Head (Industry, Minerals and Innovation) at African Union

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head (Industry, Minerals and Innovation)

Requisition ID: 2753
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: Director of Industry, Mining, Entrepreneurship and Tourism
Directorate / Department: Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Mining
Division: Industry, Innovation and Mining
Number of Direct Reports: 3
Number of Indirect Reports: 6
Job Grade: P5
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular

Purpose of Job

• To provide strategic leadership for the effective management of the Division of Industry, Innovation and Mining in order to achieve the objectives of the Division and the African Union.

Main Functions

• Supervise and manage employees of the Division with regard to organisation and performance evaluation;
• Design strategies and policies consistent with the Department’s goal in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area;
• Contribute to the development of the departmental business continuity plan and ensure implementation at division level;
• Ensure risk management and mitigation;
• Design and plan policy programs to achieve the strategies;
• Develop new and expand on existing activities as components of the strategies and policies;
• Address problems using the current approaches in the area of industry, innovation & minerals;
• Engage stakeholders within Members States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in designing and implementing strategies;
• Represent the African Union and explain its position at conferences. 
• Mobilise from donors and partners, funding and resources to implement the Departmental strategies, programs and activities; 
• Lead and monitor budget execution for the Division;
• Lead and monitor preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports.

Specific Responsibilities

• Coordinate and harmonize implementation of policies and programs in the area of industry, innovation & minerals policy development across AU Member States, the RECs and other international organizations to ensure maximum impact of the African Industrial Development and Integration;
• Provide substantive support on industry, innovation and minerals issues to AU Policy Organs (such as the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals) by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus;
• Coordinate the implementation and evaluation of projects and programs in the areas of SMEs development, agro- industries, green industrialization, and eco-industrial parks within AU Member States & RECs; 
• Develop policy proposals and recommendations that promote a conducive environment for industrial development and innovation in Africa;
• Lead the organizing of relevant conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings in the areas of Industry, Innovation and Minerals Policy development; 
• Coordinate research in related field of work of the Division of Industry, Innovation and Minerals;
• Manage and supervise day-to-day activities of staff within the Division and responsible for staff performance appraisal; 
• Responsible for annual budget preparation, execution and reporting; 
• Lead preparation of periodic activity reports of the Division; 
• Coordinate harmonization of industrial, Mineral and Innovation policy measures, strategies and regulatory frameworks on the continent in order to promote industrial development and growth; 
• Lead the development of programs that support value addition by African industries in order to promote resource-based industrialization in Africa; 
• Lead the development and implementation of programs aimed at promoting technology transfer, commercialization of industrial research, establishment of technical support and incubation centers for SMEs, Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks; 
• Promote and strengthens Quality infrastructure programs at continental, regional and national levels;
• Collaborate with relevant national, regional, continental and global institutions in the development of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and access to knowledge; 
• Supervise the development of comprehensive programs to position Africa to benefit from digital economy and the 4th Industrial Revolution, encourage industrial competitiveness, monitor industrial performance and support the Start-ups through the establishment of an African Industrial Database; 
• Provide technical support and advisory to Member states as well as other public and private organizations and institutions on the continent in dealing with industrial development and mineral resource development; 
• Collaborate with other African Union Commission Departments undertaking related projects, programs and policies; 
• Promote good working relationships and cooperation with relevant stakeholders and partners; 
• Perform any other related duties that may be assigned. 

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Industrial Development, Economics, Business, Engineering or related field with twelve (12) years of relevant progressive work experience of which seven (7) years must be at managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level;
• Experience in policy formulation will be an advantage.

Required Skills:

• A demonstrated ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally
• Interpersonal and analytical skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Ability to develop and delegate clear program goals, plans and actions, including budgets, that are consistent with agreed strategies
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Communicating with impact
• Learning Orientation
• Foster Accountability Culture

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation
• Job Knowledge Sharing.

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration

• Indicative basic salary of US$ 50,746.00 (P5 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Application Closing Date
10th December, 2025; 11:59 PM EAT.