Technical Lead, AMIU Health Innovation Hub

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role is both strategic and operational.

About the role

The Technical Lead will provide technical and strategic leadership for the Health Innovation Hub at Amref International University (AMIU). The role will drive the development implementation incubation validation commercialization and scaling of innovative solutions to priority health challenges.

The Technical Lead Health Innovation Hub will provide technical and strategic leadership in the design development implementation and scaling of health innovation initiatives at Amref International University.

The role holder will lead the development of an enabling health innovation ecosystem that connects students faculty researchers healthcare practitioners entrepreneurs industry government investors development partners and other ecosystem actors to identify and address priority health challenges.

The Technical Lead will provide technical guidance on innovation programmes challenge-based innovation ideation prototyping incubation acceleration technology adoption commercialization and scaling of health innovations. The role will also support the integration of innovation and entrepreneurship across academic programmes and strengthen pathways for students and innovators to translate ideas and research into viable health solutions.

At the strategic level the role holder will identify emerging opportunities develop strategic partnerships mobilize resources support innovation funding opportunities and position the Health Innovation Hub as a credible platform for health innovation entrepreneurship research translation and ecosystem development.

Overall the role holder will be a technical expert innovation ecosystem builder problem solver mentor and strategic partner capable of translating emerging health challenges and opportunities into practical scalable and sustainable innovation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Innovation Leadership

Lead the development implementation and continuous review of the Health Innovation Hub strategy and annual operational plans.

Develop and implement innovation programmes aligned with AMIUs strategic priorities and the broader Amref Health Africa agenda.

Identify emerging health challenges technologies trends and opportunities that can inform the Hubs innovation portfolio.

Provide technical leadership in health innovation entrepreneurship technology adoption and innovation ecosystem development.

Develop frameworks guidelines tools and processes for managing health innovation initiatives.

Provide strategic intelligence and technical recommendations to Institute and University leadership on health innovation opportunities.

Support the integration of innovation entrepreneurship design thinking and problem solving approaches across relevant academic and professional education programmes.

Establish mechanisms for tracking the performance outcomes impact and sustainability of innovation initiatives.

2. Innovation Programme Management

Design and coordinate innovation programmes challenges hackathons innovation competitions boot camps accelerator programmes and other innovation activities.

Lead the identification and prioritization of health problems that can be addressed through innovative solutions.

Facilitate ideation design thinking prototyping testing validation and refinement of health innovations.

Establish structured pathways for moving innovations from idea to prototype validation implementation commercialization and scale.

Provide technical support to innovators students researchers faculty entrepreneurs and start-ups participating in Hub programmes.

Develop innovation toolkits curricula training materials mentorship approaches and technical resources.

Coordinate technical review and assessment of innovations to determine their feasibility relevance scalability sustainability and potential impact.

Support innovators to develop business models value propositions implementation plans and investment-ready propositions.

Facilitate linkages between promising innovations and

3. Partnerships and Ecosystem Development

Build partnerships with universities government healthcare organizations industry investors innovators and development partners.

Represent the Hub at innovation and health-sector forums.

Develop partnerships that strengthen the Hubs sustainability and impact.

4. Research Translation and Commercialization

Support translation of research and innovations into practical health solutions.

Facilitate commercialization technology transfer intellectual property and scaling pathways.

Connect innovators with users investors and implementation partners.

5. Capacity Building

Develop and deliver training in innovation entrepreneurship design thinking and problem-solving.

Mentor students researchers entrepreneurs and innovators.

 Support integration of innovation and entrepreneurship into relevant AMIU programmes.

6. Resource Mobilization 

Identify grants investment and partnership opportunities.

Support development of proposals and concept notes.

Develop sustainable business and revenue models for the Hub.

7. Monitoring Evaluation and Impact

Track innovation programmes and their outcomes.

Measure innovation partnership commercialization and health impact.

Prepare technical and impact reports and document lessons learned.

8. Communication and Visibility

Promote the Hub its innovations partnerships and achievements.

Coordinate innovation showcases pitch events exhibitions and knowledge products.

Strengthen AMIUs visibility within the African health innovation ecosystem.

Qualifications :

Qualifications and Experience

A Bachelors degree in Business Engineering Health Sciences Public Health Innovation Entrepreneurship Technology Business IT or a related field.

At least 7 years relevant experience in health innovation entrepreneurship technology research translation programme management or ecosystem development.

Demonstrated experience in innovation programmes partnerships mentorship and resource mobilization.

Core Competencies

Health innovation and ecosystem development

Design thinking and entrepreneurship

Programme and project management

Research translation and commercialization

Partnership development

Resource mobilization

Mentorship and facilitation

Strategic thinking and problem-solving

Monitoring evaluation and learning

Strong communication and stakeholder management

Key Performance Areas

Success will be measured through:

Innovation programmes implemented

Innovators and students supported.

Innovations progressing from idea to validation and scale.

Strategic partnerships developed.

Resources mobilized.

Innovations adopted commercialized or scaled.

Research translated into practical solutions.

Sustainability and impact of the Health Innovation Hub.

Additional Information :

Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. The closing date will be 10th November 2026.

All Amref International University open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly note that official emails from AmIU will arrive from an @ or @ address.

Amref International University is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref International University is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time