EJS Center Seeks Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives to Advance African Women’s Leadership

The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center) is seeking an experienced research and knowledge leader to join its team as Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives. Based in Liberia, this full-time senior-level position offers an opportunity to shape research, archival preservation, oral history, exhibitions, and knowledge production focused on the history and future of African women’s public leadership.

The EJS Center is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing women’s leadership across Africa. Through its programs, research, archives, partnerships, and public engagement activities, the organization works to strengthen the visibility, influence, and historical record of women leaders across the continent.

The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives will play a central role in this mission. The successful candidate will lead the implementation of the Center’s Fostering Knowledge and Preserving Voices strategic priority while helping strengthen the EJS Center’s position as a Pan-African knowledge institution dedicated to African women’s public leadership.

This is an opportunity for an experienced professional with expertise spanning research, policy, African studies, gender and women’s studies, archives, oral history, knowledge management, public leadership, or related fields.

About the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development

The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, commonly known as the EJS Center, is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing women’s leadership across Africa.

The Center’s work recognizes the importance of not only supporting present and future women leaders, but also documenting, preserving, researching, and sharing the experiences of women who have contributed to public leadership across the African continent.

Research, archives, oral histories, exhibitions, data, and other knowledge resources can play an important role in ensuring that the contributions of African women are documented and made accessible to researchers, policymakers, students, institutions, and communities.

Through this senior appointment, the EJS Center aims to further develop that knowledge infrastructure and strengthen its capacity to serve as a Pan-African institution focused on women’s public leadership.

About the Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives Position

The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives is a senior-level leadership position within the EJS Center.

The Director will be responsible for overseeing a broad portfolio covering:

• Research and policy production;
• Knowledge development and dissemination;
• The EJS Center Data Hub;
• Archives and archival preservation;
• Digitization of historical materials;
• Oral-history programs;
• Presidential Library and archival systems;
• Public accessibility of archival collections;
• Permanent exhibitions;
• Temporary and traveling exhibitions;
• Digital exhibitions;
• Research and academic partnerships; and
• Collaboration with universities, archives, research institutions, historians, curators, technical specialists, and other partners.

The position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer.

Position Details

• Position: Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives
• Organization: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development
• Location: Liberia
• Job listing location: Monrovia
• Employment status: Full-time
• Experience level: Experienced
• Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
• Application deadline: Open Until Filled

Because the vacancy is open until filled, qualified candidates are encouraged to prepare and submit their applications as early as possible rather than waiting for a fixed closing date.

Core Purpose of the Role

At the heart of this position is the implementation of the EJS Center’s Fostering Knowledge and Preserving Voices strategic priority.

The Director will be expected to bring together research, historical preservation, policy knowledge, data, archives, oral histories, exhibitions, and institutional partnerships into a coherent knowledge program.

The successful candidate will help ensure that important historical records and contemporary evidence relating to African women’s leadership are preserved, researched, interpreted, and made accessible to appropriate audiences.

The Director will also help the EJS Center expand the reach and credibility of its research among academic, government, policy, donor, multilateral, and media audiences.

Key Responsibilities of the Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives

The position covers several major areas of responsibility, ranging from strategic leadership and research to archives, exhibitions, partnerships, and public access.

1. Strategic Leadership

The Director will provide overall strategic leadership for the EJS Center’s Research, Knowledge & Archives function.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading implementation of the Center’s Fostering Knowledge and Preserving Voices strategic priority;
• Developing annual departmental plans and priorities;
• Developing and overseeing departmental budgets;
• Establishing and monitoring performance targets;
• Providing strategic oversight for research, archives, oral history, and exhibition initiatives;
• Leading and managing the Research, Knowledge & Archives department;
• Supervising relevant staff, consultants, and technical specialists;
• Tracking progress against targets established under the Center’s strategic plan; and
• Regularly reporting departmental progress, results, challenges, and priorities to Executive Leadership.

