Research Director - Transforming Teaching Education & Learning

Transforming Teaching, Education & Learning (T-TEL) is a Ghanaian not-for-profit organization committed to supporting Ghana’s education system to deliver improved learning for all.

T-TEL works in partnership with the Ministry of Education and agencies to drive system-level change through technical assistance, policy advice and programme implementation which is grounded in evidence. T-TEL has built a strong reputation in programme delivery, monitoring, evaluation and learning.

The newly created role of Research Director will help T-TEL to build on our existing strengths and partner with government, academia and other stakeholders to lead the organisation’s research function. This position will be instrumental in ensuring T-TEL becomes a thought leader in education research that informs national and international education policy and practice.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Research Director will lead the strategic development and implementation of T-TEL’s research function. This includes co-developing and managing a research agenda aligned with national education priorities, fostering strategic partnerships with academic and research institutions, mobilising funding for impactful research, and ensuring the highest standards of research quality and relevance.

This role is distinct from but complementary with T-TEL’s existing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) function. The MEL function is primarily concerned with the use of data and evidence for national programme implementation. The Research Director will focus on building research partnerships, generating rigorous academic evidence and positioning T-TEL as a leading contributor to education discourse in Ghana and beyond.

REPORTING AND MANAGEMENT

• Reports to the Executive Director, Transforming Teaching, Education & Learning (T-TEL). Works closely with and will be supported by the T-TEL Board’s Research Committee.
• No current line management responsibility although there is potential for team expansion.
• The Research Director will work closely with T-TEL’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager and his team.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (Will include but not limited to-)

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP OF T-TEL’S RESEARCH FUNCTION

• Develop and lead implementation of T-TEL’s Research Agenda in collaboration with the Board’s Research Committee and Senior Management Team.
• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership on education research in alignment with T-TEL’s vision and national education priorities.
• Position T-TEL as a centre of excellence for impactful and policy-influencing research.

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCE MOBILISATION

• Forge and maintain research collaborations with universities, think tanks, development partners and government institutions at national and international levels.
• Identify and secure research funding and lead the development of competitive, high-quality proposals.
• Repesent T-TEL in relevant research forums and networks.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Oversee the publication of research findings in high impact journals, policy briefs and other dissemination platforms.
• Ensure that research is communicated clearly and accessibly to diverse audiences including policymakers, practitioners and the public.
• Engage with the Ministry of Education, government agencies and other stakeholders to translate research into policy and practice.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND MENTORSHIP

• Strengthen research capacity of partner organisations.
• Mentor young researchers, interns and fellows within T-TEL and partner organisations.
• Foster a culture of inquiry and learning within T-TEL and among stakeholders.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Director or the Board’s Research Committee.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• PhD in Education or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in leading applied research and evidence-based programme design, particularly in education.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications and evidence of research influence on policy and practice
• Demonstrated track record in securing and managing research grants from diverse sources.
• Strong understanding of the Ghanaian education system.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Experience engaging with government agencies, international organisations and donor-funded programmes.

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Detail-oriented, well-organized, and able to manage multiple tasks.
• Proactive, independent, self-motivated and team-oriented.
• Ability to simplify complex research into actionable insights for a range of audiences.
• A broad professional network and international research linkages are desirable

Location: Accra

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