The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) was created by an Act of Parliament, the MUBAS Act of 2019 as an entrepreneurial university specialising in Business and Applied Sciences. The University would like to fill this position with a suitably qualified candidate at a time when it is globally repositioning itself to run in compliance with international norms of scholarship and a business culture that characterises a modern university.

Position Overview

The Head of Research and Innovation shall be responsible to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for leading, promoting, encouraging and facilitating the advancement of knowledge, its dissemination, the commercialization of research and innovation products and services as well as overseeing all consultancy and outreach services undertaken by the University.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Head of Research and Innovation shall:

1. Develop and review from time-to-time policies and guidelines for University’s research and dissemination, consultancy and outreach, innovation and intellectual property, and Internationalization including other appropriate instruments in line with the changing education environment which shall be approved by the Council from time to time.
2. Develop vibrant research, consultancy, innovation and outreach activities in the University.
3. Establish operational systems for ethical clearance, as well as their monitoring and evaluation tools for the University.
4. Advise on relevant legal and governance issues relevant to research and consultancy including Intellectual Property Rights, and any other contractual requirements.
5. Represent the interests of the University in contractual research and consultancy applications and reporting.
6. Set standards for effective dissemination of high-quality research output such as preparing a list of journal outlets from time to time which shall be approved by the Senate.
7. Promote the development of the University’s capability and capacity to deliver high-quality research output.
8. Develop effective and efficient research management systems in line with the University’s strategic plan.
9. Develop fundraising strategies, capacitate staff and raise funds for research.
10. Liaise between the University and funding agencies and broker strategic partnerships.
11. Facilitate the development of the University’s research strategic plan.
12. Promote research and innovation strategic partnerships between the University and relevant industries or business communities or organisations as well as local and international universities.
13. License University technologies to third parties for the benefit of society.

Qualifications and Experience

1. Minimum of a Doctorate Degree in any field offered by the University, obtained from an institution accredited or recognized under the National Council for Higher Education Act.
2. Three (3) years of experience in a management position in a higher education institution.
3. Be in the currency of research.

Tenure of office

The successful candidate shall be offered a 3-year performance-based contract which may be renewed once.

Method of Application

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their applications together with their vision/plan for the office applied for, Curriculum Vitae, and names and addresses of three traceable referees. Shortlisting of candidates to undergo interviews will be based on the completeness and quality of the package of the documents in line with the job requirements.

Applications should be addressed to the following not later than 25th October 2026:

The Registrar

The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences

Private Bag 303

Blantyre 3

Electronic copies should be sent to: vacancies@mubas.ac.mw