Let’s make an impact, together
We seek exceptional individuals who share our conviction that Africa’s greatest solutions require a context-driven approach, and who are committed to rigorous research, innovative thinking, and meaningful impact. The Sahara Centre is committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of Africa and its diaspora. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our research, deepen our insights, and broaden our impact.
At The Sahara Centre, we build a culture where people can do their most serious thinking and their most exacting work, trusted to hold a high standard without being closely managed. As part of our team, you get the room to bring judgement as well as execution, and the backing to make that judgement count.
Why Work With Us
Join a team that combines academic excellence with practical application, translating indigenous African philosophies into frameworks that shape policy, governance, and innovation across the continent.
- Our work influences decision-makers from local communities to international organizations, all while remaining grounded in African realities and knowledge systems.
- Be part of a community of thought leaders who are redefining how the world sees African knowledge and solutions.
- Work at the intersection of research, policy, creative industries, and strategic consulting, building expertise that spans multiple domains.
Interested in giving your time instead? Become a volunteer
What We Look For
Core Qualifications
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Research Excellence
- Global Perspective
- Collaborative Spirit
Preferred Experience
- Advanced degree in relevant field (African Studies, Policy, Business, Design, etc.)
- Research or practical experience in Africa or with African communities
- Language skills (English required; French, Arabic, or African languages preferred)
- Publication or presentation experience
- Cross-cultural communication abilities
Current Opportunities
We welcome applications for various positions, please get in touch for a list of our recent openings.
Centre Coordinator / Manager
The Sahara Centre invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the position of Centre Coordinator, with the appointment to be effective on a date to be confirmed with the successful candidate. A more experienced candidate may be hired directly into the role of Centre Manager, based on demonstrated experience and performance.
Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Centre Coordinator/Manager owns delivery across the Centre’s programmes, research, communications, and operations, and holds responsibility for grants and partnerships to advance the Centre’s work. The Centre
Coordinator is accountable for the standard to which the Centre operates day to day, so that the Centre’s programmatic and intellectual ambitions are matched by the discipline of their delivery.
The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who work at a high standard without close supervision, demonstrate good judgement and attention to detail.
Applications should include a letter of interest, salary expectations, and a curriculum vitae, and should be submitted to Abena at culture at saharacentre dot org.
The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.
More information about the role is provided below.
Role Overview
The Centre Coordinator exists to hold delivery together across The Sahara Centre, ensuring that research, programmes, communications, and operations move forward in a coordinated way. This role owns the Centre’s delivery calendar and cross-functional coordination.
The Centre Coordinator’s role also involves taking the lead on sourcing grants and suitable partnerships for the Centre’s programmes, from identifying opportunities through to reporting against grant terms.
The coordinator role has a defined growth path to Centre Manager depending on results and by consistently demonstrating the ability to perform at Manager level.
Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery and Centre Coordination
- Owns the Centre’s delivery calendar and cross-functional coordination across research, programmes, communications, and operations.
- Tracks timelines and deliverables across all active Centre initiatives, escalating risks, delays, and resourcing gaps to the Executive Director with recommended options.
Grants and Partnerships
- Identifies and pursues grant and partnership opportunities aligned with the Centre’s mission and programmes.
- Manages the full grant lifecycle: proposal development, submission, compliance tracking, and reporting against grant terms.
- Builds and maintains funder and partner relationships in service of the Centre’s programmes.
Vendor and Event Management
- Sources, negotiates with, and manages vendors and contractors supporting Centre operations and programming.
- Plans and executes logistics for Centre events, convenings, and programme activity.
- Supervises event setup and delivery to a consistently high standard.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Master’s degree in business administration, development studies, or a related field.
- Project management certification.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Experience
- Minimum three to five years of experience in project or programme management, operations management, or a comparable execution focused role.
- Experience identifying, applying for, and managing grants or institutional partnerships.
- Experience managing vendors, budgets, and multi-person teams.
- Experience working in a research, policy, development organization.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Working knowledge of project management practices and tools.
- Skill in proposal writing, grant compliance, and partnership management.