The role therefore requires more than subject-matter expertise. Candidates should also be capable of leading teams, managing resources, setting strategic priorities, and translating organizational goals into measurable programs and outcomes.

2. Research and Knowledge Development

A major component of the position involves shaping the EJS Center’s research and knowledge agenda.

The Director will lead the development and implementation of research priorities that align with the Center’s broader strategic objectives.

Among the Director’s major research responsibilities will be leadership of the Center’s flagship State of Women’s Leadership in Africa report.

The successful candidate will oversee the research and production of this flagship publication alongside other research and policy products.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and implementing the Center’s research and knowledge agenda;
• Leading research and production of the State of Women’s Leadership in Africa report;
• Overseeing the creation and publication of policy briefs;
• Addressing timely policy questions concerning women’s leadership and other strategic priorities of the Center;
• Establishing editorial standards for research publications;
• Establishing peer-review or expert-review processes;
• Ensuring research outputs are rigorous, credible, and accessible;
• Producing work suitable for academic and policy audiences; and
• Connecting the Center’s research to archives, oral histories, programmatic evidence, and institutional data.

This means the successful candidate will need to balance academic rigor with practical policy relevance and accessibility.

3. Expanding the EJS Center Data Hub

The Director will also lead the expansion of the EJS Center Data Hub.

The Data Hub is intended to strengthen the availability of information concerning women’s representation and leadership across Africa.

The Director will help ensure that the Center’s research makes appropriate use of multiple evidence sources, including:

• Archival records;
• Oral histories;
• Programmatic evidence;
• Institutional data; and
• Other relevant research and information sources.

The position also involves establishing effective systems for disseminating research to audiences that may include:

• Universities and academics;
• Researchers;
• Policymakers;
• Government institutions;
• Multilateral organizations;
• Donors;
• Media organizations; and
• Other stakeholders interested in African women’s leadership.

Importantly, the Director will also establish mechanisms for tracking the citations and uptake of EJS Center research, helping the organization understand how its knowledge products are being used and where they are generating influence.

4. Archives and Oral History

Preserving the historical record of women’s leadership is another major responsibility of the position.

The Director will provide strategic oversight of both the EJS Center’s archives and its Oral History Program.

Responsibilities will include overseeing the preservation, digitization, management, and accessibility of significant collections, including:

• The Founder’s personal papers;
• Presidential papers;
• Government papers;
• Oral histories; and
• Related archival collections.

The Director will also oversee completion of the current phase of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Oral History Program.

Beyond completing the current phase, the Center intends to expand the program to document women who have served in senior public leadership positions across Africa.

This creates an opportunity for the successful candidate to help build a broader historical record of African women’s experiences in public leadership.

5. Developing Standards for Oral History

The Director will establish and maintain appropriate professional standards and processes covering the full oral-history lifecycle.

This will include standards for:

• Oral-history documentation;
• Interview records;
• Transcription;
• Preservation;
• Publication; and
• Long-term accessibility.

The successful candidate will therefore need an understanding of how oral histories can be collected and preserved responsibly while remaining valuable to researchers, institutions, and future generations.

The Director will also support the development of a publicly accessible and searchable digital archival portal, increasing opportunities for people to discover and engage with the Center’s collections.

6. Presidential Library and Archival Systems

Another significant element of the role involves supporting development of an integrated archival system for the Presidential Library at the African Women’s House.

The Director will oversee the development of systems and standards necessary for managing the Center’s archival collections effectively.

These responsibilities include:

• Developing appropriate cataloguing systems;
• Establishing access protocols;
• Establishing preservation standards;
• Supporting digital infrastructure for archival collections; and
• Helping create an integrated archival system for the Presidential Library.

The Director will also support development and implementation of a gender-responsive public-access policy.

The purpose of this policy will be to facilitate meaningful use of the Center’s collections by groups including:

• African researchers;
• Students;
• Oral historians; and
• Community advocates.

