Duties and responsibilities

• Assist in the day-to-day management of the innovation pipeline, from idea generation through to implementation. 
• Support the coordination of innovation workshops, brainstorming sessions, and hackathons. 
• Maintain and update the innovation project database, tracking progress, milestones, and key performance indicators (KPIs). 
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging trends, technologies, and opportunities. 
• Assist in managing intellectual property (IP) documentation and liaise with legal or patent professionals as required. 
• Contribute to the preparation of research proposals, grant applications, and project reports. 
• Conduct literature reviews and data collection to support ongoing research initiatives. 
• Organise and maintain research data, files, and records, ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and compliance. 
• Support the preparation of technical documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs) and research protocols. 
• Monitor project budgets and track expenses, assisting in financial reporting as necessary. 
• Facilitate the dissemination of research findings through presentations, publications, and conferences. 
• Act as the central point of contact for project-related inquiries. 
• Plan and coordinate meetings, workshops, seminars, and events. 
• Any other duties may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor or as captured in the detailed job description. 

Qualification and experience

• A minimum of a Bachelors degree in Business Development, Information Technology, Innovation Management, Statistics, or Social Sciences or a related field from an accredited University. 
• At least 3 years of experience in research coordination, innovation management, or project administration in an academic, research, or innovation-driven environment. 
• Registration for a Masters degree/ongoing will be an added advantage. 
• Ability to align research and innovation initiatives with institutional strategic goals. 
• Strong understanding of research processes, innovation ecosystems, and knowledge transfer practices 
• Proficiency with data collection tools and analysis such as Kobo Toolbox, ODK, REDCap, R, Stata, or Atlas.ti.   
• Familiarity with funding mechanisms, grant management, and reporting requirements. 
• Excellent organisational and event planning skills, with proven ability to plan, coordinate, and execute meetings, seminars, workshops, and innovation-related events. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.