- Skill in vendor negotiation and event logistics planning.
- Ability to translate strategic direction into an operational plan without close supervision.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines.
Office based at the Centre in Lagos on a full-time basis.
Communications Lead
The Sahara Centre invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the position of a full-time Communications Lead, with the appointment to be effective on a date to be confirmed with the successful candidate.
Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.
The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who can hold a high standard, demonstrate judgement and exceptional attention to detail.
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Communications Lead holds the standard for how The Sahara Centre communicates, owning editorial and content judgment across the website, newsletter, and social channels. This role drafts and creates content directly, and supervises additional content or communications staff as the team expands.
Applications should include a letter of interest, salary expectations, and a curriculum vitae, and should be submitted to Abena at culture at saharacentre dot org.
The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.
More information about the role is provided below.
Role Overview
The Communications Lead exists to give The Sahara Centre a consistent, credible public
voice. This role sets the agenda for what gets communicated and in what form, holds the
editorial standard across every channel the Centre publishes on, and is hands-on in drafting and creating that content directly.
As the team expands, this role also supervises whoever joins to support content production, so the Centre’s communications function can scale without losing editorial consistency.
Key Responsibilities
Content Strategy Implementation
- Implements the direction and agenda for TSC communications across the website, and other channels.
- Determines which programme and research activity gets distilled into content and in what form.
- Maintains the content calendar and sequencing across channels.
Content Creation and Production
- Drafts and creates content directly across the Centre’s channels.
- Coordinates with graphic designer on visual asset production.
- Supervises and directs any additional content or communications staff, as the team expands.
- Maintains TSC’s editorial voice, brand, and formatting standards across all published content.
- Routes content requiring institutional sign off to the appropriate reviewer before publication.
Reporting
- Tracks engagement and reach across channels and reports on performance against the content calendar.
- Coordinates delivery timelines with the Centre Coordinator.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
- Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Experience
- Minimum four years of experience in a communications or content strategy role.
- Hands-on experience drafting and producing content directly.
- Experience producing content for a research, policy, or development sector organization preferred.
- Experience directing the work of a junior team member or trainee, or readiness to do so as the team expands.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of editorial planning and content calendar management.
- Experience providing written and visual storytelling for a policy and research audience.
- Deep understanding of how channels work across website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and newsletters, with the ability to provide detailed content design direction in line with the brand guide. The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence of this understanding and ability.
- Able to use Canva excellently; skill in video and audio editing will be advantageous.
- Able to exercise independent editorial judgment within a defined brand voice.
- Able to coordinate production timelines across multiple contributors.
Working Environment
Office based at the Centre in Lagos on a full-time basis.
Researcher - Lagos, In person
The Sahara Centre invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the
position of Researcher, with the appointment to be effective on a date to be confirmed with the successful candidate. This is a a fixed-term position with duration of three or six months.
Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s
development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.
The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who can hold a high standard, demonstrate judgement and exceptional attention to detail.
The researcher will engage in independent and collaborative research that advances The Sahara Centre’s intellectual agenda, with responsibility for the Centre’s academic and policy publications.
Applications should include a letter of interest, preferred duration of availability (three or six months), salary expectations, and a curriculum vitae, and should be submitted to Abena at culture at saharacentre dot org.
The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.
More information about the role is provided below.
Role Overview
The Researcher role exists to deepen and extend The Sahara Centre’s intellectual output, designing and executing original research that advances the Centre’s frameworks and current priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Research Design and Execution
- Designs and executes original research aligned with the Centre’s intellectual frameworks and current priorities.
- Applies rigorous quantitative or qualitative methods appropriate to each research question.
- Manages research timelines and deliverables against agreed milestones
Publication and Dissemination
- Drafts academic journal articles, policy papers, and public facing research outputs to a standard that a senior academic or policy reader would find credible and useful.
- Represents the Centre’s research at conferences, convenings, and in academic and policy networks.
- Contributes to the Centre’s publishing programme.
Institutional Contribution
- Supervises Research Interns and Assistants on assigned projects.
