Chief Research Scientist

About

KMFRI seeks four Chief Research Scientists who may be deployed in Oceans and Coastal Systems & Blue Economy, Freshwater Systems, Aquaculture, or Socioeconomics research. The role leads multidisciplinary research, institutional partnerships, innovation and resource mobilization. Applicants need 15 years’ relevant experience including three years as Senior Principal Research Scientist or comparable, relevant bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees, publications and leadership training. Job grade: KMFRI Grade 3. Number of posts: 4. Reference: KMF/EXT/ADVT/CRS/1. Salary: Basic Salary Scale: KShs. 192,034 – KShs. 249,644 P.M.; House Allowance: KShs. 60,000 P.M.; Commuter Allowance: KShs. 21,000 P.M.; Annual Leave Allowance: KShs.35,000 P.A.; Medical Cover and O Terms of service: Permanent and Pensionable.

How to apply

Submit an application online through KMFRI’s official recruitment portal: https://careers.kmfri.go.ke/. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

Responsibilities

• Providing leadership in mentoring, supervising, and nurturing talent among scientists, technical staff, students, and interns.
• Steering and coordinating large, multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research programs and national research cruises to deliver impactful outcomes.
• Directing and approving departmental work plans, budgets, procurement, and resource allocation to ensure efficiency and accountability.
• Championing innovation by aligning research priorities with national development agendas, scientific advances, and global blue economy processes.
• Guiding and reviewing high-quality scientific outputs, including manuscripts, technical reports, book chapters, and grant applications.
• Overseeing knowledge management through the establishment and sustainability of research databases, records, and technical information systems.
• Representing and advising the Institute in national, regional, and international taskforces, committees, and professional bodies.
• Building strategic partnerships with donors, governments, academia, and industry to mobilize funding and enhance research visibility.
• Ensuring compliance by overseeing quality control, monitoring and evaluation, audits, and reporting mechanisms across departmental research.
• Promoting visibility and influence by communicating research strategies, progress, and findings to diverse stakeholders at high-level fora.
• Driving technology transfer by identifying, scaling up, and commercializing innovations, technologies, and intellectual property.
• Advancing institutional sustainability by pursuing consultancies, revenue generation, and Appropriation-in-Aid opportunities.
• Leading teams to design proposals, secure donor funding, and address national and regional priority research needs.

Qualifications

• Cumulative service period of fifteen (15) years relevant work experience, three (3) of which must have been at the grade of Senior Principal Research Scientist (Currently KMFRI Grade 4) or in a comparable relevant position in the public or private sector.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Sciences, Marine Sciences, Oceanography, Marine Resource Management, Natural Resources Management, Earth Sciences, Natural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Relevant Social Sciences or any other fisheries and aquatic related courses or
• Master’s degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Sciences, Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Economics, any other aquatic related courses or equivalent from a recognized institution.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Oceanography, Aquatic Sciences, Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Relevant Social Sciences, any other aquatic related courses or equivalent from a recognized institution.
• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with a mean grade C+ (Plus) or its equivalent.
• Cumulatively published at least 12 peer-reviewed publications in ISI-indexed journals/book chapters of which at least four (4) are as first author from the latest date of promotion.
• Co-designed the development of at least two (2) multi-institutional and inter-disciplinary research projects that have been funded.
• Demonstrated good results in work performance.
• Leadership course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution.
• Proficiency in computer applications.
• Demonstrated results in work performance.
• Fulfilment of the requirements of Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.