Chief Research Scientist (4 posts)

The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), a state corporation under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, is recruiting a Chief Research Scientist (KMFRI Grade 3, 4 posts, reference KMF/EXT/ADVT/CRS/1). Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 hrs (EAT).

A Chief Research Scientist may be deployed in any of the following research areas: Oceans and Coastal Systems & Blue Economy, Freshwater Systems, Aquaculture and Socioeconomics research areas.

Key facts

• Role: Chief Research Scientist
• Employer: Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)
• Reference: KMF/EXT/ADVT/CRS/1
• Grade: KMFRI Grade 3
• Posts: 4 posts
• Deadline: Monday, 30 November 2026, 11:59 pm EAT
• How to apply: careers.kmfri.go.ke (online only)

Duties and responsibilities

From the official advert:

• 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 for a
• 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

Person specification

For appointment to this grade, the official advert requires:

• 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 equivalent from a recognized institution
• 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; and
• Fulfilment of the requirements of Chapter Six (6) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010

Remuneration

Figures below are taken from the official advert.

• Basic salary scale: KShs. 192,034 – KShs. 249,644 per month
• House allowance: KShs. 60,000 per month
• Commuter allowance: KShs. 21,000 per month
• Annual leave allowance: KShs.35,000 per year
• Medical cover and other allowances: As provided by KMFRI
• Terms of service: Permanent and Pensionable

How to apply

Applications are accepted online only through the official KMFRI recruitment portal. Hard-copy applications will not be accepted. The detailed job descriptions, person specifications and other requirements are on the portal and in the official external advertisement PDF.

1. Read the full specification for this post in the official KMFRI external advertisement (PDF, 23 pages) or on careers.kmfri.go.ke.
2. Submit your application online through the KMFRI recruitment portal.
3. Applications must be received on or before 30 November 2026, 23:59 hrs (East Africa Time).

Successful candidates will be required to present originals of: a Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations; a HELB clearance or compliance certificate; a KRA tax compliance certificate; EACC clearance; and clearance from a recognised credit reference bureau. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an oral and practical interview and must produce originals of their national identity card and academic and professional certificates. Canvassing leads to automatic disqualification.

KMFRI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from persons living with disability, women, youth and people from marginalized areas.

KMFRI has research centres and stations at Mombasa, Kisumu, Naivasha, Baringo, Kegati, Sangoro, Sagana, Turkana, Mutonga and Shimoni, a research substation at Gazi, and a Nairobi liaison office. The official advert does not assign this post to a single station.

Recruitment by public bodies in Kenya is free. These agencies do not charge a fee to apply, shortlist or offer a job. Nobody can sell you a slot. See how to spot fake job adverts.

Source: official KMFRI external advertisement, 10 November 2026, published on kmfri.go.ke/resources/careers and in the 23-page advert PDF. If anything here differs from the official advert, the official advert wins.