Senior Principal Research Scientist (3 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 Senior Principal Research Scientist (KMFRI Grade 4, 3 posts, reference KMF/EXT/ADVT/SPRS/3). Applications close on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 hrs (EAT).

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

Key facts

• Role: Senior Principal Research Scientist
• Employer: Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)
• Reference: KMF/EXT/ADVT/SPRS/3
• Grade: KMFRI Grade 4
• Posts: 3 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:

• Supervise and mentor scientists, technologists, postgraduate students, and interns to strengthen talent development and research capacity
• Coordinate and oversee staff performance appraisals, training, and professional growth for improved research delivery
• Lead and coordinate implementation of strategic plans, multidisciplinary projects, and institutional priorities to achieve set outputs and outcomes
• Ensure quality assurance and compliance in fieldwork, data collection, audits, risk management, and reporting
• Review and certify research proposals, technical reports, and standards for fisheries, ecosystems, and blue economy activities
• Advise management on research, policy, and development matters while representing the institute in taskforces, committees, and professional bodies
• Mobilize resources through proposal development, donor engagement, consultancy services, and revenue-generating initiatives
• Manage finances and procurement by preparing budgets, work plans, procurement plans, and ensuring expenditure control and donor reporting
• Monitor and evaluate research activities, performance, and compliance to improve efficiency and accountability
• Produce and disseminate technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and value-use documents for stakeholder uptake
• Network and collaborate with national, regional, and international partners to enhance innovations, joint research, and knowledge transfer
• Identify and upscale research innovations, technologies, and solutions to support the blue economy and sustainable development; and
• Engage stakeholders and visitors through briefings, dissemination fora, and outreach activities to enhance visibility and impact

Person specification

For appointment to this grade, the official advert requires:

• Cumulative service period of twelve (12) years’ relevant work experience, three (3) of which must have been at the grade of Principal Research Scientist (currently KMFRI Grade 5) or in a comparable position
• 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
• Leadership Course lasting not less than four (4) weeks (cumulative) / Corporate Governance course from a recognized institution
• Cumulatively published at least ten (10) 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
• 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. 148,634 – KShs. 193,225 per month
• House allowance: KShs. 50,000 per month
• Commuter allowance: KShs. 17,000 per month
• Annual leave allowance: KShs.20,000 per year
• Medical cover and other allowances: As provided by KMFRI

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.