Job Description
The Meru County Public Service Board is inviting applications from accomplished, analytical, and forward-thinking professionals for the position of **Deputy Director – Research and Strategy**. This senior leadership opportunity is suited to an individual with a strong background in public sector research, strategic planning, organizational performance, and evidence-based policy development. The successful candidate will play a significant role in strengthening institutional planning frameworks, improving organizational effectiveness, and supporting informed decision-making across the Board through reliable research, strategic analysis, and performance evaluation.
Reporting to the relevant departmental leadership, the Deputy Director will coordinate research initiatives that generate valuable insights for policy formulation, workforce planning, institutional reforms, and service delivery enhancement. The position requires a professional capable of translating complex information into practical recommendations that support sustainable governance and long-term organizational objectives. The successful candidate will oversee strategic planning processes, facilitate implementation of approved strategic priorities, and monitor progress against established performance indicators.
The role demands exceptional leadership, stakeholder engagement, analytical thinking, project management, and communication skills. The Deputy Director will work collaboratively with internal departments, county leadership, government agencies, development partners, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to ensure that research outputs contribute meaningfully to evidence-based decision-making. Responsibilities will also include coordinating organizational reviews, conducting environmental scans, preparing policy briefs, evaluating institutional performance, identifying emerging governance trends, and recommending practical improvement initiatives.
The ideal candidate should possess the ability to manage multiple strategic projects simultaneously while maintaining high standards of accuracy, integrity, and professionalism. Experience in data interpretation, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, risk assessment, and institutional planning will be highly valuable in supporting the Board's mandate. The position also requires excellent report writing skills, presentation abilities, and the capacity to communicate technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Meru County Public Service Board offers a dynamic public service environment where innovation, accountability, transparency, continuous improvement, and professional excellence are highly valued. The successful applicant will contribute directly to strengthening strategic governance, enhancing operational efficiency, supporting organizational transformation, and promoting quality public service delivery throughout the county. This position provides an opportunity to influence strategic direction, participate in high-impact initiatives, and contribute to sustainable institutional growth while serving the people of Meru County through effective research-driven leadership and sound strategic management.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development, review, implementation, and monitoring of organizational strategic plans.
- Coordinate comprehensive institutional research projects supporting policy formulation and strategic decision-making.
- Design research methodologies that generate reliable, objective, and actionable findings.
- Analyze social, economic, governance, and workforce trends affecting county public service delivery.
- Prepare detailed research reports, strategic papers, briefing notes, and executive presentations.
- Develop performance measurement frameworks aligned with organizational priorities.
- Coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities across strategic programmes.
- Review organizational performance against approved targets and recommend improvement actions.
- Conduct policy analysis to identify opportunities for institutional strengthening.
- Facilitate departmental strategic planning workshops and stakeholder consultations.
- Support preparation of annual work plans linked to strategic objectives.
- Coordinate environmental scanning exercises to identify emerging risks and opportunities.
- Develop performance dashboards for monitoring organizational achievements.
- Establish systems for collecting, validating, analyzing, and interpreting organizational data.
- Promote evidence-based decision-making across departments.
- Provide technical advice on research design and data analysis methodologies.
- Coordinate benchmarking studies with comparable public sector institutions.
- Monitor implementation of approved strategic initiatives and organizational reforms.
- Prepare periodic strategic performance reports for senior management.
- Support policy review exercises aimed at improving public service efficiency.
- Build collaborative relationships with government agencies, research institutions, and development partners.
- Coordinate organizational surveys and stakeholder feedback initiatives.
- Ensure research activities comply with applicable legal and ethical standards.
- Supervise research officers and provide technical guidance to project teams.
- Manage strategic research budgets and ensure prudent utilization of allocated resources.
- Identify organizational performance gaps and recommend practical interventions.
- Facilitate knowledge management and institutional learning initiatives.
- Promote innovation through continuous organizational improvement programmes.
- Coordinate risk assessment studies supporting strategic planning.
- Prepare presentations for executive leadership and relevant governance committees.
- Ensure accurate documentation and secure management of research records.
- Develop frameworks supporting organizational transformation initiatives.
- Participate in interdepartmental committees and strategic taskforces.
- Review existing operational processes and recommend efficiency improvements.
- Support implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Mentor junior officers in research, strategy, and policy analysis.
- Perform any other related responsibilities assigned in support of the Board's strategic objectives.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Strategic Management, Economics, Public Administration, Statistics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Policy, Research, Planning, Social Sciences, or another relevant discipline from a recognized institution.
- Master's degree in a relevant field will be an added advantage.
- Professional qualifications relevant to strategy, research, monitoring and evaluation, planning, or public management are desirable.
- Demonstrated understanding of strategic planning and organizational development.
- Knowledge of research methodologies and statistical analysis techniques.
- Understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking capability.
- Excellent report writing and presentation skills.
- Sound knowledge of public sector governance principles.
- High standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should prepare a comprehensive application containing a cover letter, an updated curriculum vitae, certified copies of academic and professional certificates, national identification documents, and any other supporting testimonials relevant to the position. Applications should clearly indicate the position applied for: Deputy Director – Research and Strategy. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process. Candidates are encouraged to ensure that all information provided is complete, accurate, and verifiable before submission. Meru County Public Service Board is committed to fair, transparent, and merit-based recruitment and encourages qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply in accordance with applicable public service recruitment requirements.