Director Research and Innovation – Botswana Accountancy College

Job Description

VACANCY NOTICE: DIRECTOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

FIXED TERM CONTRACT (THREE YEARS) TENABLE IN GABORONE

Main Purpose of the Job

Botswana School of Business Sciences is a Premium Institution with all the hallmarks of a supreme learning environment characterised by an international footprint. BAC is a highly focused business school which is continuously forging relations with renowned international partners i.e universities and global professional bodies. As a learning institute driven by the passion to excel, we are recognised for the quality of our programmes and their relevance to the needs of the economy. We subscribe fully to the growth of Botswana’s human capital development agenda and are a key player in the national human resources development and skills capacity building programme. Our vision is anchored on excellence in knowledge production so if you are a professional of distinction, you need to be part of the best of the breed in the knowledge industry.

To provide strategic and operational leadership in the design, development, coordination and implementation of the institution’s research and innovation agenda. The role focuses on strengthening institutional research excellence, innovation and commercialisation initiatives in alignment with the institution’s strategic plan. The incumbent ensures the effective management of research programmes, funding, ethics and partnerships to enhance the institution visibility, competitiveness, impact and contribution to national and regional development.

Key Performance Areas

• Develops, implements and monitors a comprehensive Research and Innovation (R&I) Strategy aligned with institutional strategic objectives and national priorities.
• Fosters and maintains strategic collaborations and partnerships with academia, government, industry, donors, communities and international institutions to advance research and innovation.
• Develops, implements and monitors research governance, ethics, quality assurance and compliance policies in line with institutional, national and international standards.
• Develops and implements frameworks for intellectual property management, patent registration, protection of research outputs and technology transfer.
• Builds and strengthens innovation ecosystems linking academia, industry, government and communities, and facilitates applied and multidisciplinary research and innovation projects.
• Leads institutional efforts to secure internal and external research funding and builds sustainable partnerships with funding agencies and donors.
• Promotes a vibrant institutional research culture through training, workshops, seminars, publishing support, recognition and reward programmes.
• Strengthens the institution’s research reputation, visibility, thought leadership, impact communication, international positioning and ranking performance.
• Builds and maintains strategic research partnerships with national, regional and international institutions.
• Develops and manages research information systems, databases, repositories, dashboards and institutional research data governance frameworks.
• Monitors and analyses research productivity, impact, publications, citations, rankings, accreditation indicators and strategic performance trends and prepares reports for management and stakeholders.
• Develops, manages and monitors departmental budgets, forecasts, resource allocation and resource mobilization initiatives to support research and innovation activities; and oversees financial reporting, forecasting and accountability for research projects.
• Leads and manages the performance, development, productivity and wellbeing of research staff, promotes teamwork, accountability, diversity and ethical conduct, ensures effective resource utilization and undertakes any other duties assigned by the Deputy Executive Director.

Competencies and Skills Required

• Innovation and Creativity
• Supervision and Leadership
• Integrity and Ethical Conduct
• Strategic Thinking and Visioning
• Cultural and Diversity Awareness
• Results Orientation and Execution
• Research Methodology and Writing
• Leadership and People Development
• Research Quality, Ethics and Integrity
• Networking and Relationship Management
• Research Funding and Grants Management
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications:

• Doctorate (PhD) in a relevant research or innovation field.
• Membership in relevant professional and academic bodies.

Experience:

• Minimum of Ten (10) years of progressive experience in research management or academic leadership post qualification of Master’s Degree, three (3) of which should have been at managerial level in a higher education or research institution environment, including postgraduate research supervision.
• A minimum of Ten (10) publications in peer-reviewed high impact journals.
• Proven record of leading research or innovation programmes within a higher education or research institution.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in research strategy and governance, research funding and grant management, research ethics and quality management, innovation systems, technology transfer and intellectual property management.

How to Apply

All applications accompanied by cover letter, curriculum vitae, certified copies of ID and academic certificates should be e-mailed to [email protected] (stating the position being applied for as the subject of the email) before close of business on Friday 4th September 2026, 17:00.

Applications should be addressed to:
Head of Human Resources
Botswana School of Business Sciences
P/Bag 00319
Gaborone

NB: Botswana School of Business Sciences will enter into correspondence only with shortlisted candidates.

Tel: (+267) 75 030 066 | Website: www.bac.ac.bw