Co-creation Hub is Africa’s leading technology innovation ecosystem builder on a mission to accelerate the application of science, technology, and social capital for economic prosperity across Africa.

Our mandate is to build a formidable innovation ecosystem with a deeply rooted network, cultivating strategic partnerships and practical industry know-how that can support entrepreneurs and innovators in building thoughtful, relevant and scalable solutions. From our locations in Lagos, Abuja, Ijebu Ode (in Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Windhoek (Namibia) and Kigali (Rwanda), we have built a vibrant community of over 81,000 people and counting and have supported to a portfolio of over 120 early-stage ventures including Lifebank, Ushahidi, Riby, BudgIT, Stutern, Kopo Kopo, Sendy, mFarm, Wecyclers and many more.

About HEI

HEI Innovation stands for Higher Education Institutions Innovation. HEII is a practice within Co-Creation Hub dedicated to innovation within Higher Education Institutions in Africa.

Our mission is to foster a culture of innovation in Higher Education Institutions(HEIs) and develop their capacity to contribute to economic prosperity across Africa.
We carry out this mission through;

• Nurturing the growth of student and academic innovators with cutting-edge know-how to solve complex problems through innovation
• Reshaping the perception of HEIs and their role in society, positioning them as key drivers of economic development through innovation.
• Advancing the capabilities of HEIs to contribute to the emerging innovation ecosystem in Africa
• Building the capacity of African HEIs to participate in collaborative research projects with local and international partners. 

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and dynamic individual to join our team as a Project Associate supporting projects related to HEI’s mission in Africa. This role presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development, management, and advisory aspects of projects, partnerships, and activities in alignment with our ecosystem development strategy within Higher Education Institutions. The selected candidate will play a vital role in supporting the delivery of a diverse series of HEI programs and projects, collaborating with sector stakeholders which will include
government, industry and academia.

Responsibilities:

Support for Programme Management

• Support the project management and the planning, schedules, and budgets for agreed activities, ensuring timely completion within defined timeframes and budget constraints.
• Collaborate with other organizational units, such as Finance, Communications, and Design to deliver agreed programs effectively.
• Participate in donor and grant application processes, including design, submission, and review.
• Provide progress reports on programs to key officers, enabling informed decision-making.
• Support for Relationship and Stakeholder Management
• Support delivery of a framework for engaging with various levels of stakeholders, maintaining positive relationships with all associated parties.
• Curate relevant activities, stakeholders, events, and workshops related to the focus of the practice

Support for Communication and Evaluation

• Coordinate with the Community Manager and Communications Unit to develop and manage digital marketing and audience development campaigns, including social media platforms.
• Provide content to the Communications Unit for internal and external communications materials.
• Support the implementation of evaluation strategies for each project, adhering to program standards and reporting any variations from the target.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Project Management, Arts, Administration) or equivalent experience in building innovation ecosystems (2 years in addition to the experience specified below)
• Minimum of two years experience in project management
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively engage with stakeholders at various levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team and across organizational units.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.