The role will also involve collaboration with partners and technical specialists on the design and operationalization of the Library and Reading Room.

7. Exhibition Research and Curatorial Leadership

The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives will also provide strategic and curatorial leadership for the EJS Center’s exhibition program.

This will cover multiple exhibition formats, including:

• Permanent exhibitions;
• Temporary exhibitions;
• Traveling exhibitions; and
• Digital exhibitions.

One of the Director’s key responsibilities will be leading the research and content development for the permanent exhibition within the African Women’s House.

The Director will work with a range of specialists and creative partners to transform research, archives, historical materials, and stories into meaningful exhibitions.

Collaborators may include:

• Exhibition designers;
• Curators;
• Historians;
• Artists;
• Researchers; and
• Other relevant partners.

The Director will also collaborate with the Center’s Public Engagement function on educational programming, visitor engagement, and public access related to exhibitions and archival materials.

This makes the position particularly relevant for professionals who understand how research and historical evidence can be transformed into compelling and accessible public knowledge.

8. Partnerships and Institutional Collaboration

The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain partnerships that support the Center’s research, archival, and knowledge objectives.

These partnerships may involve:

• Universities;
• Research institutions;
• Archives;
• Academic organizations;
• Liberian institutions;
• African institutions;
• International institutions; and
• Other organizations aligned with the EJS Center’s mission.

The Director will coordinate relevant academic and research partnerships while identifying new opportunities for collaboration.

Potential areas of partnership may include:

• Collaborative research;
• Archival initiatives;
• Knowledge partnerships;
• Academic engagement; and
• Other initiatives that advance the Center’s strategic priorities.

Strong relationship-management skills will therefore be important for candidates interested in the position.

Qualifications Required for the Director Position

The EJS Center is seeking an experienced professional with advanced academic training and substantial relevant professional experience.

Applicants should possess an advanced degree in one of the following areas:

• History;
• African Studies;
• Political Science;
• Public Policy;
• Gender Studies;
• Women’s Studies;
• Archival Studies;
• Library and Information Science; or
• A related discipline.

A Ph.D. is preferred, although the vacancy information describes an advanced degree as the core academic requirement.

Professional Experience Requirements

Applicants should have at least seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as:

• Research;
• Archives;
• Policy;
• Knowledge management; or
• A closely related field.

Importantly, this experience should include responsibility for leading complex projects or teams.

Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate both technical expertise and leadership experience.

Research and Publication Experience

The EJS Center is looking for candidates who have demonstrated experience developing and producing high-quality knowledge products.

Relevant experience may include the production of:

• Research reports;
• Policy reports;
• Publications;
• Policy briefs;
• Academic or institutional research; and
• Other substantial knowledge products.

Candidates should possess strong research, analytical, writing, and editing skills, as these abilities will be central to the role.

Knowledge of African Women’s Leadership and Governance

Applicants should demonstrate strong knowledge of issues relevant to the Center’s mission.

Relevant areas include:

• African women’s leadership;
• Governance;
• Gender equality;
• Public leadership;
• Public policy; and
• Related research and policy issues.

Candidates should also be passionate about the EJS Center’s mission and committed to strengthening both the evidence base and historical record of African women’s public leadership.

Archival and Digitization Experience

Given the extensive archival responsibilities associated with the position, applicants should have experience working in at least one or more relevant areas such as:

• Archival collections;
• Archival systems;
• Digitization;
• Oral history; or
• Related archival work.

The successful candidate will be expected to provide strategic oversight rather than focusing exclusively on one narrow technical area, making multidisciplinary experience particularly valuable.

Partnership and Project Management Experience

Applicants should have experience managing partnerships with organizations such as:

• Universities;
• Research institutions;
• Archives; or
• Other relevant institutions.

The role also requires demonstrated ability to manage multidisciplinary projects involving different categories of contributors.

