EJS Center Is Hiring a Director of Research, Knowledge and Archives in Monrovia

The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development is hiring a Director of Research, Knowledge and Archives. It is a full-time senior leadership position based in Monrovia, Liberia.

The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and leads the Center’s research, archives, oral history, and exhibitions work. There is no fixed deadline — the vacancy is open until filled. Senior roles like this do not stay open forever, so early applications have the edge.

The key details at a glance

Detail	What the listing says
Organisation	EJS Center (nonprofit, women’s leadership in Africa)
Role	Director of Research, Knowledge & Archives
Location	Monrovia, Liberia
Type	Full-time, on-site
Reports to	Chief Operating Officer
Experience	Experienced (senior level)
Deadline	Open until filled

What the job actually involves

This is a builder’s role. You lead the Center’s research and knowledge production — the studies, policy products, and Data Hub that carry its voice across the continent. You set the research agenda and make sure the outputs meet a standard worthy of the Center’s name.

The second pillar is archives and oral history. You expand the Oral History and Archives Program: digitising collections, improving public access, and preserving the stories of women’s leadership for future generations. This is slow, careful, important work.

The third pillar is exhibitions — permanent, traveling, and digital. You oversee exhibition research and curatorial work, turning the Center’s history and mission into experiences people can visit and explore. Few nonprofit leadership roles combine research, archives, and curation at this level.

Why this role matters

The EJS Center is named for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — Africa’s first elected female head of state and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Its mission is women’s full participation in public life across Africa. Leading its research and archives means shaping how that story is documented and told.

For a researcher or archivist with leadership ambition, this is a rare seat: senior enough to set direction, close enough to the mission to see impact, and based on the continent the work serves rather than in a distant headquarters.

Who should apply — and who should not

The listing asks for experienced candidates — this is a director-level post reporting to the COO, not an entry role. You should bring a strong record in research leadership, knowledge management, archives, oral history, or museum and curatorial work, ideally connected to development, gender, or African affairs.

You should probably not apply if:

• You are early in your career — the Center wants an experienced leader.
• You cannot relocate to Monrovia, Liberia, full-time.
• Your background has no connection to research, archives, or knowledge work.

How to apply

Applications go through the Center’s official careers board. Prepare a CV that shows leadership of research or archival programmes — the scale of what you built, the outputs you delivered, and the teams you led matter more than titles. Because the vacancy is open until filled, apply as soon as you are ready; waiting risks the role closing without notice.

More international organisation careers: the ICC Document Management Assistant role in The Hague and the OPCW Senior Chemical Demilitarisation Officer post.

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