Director and Head, Research, Policy and Advocacy Institute

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of the Institute’s strategic plan, ensuring a focus on entrepreneurship research, thought leadership, policy advocacy, and innovation.
• Drive a high-performing, motivated division that fosters excellence, innovation, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Champion research initiatives to produce cutting-edge MSME and entrepreneurship insights through data-gathering and analysis.
• Develop and maintain an effective Research Fellows program and build strategic relationships with academia, entrepreneurship networks, and global research institutions.
• Design and lead policy dialogues and advocacy strategies to influence entrepreneurship policy development and reform.
• Oversee the creation of thought leadership outputs—white papers, policy memos, and reports—maintaining global research standards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders in entrepreneurship and MSME policy, including government, foundations, service providers, and think tanks.
• Represent the Institute in relevant local and international councils, associations, and networks to build credibility and influence.
• Lead strategic initiatives to establish the Institute as Nigeria’s leading source for entrepreneurship and MSME data and policy advocacy, including publishing flagship reports.
• Monitor and analyze policy changes in the entrepreneurship space and facilitate knowledge dissemination within the ecosystem.
• Establish and manage systems for monitoring and evaluating Institute activities in line with best practices.
• Partner with the Executive Director to secure funding and technical partnerships to ensure program sustainability.
• Manage stakeholder relations, including communications with the Board and relevant committees.
• Oversee the development, monitoring, and reporting of the annual budget; ensure compliance with financial regulations.
• Act as an ambassador for the Institute, promoting its reputation and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Law, or related social sciences.
• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Economics, Public Administration, or related fields (or equivalent practitioner experience).
• Minimum of 7+ years of relevant work experience, including 6–8 years in senior management roles in research and policy advocacy.
• Proven experience in entrepreneurship-focused research and policy strategy development.
• Strong passion and expertise in MSME and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
• Excellent strategic planning and execution abilities.
• Proven leadership in producing impactful policy-related thought leadership and data analysis.
• Strong influencing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Budget and resource management experience with income generation insight.
• Effective in leading change, setting priorities, and managing competing demands.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and G-Suite.
• Strong public speaking, people management, and facilitation capabilities.
• Innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.