- Contributes to the Centre’s programming where research expertise adds value.
Required Qualifications
Education
- PhD in a field relevant to the Centre's research agenda, such as development studies,
- African studies, political economy, or a related discipline.
- Candidates with a strong Master’s degree or those nearing completion of a PhD, with a confirmed defence date, may be considered.
Experience
- A demonstrated publication record in peer reviewed journals or comparable academic and policy outlets.
- Experience designing and executing independent research projects from question to publication.
- Experience supervising junior researchers, interns, or graduate assistants is an advantage.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong grounding in indigenous knowledge frameworks and African development scholarship, or a demonstrated ability to work rigorously within this frame.
- Skill in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with fluency in at least one.
- Ability to write rigorous, evidence grounded prose for a senior academic or policy audience.
- Ability to work independently while remaining accountable to institutional sign off on publication decisions.
- Ability to speak and write an African language is an advantage.
Working Environment
Office based at the Centre in Lagos on a full time, fixed-term basis, with periodic travel for fieldwork, conferences, and convenings.
Researcher - Remote
The Sahara Centre invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the
position of Researcher, with the appointment to be effective on a date to be confirmed with the successful candidate. This is a fully remote position, for a fixed-term of three or six months, and applications are welcome from anywhere, including outside Lagos or Nigeria.
Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s
development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions
indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving
indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to
catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.
The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who can hold a high standard, demonstrate judgement and exceptional attention to detail.
The researcher will engage in independent and collaborative research that advances The
Sahara Centre’s intellectual agenda, with responsibility for the Centre’s academic and policy publications.
Applications should include a letter of interest, preferred duration of availability (three or six months), salary expectations, and a curriculum vitae, and should be submitted to Abena at culture at saharacentre dot org.
The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.
More information about the role is provided below.
Role Overview
The Researcher role exists to deepen and extend The Sahara Centre’s intellectual output, designing and executing original research that advances the Centre’s frameworks and current priorities, working fully remotely.
Key Responsibilities
Research Design and Execution
- Designs and executes original research aligned with the Centre’s intellectual frameworks and current priorities.
- Applies rigorous quantitative or qualitative methods appropriate to each research question.
- Manages research timelines and deliverables against agreed milestones.
Participation
- Participates virtually in relevant Centre programming, including Lantern Lab sessions, as assigned.
- Attends virtual check ins with the assigned project lead and acts on feedback.
Publication and Dissemination
- Drafts academic journal articles, policy papers, and public facing research outputs to a standard that a senior academic or policy reader would find credible and useful.
- Represents the Centre’s research at conferences, convenings, and in academic and policy networks.
- Contributes to the Centre’s publishing programme.
Institutional Contribution
- Supervises Research Interns and Graduate Assistants on assigned projects.
- Contributes to the Centre’s programming where research expertise adds value.
Required Qualifcations
Education
- PhD in a field relevant to the Centre’s research agenda, such as development studies,
- African studies, political economy, or a related discipline.
- Candidates with a strong Master’s degree or those nearing completion of a PhD, with a confirmed defence date, may be considered.
Experience
- A demonstrated publication record in peer reviewed journals or comparable academic and policy outlets.
- Experience designing and executing independent research projects from question to publication.
- Experience supervising junior researchers, interns, or graduate assistants is an advantage.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong grounding in indigenous knowledge frameworks and African development scholarship, or a demonstrated ability to work rigorously within this frame.
- Skill in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with fluency in at least one.
- Ability to write rigorous, evidence grounded prose for a senior academic or policy audience.
- Ability to work independently while remaining accountable to institutional sign off on publication decisions.
- Comfort working independently in a remote setting, with reliable internet access and the discipline to stay on schedule without in-person oversight.
- Ability to speak and write an African language is an advantage.
Working Environment
This is a fully remote position for the duration of the fixed term placement, typically three to six months, tied to specific projects. There is no requirement to be based in Lagos or in Nigeria.
Candidates should have reliable internet access and be able to join scheduled virtual check-ins during Lagos working hours, West Africa Time.
