EMPLOYMENT OPPOTUNITY
The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is a semi-autonomous government agency operating in partnership with the private sector and Government of Uganda to drive national economic growth and development. The Authority was setup by an Act of Parliament (Investment Code 1991, which was later revised to the Edition 2000 Laws of Uganda) 2019 with the aim of promoting and facilitating private sector investment in Uganda.
The ability of the Authority to fulfill its mandate primarily lies in the way in which its Human Resource is managed from the point of entry, stay, exit and post exit. It is a policy of UIA to attract and retain a highly qualified and competitive workforce to fulfill its mandate and hence the need to fill the vacant positions.
UIA seeks to recruit highly skilled, experienced and motivated qualified individuals to fill the following position:
POSITION: DEPUTY DIRECTOR/INNOVATIONS, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Reports to: Director/ SME
Directly Supervises: Senior Investment Executive/STI;
Job Summary: The Deputy Director is responsible for coordinating the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) activities of UIA including planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of UIA’s initiatives and programs aimed at promoting development of appropriate technologies to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in the country and facilitating partnerships in ICT for development, Agro-Industrialisation, Manufacturing with a view of fostering Technology Transfer along supply and Value chains.
Specific Responsibilities
- Supporting initiation of polices and plans for Science, Technology and Innovation Skills Development;
- Support initiating policies, programs, and plans for Science, Technology and Innovations skills development;
- Supporting evaluation of existing skills development strategies and programs with a view to assessing their effectiveness;
- Supporting the development of a national database of Science, Technology and Innovations related skills and human capacity development;
- Supporting the harmonization of the approaches to skills development among various Stakeholders;
- Supporting monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of skills development programs;
- Supporting the assessment of the existing skilling gaps and developing interventions to address them;
- Advising the Director about trends, opportunities, issues and challenges in promoting STI for industrial development with particular focus on SMEs.
- Development and growth of the National SME portal as the sole engine for facilitating and supporting SMEs (an interactive platform for management of the SME Ecosystem, SMED automated workforce management, ME&L- Monitor Evaluation and Learning
- Development and growth of the National SME portal as the sole engine for facilitating and supporting SMEs (an interactive platform for management of the SME Ecosystem, SMED automated workforce management, ME&L- Monitor Evaluation and Learning.
- Identify and recruit partners in the ecosystem for better linkages for Investment facilitation
- Develop a process for identification, on boarding and monitoring UIA Work Spaces
- Developing and integrating UIA’s STI strategy into the Authority’s strategic and annual work plans.
- Working with other stakeholders to promote a well-coordinated national approach for harnessing STI for national development
- Sourcing appropriate technologies for SME development
- Promote and develop innovations and incubation of SMEs
- Building competent, highly motivated and performing work teams
- Participating in strategy formulation and implementation
- Support other resource mobilization offices to mobilize funds for the Authority’s planned STI activities
- Directing, supervising, developing and mentoring departmental staff
- Participating in appraisal of departmental staff
- Preparing periodic performance reports
- Executing any other undertakings as may be assigned by the Director
- Any other duties as may be assigned form time to time.
Key Results Areas
- UIA strategy and work plan for promoting STI developed and implemented
- Effective and efficient reporting of the National SME Portal
- Resources to support UIA’s STI activities by secured
- Performance reports prepared and submitted in a timely manner
Qualifications and Experience.
- Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Science, or Physical or Industrial Sciences, or Medical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Bachelor of Science Education and other related disciplines
- Must possess a Master’s Degree in any of the above disciplines
- Post graduate qualification in Management from a recognized University/institution.
- Applicants should be registered with professional bodies, where applicable
- Deep knowledge of the global STI–for-development environment with strong experience of best practices in technology development, transfer and adoption.
- At least 5 years’ experience in a management position with at least 3years experience in innovation science and technology at senior management involving STI research and development.
- Professional qualifications and membership of professional associations is desirable
Key Competences
- An innovative, creative and entrepreneurial spirit
- Strong team building and interpersonal relations skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership and supervisory skills
- Proven integrity and wise judgment
- Computer literacy