17/07/2026
CALL FOR ASSOCIATE CONSULTANTS: Strategy, Organisational Development, and Research Management Experts
- Organisation: African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD)
- Location: Nigeria (With potential travel to partner locations)
- Engagement Type: Contract / Associate Consultant
- Duration: 3 Weeks from the date of commencement
Application Deadline: 19th July 2026
About the Opportunity.
AFRI-CIRD is assembling a high-calibre team of experts to deliver targeted, action-oriented strategic and organisational development support to high-priority partners, including leading universities and research institutes in Nigeria.
We are seeking hands-on, experienced Associate Consultants who excel in participatory, co-creation approaches to join our project implementation pool.
Open Positions & Requirements
1. Lead Institutional Development Consultant: This role focuses on strategy alignment, organisational design, executive facilitation, and synthesis reporting. The ideal candidate must have 10+ years of experience in management consulting or strategic planning, with a strong track record of working with senior academic or public leadership to navigate complex institutional settings. A Master’s degree or PhD in Business, Public Administration, or a related field is highly preferred.
2. Higher Education & Research Management Specialist : This specialist will lead the evaluation of partners' research strategies, assessing the maturity of pre- and post-award offices, intellectual property (IP), tech transfer, and research translation pathways. Candidates should possess 7+ years of experience in university research administration or academic management, backed by deep familiarity with the Nigerian and broader African higher education ecosystems.
3. Impact Definition & M&E Specialist : This role centers on Theory of Change development, helping partners define clear strategic directions, target beneficiaries, and design measurable goals, indicators, and success metrics. We require a professional with 5+ years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) or Theory of Change design, alongside proven capacity-building and training facilitation skills.
4. Organisational Design & Operations Specialist: This expert will focus on assessing and structuring internal workflows, governance, talent alignment, and overall operational efficiency to align with strategic goals. The position requires 5+ years of hands-on experience in human resources consulting, structural alignment, or change management, specifically within institutional or development-focused settings.
General Qualifications Required across all roles:
• Proven experience working with non-profit, public sector, or development-focused organisations in Nigeria or similar African contexts.
• Ability to provide practical, realistic, and implementable advice rather than high-level theoretical frameworks.
• Excellent facilitation skills, with the ability to navigate complex institutional politics sensitively.
How to Apply
Interested experts should submit their updated CV/Resume and a cover letter highlighting relevant past projects, a short Cover Letter indicating their position of interest, and their daily rate expectations to [email protected], cc [email protected] on or before 19th July 2026 .