Research Assistant - Lagos, In person
The Sahara Centre invites applications for the position of Research Assistant, a six month fixed-term placement tied to specific research projects.
Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.
The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who can work to a high standard, demonstrate judgement and attention to detail.
Reporting to the Research Manager, the Research Assistant supports active research projects through literature review, data collection, and drafting support.
Applications should include a letter of interest, salary expectations, and a curriculum vitae, and should be submitted to Abena at culture at saharacentre dot org.
The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.
More information about the role is provided below.
Role Overview
The Research Assistant will support the research team on its projects, contributing background research, data support, and drafting under direct supervision.
Key Responsibilities
Research Support
- Conducts literature review and background research as directed by the assigned project lead.
- Supports data collection and basic data cleaning for assigned projects.
- Drafts sections of research output for review by the assigned project lead.
Documentation
- Maintains organized records and documentation for assigned research tasks.
- Tracks sources and citations accurately in line with the Centre’s standards.
Participation
- Participates in relevant Centre programming, including Lantern Lab sessions, as assigned.
- Attends check-ins with the assigned project lead and acts on feedback.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Recently completed a Master’s degree, or enrolled in PhD candidacy, in a relevant field.
- Strong candidates with a 1st or 2nd Class Upper Bachelor’s degree may be considered.
Experience
- Prior research experience through coursework, a thesis, or a prior internship at a development-focused organization is an advantage.
- Some demonstrated writing or research output that shows analytical capability.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Basic research methods and source evaluation skills appropriate to the assigned project.
- Ability to follow direction closely and deliver assigned tasks on schedule.
- Interest in indigenous knowledge, African development, and the Centre’s core intellectual themes.
Working Environment
Office based at the Centre in Lagos for the duration of the fixed term placement, typically three to six months, tied to specific projects.
Research Assistant - Remote
The Sahara Centre invites applications for the position of Research Assistant, for a three-month or six-month fixed-term placement tied to specific research projects. This is a fully remote position, and applications are welcome from anywhere, including outside Lagos or Nigeria.
Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions
indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving
indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to
catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.
The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who can work to a high standard, demonstrate judgement and attention to detail.
Reporting to the Research Manager, the Research Assistant supports active research projects through literature review, data collection, and drafting support.
Applications should include a letter of interest, preferred duration of availability (three or six months), salary expectations, and a curriculum vitae, and should be submitted to Abena at culture at saharacentre dot org.
The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.
More information about the role is provided below.
Role Overview
The Research Assistant exists to support the research team on its projects, contributing background research, data support, and drafting under direct supervision, working fully remotely.
Key Responsibilities
Research Support
- Conducts literature review and background research as directed by the assigned project lead.
- Supports data collection and basic data cleaning for assigned projects.
- Drafts sections of research output for review by the assigned project lead.
Documentation
- Maintains organized records and documentation for assigned research tasks.
- Tracks sources and citations accurately in line with the Centre’s standards.
Participation
- Participates virtually in relevant Centre programming, including Lantern Lab sessions, as assigned.
- Attends virtual check ins with the assigned project lead and acts on feedback.
Required Qualifications
Education
- Recently completed a Master’s degree, or enrolled in PhD candidacy, in a relevant field.
- Strong candidates with a 1st or 2nd Class Upper Bachelor’s degree may be considered.
Experience
- Prior research experience through coursework, a thesis, or a prior internship at a development-focused organization is an advantage.
- Some demonstrated writing or research output that shows analytical capability.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Basic research methods and source evaluation skills appropriate to the assigned project.
- Ability to follow direction closely and deliver assigned tasks on schedule.
- Interest in indigenous knowledge, African development, and the Centre’s core intellectual themes.
- Comfort working independently in a remote setting, with reliable internet access and the discipline to stay on schedule without in-person oversight.
Working Environment
This is a fully remote position for the duration of the fixed term placement, typically three to six months, tied to specific projects. There is no requirement to be based in Lagos or in Nigeria.
Candidates should have reliable internet access and be able to join scheduled virtual check-ins during Lagos working hours, West Africa Time.
