Head, Sydani Institute for Research and Innovation
AI summary
Sydani Group is hiring a Head, Sydani Institute for Research and Innovation in Abuja, Nigeria. This is a senior executive role responsible for strategy, research excellence, business development, financial management, and team leadership for the Institute. The position requires an MBA/MSc/MA or PhD/Fellowship and 12–15 years of experience.
- Senior executive role with high autonomy over strategy and operations
- Based in Abuja, Nigeria
- Full-time position
- Requires MBA/MSc/MA or PhD/Fellowship
- 12–15 years of experience required
- Focus on research, business development, and institutional building
AI job guide
Use this guide to check salary signals, requirements, documents, application steps and safety before you apply.
AI salary guide
Not enough public dataNot enough public salary data is available for this exact role. Before applying, prepare to ask about gross pay, benefits, contract length, probation period, transport and any allowances.
Can you qualify for this role?
- Required12+ years of relevant experienceThe job post includes a minimum experience signal.
- RequiredEducation or certification mentioned in the postThe captured text mentions education, a diploma, certificate, or licence.
- PreferredPractical evidence in internship, finance, Research LeadershipThe tags and summary point to skills connected with this role.
- RequiredAvailability to work in AbujaThe vacancy is associated with this location.
- UnclearComfort with the Full Time contract termsConfirm hours, duration, probation and benefits at the original source.
Documents to prepare
- Likely requiredUpdated CV
- Role specificCover letter or short employer message
- OptionalProfessional references
- Role specificAcademic or professional certificates
- VerifyID or passport only after verifying the employer
Application tips for this job
- Place your strongest Head, Sydani Institute for Research and Innovation evidence in the first half of your CV.
- In your cover letter or employer message, connect your experience to Sydani Group and the role in Abuja.
- Add concrete examples related to internship, finance, Research Leadership, ideally with measurable outcomes or clear responsibilities.
- Follow the instructions from MyJobMag Nigeria; avoid sending documents to unofficial contacts or copied links.
- Confirm the deadline, interview location and employer contact before sharing personal documents.
- Prepare a polite question about pay, benefits and contract terms for later interview stages.
Source and safety check
- MyJobMag Nigeria
- Original source link available
- Application method is clear
- Deadline not specified
- No major risk signal was detected in the captured text.
Never pay for interviews, shortlisting, medical checks, uniforms, or job placement. Confirm every application at the original source before sharing personal documents. Report suspicious listing.
Interview preparation
- What experience makes you a strong fit for this Head, Sydani Institute for Research and Innovation role in internship, finance?
- How have you handled responsibilities similar to those in this job post?
- Are you available to work in Abuja under the listed contract or schedule?
- Prepare examples with clear responsibilities, tools used and measurable outcomes.
- Review the source and research Sydani Group before the interview.
Ask what the first priorities will be in the role and how success will be measured.
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Original source description
Sydani Initiative for International Development is a management consulting firm based in Abuja, Nigeria. With our team of experienced management consultants, we design, deploy, monitor and evaluate impactful programs and interventions to improve the health and social sectors in Nigeria and globally.
Head, Sydani Institute for Research and Innovation
Job Type: Full Time
Qualifications
- MBA/MSc/MA
- ,
- PhD/Fellowship
Experience
12 - 15 years
Location: Abuja
Job Field: Project and Program Management
12–15+ years of progressive
in research, development, consulting, policy, or academia
Including 7+ years in senior leadership or institutional management
Demonstrated grant acquisition and donor partnership
Proven multidisciplinary team and budget management
Check how your CV aligns with this job
Method of Application
- Interested and qualified? Go to
- Sydani Group on office.sydani.org
- to apply
- Build your CV for free.
- Download in different templates.
Job Purpose
The Head, SIRI is the most senior role for the Institute's strategy, growth, research excellence, and overall management. This is a high-autonomy executive role: subject to Sydani Group's strategic, financial, and governance framework, the Head has authority over day-to-day operations, structure, recruitment, research priorities, partnerships, business development, resource allocation, and external representation. The Partner provides strategic oversight and governance, not routine operational management.
Job
Responsibilities
- Institutional Strategy and Building
- Develop and own SIRI's 3–5 year strategy and annual plans.
- Build the structure, governance, systems, and institutional identity needed for SIRI to run without constant Partner intervention.
- Establish a functional organisational and governance structure for the Institute.
- Research Excellence and Innovation
- Set the research agenda and own portfolio quality, methodological rigour, and governance.
- Ensure research translates into policy-relevant knowledge products.
- Build a research-to-practice pipeline — digital tools, models, and commercialisable IP.
- Establish and maintain a research quality assurance and ethical compliance framework.
- Business Development and Resource Mobilization
- Build a diversified funding pipeline across grants, commissioned research, consulting, training, and IP — with no single point of dependency.
- Lead proposals, partnerships, and funder relationships.
- Develop a resource mobilization strategy to sustain and grow the Institute.
- Financial Management
- Own budgets, pricing, margins, cost recovery, and financial controls within Group governance.
- Build a sustainable institutional financial model.
- People and Talent Leadership
- Own workforce strategy: recruit, develop, and retain a multidisciplinary research team.
- Build a high-performing core Institute team and leadership pipeline.
- Partnerships and Thought Leadership
- Represent SIRI externally with governments, development partners, universities, foundations, and the private sector.
- Publish research and shape sector conversations, building SIRI's intellectual brand and reputation.
- Quality, Ethics and Knowledge Management
- Uphold research integrity and ethical compliance across the portfolio.
- Convert research outputs into accessible, usable knowledge products.
- Key Working Relationships
- Internal:
- Partner and Group Leadership, Sydani Consulting, Texis, SIID, Finance, HR & Operations, Communications and Business Development.
- External:
- Government institutions, development partners and donors, universities and research institutions, foundations, private-sector organisations, and policy and civil-society networks.
- Job Key Success Measures (KPIs)
- First 12 Months
- A defined SIRI institutional strategy and a functional organisational/governance structure
- A research and innovation priority agenda
- A diversified research and funding pipeline
- A core portfolio of strategic research projects
- A resource mobilisation strategy
- A sustainable institutional financial model
- A high-performing core Institute team
- A research quality assurance framework and a visible thought leadership platform
- Long-Term (Performance Dimensions)
- Institutional Growth:
- Portfolio growth, strategic partnerships, revenue/funding growth, reputation
- Research Excellence:
- Project quality and completion, publications, research uptake and utilisation
- Resource Mobilisation:
- Grants secured, funding pipeline, funder diversification
- Impact:
- Policies influenced, solutions adopted, measurable development outcomes
- People & Culture:
- Staff retention, engagement, leadership pipeline
- Financial Sustainability:
- Revenue growth, budget performance, cost recovery
- Job Qualifications
Education
Master's degree or PhD in Research, Public Health, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, Data Science, Policy, or a related field — a PhD is strongly
Preferred Qualifications
for this research-intensive profile.