Director General (AFSA)

AU Values

• Respect for Diversity and Team Work
• Think Africa Above all

• Transparency and Accountability
• Integrity and Impartiality

• Efficiency and Professionalism
• Information and Knowledge Sharing

Organization Information

Reports to: President of African Space Agency Council
Directorate/Department/Organ: African Space Agency-AfSA
Division: Office of the Director General
Number of Direct Reports: 7
Number of Indirect Reports: 155
Job Grade: D2
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular
Location: Cairo, Egypt

Purpose of Job

To provide strategic and executive leadership for the African Space Agency (AfSA), ensuring effective implementation of its mandate, strategies and programmes, in line with the decisions of the AfSA Council, African Union priorities and Africa’s space agenda.

Main Functions

• Provide strategic and executive leadership for AfSA, ensuring the effective implementation of its mandate and alignment with AU priorities and Africa’s development objectives.
• Direct and oversee the overall management and institutional development of the Agency, ensuring effective governance, coordination, accountability and organizational performance.
• Serve as Secretary to the AfSA Council and ensure effective support to the Council in the discharge of its functions and implementation of its decisions and directives.
• Lead and advance Africa’s space agenda, promoting the development and use of space science, technology, applications and services in support of Africa’s development priorities.
• Ensure effective and prudent management of AfSA’s financial, human and institutional resources and promote a high-performing, diverse and accountable organizational culture.
• Provide strategic leadership for AfSA’s partnerships, international cooperation and resource mobilisation with AU Member States, RECs, space agencies, international organizations, development partners, industry and academia.
• Represent AfSA at continental and international levels and promote the Agency’s mandate, strategic priorities and interests.

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of AfSA’s strategic plans, policies, annual work programmes, budgets and continental space programmes in line with the Agency’s mandate and AU priorities.
• Translate AfSA Council decisions and directives into institutional priorities and actions, ensure their effective implementation and follow-up, and provide the Council with strategic advice and timely reports on the Agency’s programmes, performance and partnerships.
• Lead and supervise AfSA’s senior management and ensure effective coordination across Directorates, Divisions and Units, including the achievement of agreed objectives and performance targets.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of space-related programmes, projects and initiatives, and promote the use of space technologies, applications, data and services to support Africa’s development.
• Oversee the management and allocation of AfSA’s financial, human and institutional resources, including budgeting, workforce planning, talent management, staff performance, internal controls and risk management, in compliance with AfSA’s Statute, AU rules and regulations and other applicable frameworks.
• Establish and strengthen cooperation with AU Member States, RECs, national and international space agencies, relevant AU institutions, international organizations, development partners, research institutions, industry and academia.
• Develop strategic partnerships and lead resource mobilisation efforts, including the negotiation and implementation of cooperation agreements, MoUs and joint initiatives, to support AfSA’s programmes and institutional development.
• Coordinate consultations and support the development of African common positions on space-related matters, while promoting regional and international cooperation, knowledge exchange and consensus-building.
• Represent AfSA in regional and international forums, negotiations, conferences and high-level engagements, and promote effective stakeholder engagement, communication and visibility of the Agency.
• Promote capacity development, innovation, research, knowledge management and skills development within AfSA and across Africa’s space sector.
• Monitor developments, emerging trends and opportunities in the regional and international space sector and provide strategic advice, policy recommendations, briefing notes, reports and other high-level documents as required.
• Promote integrity, accountability, professionalism, diversity and a result-oriented culture, while ensuring appropriate management of strategic, institutional, operational and reputational risks.
• Perform any other responsibilities assigned by the AfSA Council.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master’s degree in a space-related scientific or technical field, such as Space Science, Aerospace or Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical, Electronic or Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Astronomy, Earth Observation, Remote Sensing or Geospatial Science; or in Space Policy, Space Law, International Law, Science and Technology Policy, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Business Administration, International Relations or a related field from a recognized institution.
• A PhD in a relevant field will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least ten (10) years at managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level.
• The candidate should have substantial experience in the space sector, including work with national or regional space agencies, international organisations, government institutions, research institutions, industry or other relevant space-sector organisations.
• Experience in African or other intergovernmental institutions and knowledge of Africa's space sector and development priorities are highly desirable.
• Knowledge of international space governance frameworks, relevant treaties and emerging space technologies would be an added advantage.
• Relevant professional certifications or additional qualifications will be an added advantage.

Required Skills

• Ability to use strong managerial delegation, political tact and supervisory skills to achieve documented objectives
• Ability to work effectively with people from various backgrounds and create an environment where diversity is respected
• Ability to work across countries and with various stakeholders (governments, research bodies, private sector).
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with top level stakeholders
• Ability to identify key strategic opportunities and risks
• Ability to actively seek, identify and apply appropriate technology to improve programme delivery
• Ability to delegate appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority regarding performance management and professional development
• Demonstrated capacity to lead multidisciplinary, multicultural teams across borders
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies

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TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of three years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

LANGUAGES:
Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

REMUNERATION:

Indicative basic salary of US$ 100,017.00 (D2 Step 1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (48% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 21,832.68 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Applications must be submitted no later than 10 December 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.

-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
-The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
-Candidates from least represented and underrepresented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.

Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sao Tome & Princepe, Seychelles, Somalia and Western Sahara.

Under represented countries: Mozambique, Niger, South Africa, South Sudan and Tunisia.