These may include:

• Researchers;
• Technical specialists;
• Consultants; and
• Institutional partners.

As a senior leadership position, the Director will need to coordinate these contributors while maintaining quality, timelines, strategic alignment, and institutional objectives.

Skills and Competencies the EJS Center Is Seeking

Based on the responsibilities and qualifications outlined for the role, strong candidates should be able to demonstrate a combination of the following:

1. Strategic leadership and departmental management;
2. Research design and implementation;
3. Policy research and analysis;
4. High-quality writing and editing;
5. Knowledge-product development;
6. Archival preservation and management knowledge;
7. Digitization or archival-systems experience;
8. Oral-history knowledge or experience;
9. Data and evidence management;
10. Curatorial and exhibition research capabilities;
11. Academic and institutional partnership management;
12. Multidisciplinary project management;
13. Knowledge of African women’s leadership and governance;
14. Strong communication skills; and
15. Commitment to the EJS Center’s mission.

Who Should Consider Applying?

This position may be particularly relevant to experienced researchers, policy professionals, historians, archivists, knowledge-management specialists, academics, gender and governance specialists, library and information professionals, and other senior professionals whose backgrounds align with the responsibilities of the role.

Because the position combines research, policy, archives, oral history, exhibitions, institutional partnerships, and management, candidates with multidisciplinary professional experience may find the opportunity especially relevant.

Applicants should carefully assess whether they meet the requirement for at least seven years of progressively responsible experience and possess the necessary advanced academic qualification.

How to Apply for the EJS Center Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives Position

Interested candidates must submit their applications through the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center job board.

Applicants are required to provide two principal application documents:

1. Cover letter: The cover letter should explain why the applicant believes they should be considered for the Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives position.
2. Curriculum Vitae: Applicants must submit a CV outlining their relevant professional experience and educational background.

Given the seniority and broad scope of the position, candidates should ensure their application clearly demonstrates how their experience relates to the Center’s requirements, particularly in research, leadership, policy, archives, knowledge management, partnerships, and project management.

APPLY NOW

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

There is no fixed closing date stated for this opportunity.

The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives vacancy is listed as Open Until Filled.

This means recruitment may remain active until the EJS Center identifies and appoints a suitable candidate. Interested professionals should therefore consider submitting their applications promptly, as an open-until-filled vacancy may close once the organization has secured an appropriate candidate.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives position sits at the intersection of history, research, public policy, gender equality, knowledge preservation, and African leadership.

The successful candidate will have an opportunity to contribute to work that documents and strengthens understanding of African women’s leadership while helping make historical and contemporary evidence more accessible.

From developing the State of Women’s Leadership in Africa report and expanding the EJS Center Data Hub to preserving presidential papers, recording oral histories, developing exhibitions, and supporting the Presidential Library at the African Women’s House, the role encompasses an unusually broad range of research and knowledge responsibilities.

It also provides an opportunity to connect historical preservation with contemporary policy research. Rather than treating archives solely as historical records, the Center intends for archives, oral histories, programmatic evidence, and institutional data to inform research and knowledge production.

Conclusion

The Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development represents a significant senior-level opportunity for an experienced professional committed to research, African women’s leadership, historical preservation, public policy, and knowledge development.

Based in Liberia and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the successful candidate will lead an extensive portfolio encompassing research and policy publications, the EJS Center Data Hub, archives, oral history, presidential records, digital accessibility, exhibitions, institutional partnerships, and the development of archival systems for the Presidential Library at the African Women’s House.

Candidates need an advanced degree in a relevant discipline and at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in research, archives, policy, knowledge management, or a related field. A Ph.D. is preferred.

Most importantly, the EJS Center is seeking someone who shares its commitment to strengthening the evidence base and preserving the historical record of African women’s public leadership.

The position is open until filled, so qualified candidates interested in contributing to this Pan-African knowledge and leadership mission are encouraged to apply through the official Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center job board as soon as possible.

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