center of Excellence is creating a new generation of graduates able to take advantage of Africa’s unique opportunities.

Based in Rwanda, the Center of Excellence benefits from the country’s bold ICT strategy and our own culture of innovation to provide a platform for students to become technology thought leaders in emerging markets. Masters’ degrees from Carnegie Mellon University are awarded in two comprehensive programmes, each taught by globally renowned faculty to the same rigorous standards as the main Pittsburgh campus.

The Master of Science in Information Technology provides students with critical skills, focusing on practical applications in areas such as cyber security, mobile applications, wireless networking and strategic business planning. In internships and practicums, students get the opportunity to develop real-world ICT solutions with international companies like IBM, Microsoft and Visa.

The Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering has a more technically focused curriculum, equipping students with skills in energy systems, mobile computing and telecommunications. 

Our programs provide a unique opportunity for students to gain a balanced international perspective with an option to spend semesters at Carnegie Mellon’s Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley campuses.

Carnegie Mellon’s academic programs extend across countries and continents. They are rooted in an academic philosophy that develops our students into the responsible global leaders.

Now in Africa, Carnegie Mellon is excited to be pioneering a culture of inspiring innovations that change the world.

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http://www.cmu.edu/rwanda

Job title  Associate Director Knowledge Creation
Reports to  Director of The Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa
Start Date  ASAP
Location  Kigali, Rwanda

About Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) is Carnegie Mellon University's global location in Africa, based in Kigali, Rwanda. Established in 2011, CMU-Africa is advancing engineering, technology, research, and innovation across the continent through world class graduate education, applied research, and strategic partnerships. 

Through The Center for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Africa (The Center) and the African Engineering and Technology Network (Afretec), CMU-Africa works with leading universities, governments, industry and other strategic partner organizations to strengthen engineering education, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across Africa. 

The Opportunity

As Associate Director of Knowledge Creation, you will lead the strategic direction, implementation, and continuous evolution of the Center's Knowledge Creation pillar across CMU-Africa and the Afretec network. 

Working closely with the Center Director, CMU-Africa Director, CMU faculty, and faculty across partner institutions, you will develop and execute a research and innovation agenda that advances inclusive digital transformation through applied research, cross institutional collaboration, researcher development, and engagement with policymakers, industry, and other strategic partners. 

Success in this role will require leveraging Carnegie Mellon University's research strengths while cultivating a vibrant research ecosystem that generates high-quality scholarship, attracts external funding, informs policy and practice, and develops the next generation of African researchers. 

The Associate Director will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Knowledge Creation pillar, strengthening research capacity across the network and accelerating the translation of research into educational, economic, and societal impact.

You will help position CMU-Africa and the Afretec network as leading contributors to research, innovation, and evidence generation that advance Africa's digital transformation agenda. 

Key Responsibilities

The Associate Director will have multiple responsibilities including: 

  • Partner with The Center Director to develop an implementation plan to operationalize the strategic objectives for The Center’s Knowledge Creation pillar, ensuring its contribution to the Center's mission of advancing inclusive digital transformation across Africa. 
  • Working closely with CMU and Afretec Facuty, co-create and drive a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem across the Afretec network by fostering collaboration among universities, researchers, policymakers, industry partners, and development organizations. 
  • Coordinate initiatives that strengthen institutional research capacity across partner universities, including research administration, grant management, research governance, and the development of sustainable research support systems. 
  • Advance research excellence and collaboration in areas critical to Africa's digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital health, climate technologies, technology policy, inclusive fintech, and related fields. 
  • Partner with other Afretec Knowledge Creation Pillar Leads to design and oversee programs that cultivate the next generation of African researchers, including postdoctoral programs, mentorship initiatives, and other researcher development opportunities. 
  • Promote knowledge exchange and dissemination across the Afretec network and beyond through conferences, symposia, workshops, communities of practice, publications, and other platforms that elevate the visibility and influence of African research. 
  • Ensure Knowledge Creation activities are integrated with The Center’s Teaching & Learning and Entrepreneurship pillars, translating research outputs into educational innovation, entrepreneurship, and broader ecosystem impact. 
  • Build strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization efforts with research sponsors, foundations, industry partners, governments, and international organizations to expand the scale, sustainability, and impact of the Knowledge Creation portfolio.
  • Work closely with the MEL Specialist and Data & Analytics Specialist to ensure the Knowledge Creation pillar generates robust evidence of research excellence, institutional capacity development, collaboration, knowledge dissemination, funding outcomes, and broader contributions to Africa's digital transformation agenda. 
  • Manage pillar budgets, annual work plans, staffing resources, and operational priorities in partnership with The Center Director and CMU-Africa operational teams. 
  • Represent The Center and CMU-Africa as a thought leader in research, innovation, and digital transformation across Africa. 

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

  • PhD required in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Technology Policy, Public Policy, Economics, Innovation Studies, Digital Transformation, Social Sciences, or another discipline relevant to the Center's research priorities. 
  • Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in research leadership, academic administration, research program management, innovation ecosystem development, or a related field. 
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex research, innovation, or knowledge creation initiatives involving multiple institutions, stakeholders, funding partners, and geographies, preferably within Africa. 
  • Proven track record of developing and implementing research strategies, building institutional research capacity, and securing or managing externally funded research programs and strategic partnerships. 
  • Experience building and sustaining collaborative networks involving universities, research institutes, industry, governments, foundations, and development organizations. 
  • Demonstrated success mentoring researchers, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career academics while fostering collaborative and high-performing research environments. 
  • Experience managing professional staff, consultants, budgets, and operational resources within complex, multi-stakeholder environments. 
  • Experience working effectively across diverse institutional, cultural, and geographic contexts, preferably in Africa or other emerging markets.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies 

The successful candidate will demonstrate: 

  • Deep understanding of research ecosystems, research capacity development, and research management in higher education environments. 
  • Strong knowledge of emerging technology domains and their role in advancing inclusive digital transformation. 
  • Understanding of research funding landscapes, grant development, and partnership cultivation. 
  • Familiarity with research governance, ethics, intellectual property, research administration, and knowledge dissemination practices. 
  • Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change-management capabilities. 
  • Ability to build and sustain relationships with senior academic leaders, researchers, policymakers, industry partners, and funding organizations. 
  • Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills. 
  • Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary and multi-institutional initiatives. 
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate research into actionable insights and societal impact. 
  • Commitment to inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and excellence. 
  • Passion for advancing research, innovation, and digital transformation across Africa. 

Why Join CMU-Africa? 

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the data and analytics capabilities of a world class technology and higher education institution operating on the African continent. You will work alongside distinguished faculty, researchers, program leaders, and partner institutions while helping to build the systems, insights, and analytical capabilities that support transformative education, research, innovation, and workforce development initiatives across the continent.

If you are interested in this position, you are encouraged to submit your application and resume by August 30, 2026 through this link: https://www.africa.engineering.cmu.edu/about/careers.html 

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