Job Description for Research Manager
We are a rapidly growing, global organization, operating in almost
40 countries. We design innovative, cutting-edge approaches to solving
development problems, rigorously evaluate these programs and promote the
adoption of those with proven impact.
This occurs both through the dissemination of results to policy
makers, practitioners, and donors, as well as through supporting the
large-scale implementation of evidence-based programs.
Our Kenya office is the organization’s oldest country office, and
the site of many of its most influential projects, including seminal
studies on de-worming, clean water promotion, bed-net usage and
fertilizer subsidies.
We employ more than 300 contracted staff working on 20 different projects across offices in various locations around Kenya.
Our project staffs work closely with Principal Investigators (PIs),
researchers who are affiliated with elite academic institutions such as
Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and
the University of California, Berkeley.
We are in the process of restructuring our project oversight
design, and creating an in-country Research Manager position to provide
an additional layer of project support.
The Research Manager will be given a portfolio of 4 to 5 projects to supervise.
These projects will be based around a specific geographic area, and might include both evaluation and interventions components.
They could span a range of technical areas, such as agriculture,
health, governance and micro-finance. Possible examples might include: a
project studying the comparative health benefit of water, hygiene,
sanitation and nutrition interventions; a project measuring the impact
of IT systems on sugar-cane farmer productivity; and a project testing
methods of selecting and incentivizing community workers.
As part of their supervisory role, the Research Manager will work
closely with the country office to ensure effective support is being
given to projects, and projects are working within the relevant policies
and procedures.
The Research Manager will also participate in senior management
discussions and contribute to research policy development and capacity
building.
This position will be based in Kisumu, focusing on projects in Western and Nyanza (travel required).
The Research Manager will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Keep Country Director, or his/her designated representative,
appraised of all developments on the projects in their portfolio, and
serve as key link between the country office, project staff, and
Principle Investigators.
- Ensure project adherence in the field to general research design,
sample selection, data management and analysis, and overall project
management.
- Oversee project financial management, including creation and
monitoring of program budgets, and ensuring smooth integration of
projects into financial systems.
- Work with country office staff to ensure sound human resource and operational management of project.
- Directly supervise project research assistants (Project Associates
or Project Coordinators), and help with transitions when new research
staff come on board; maintain “institutional memory” of project
activities.
- Lead training on data management and general project management for new/incoming project research staff.
- Promote inter-project best practices and take a lead in sharing best
practices with projects through formal and informal training
opportunities.
- Attend regular meetings with local government officials and partners to ensure success of programmatic activities.
- In select cases, support the dissemination of results via presentations and reports to academic and non-academic audiences.
Desired Qualifications
- Masters in development economics, or a field related to
international economic development or health. Undergraduates with at
least 5 years of field experience will also be considered.
- Extensive experience conducting social science or economic field
research. Background in randomized control trials is strongly preferred.
- At least two years of project management experience. Extensive
experience supervising data collection, teams of field workers, and
survey design and implementation.
- Experience with data management, econometrics, and advanced
knowledge of Stata or any statistical packages preferably SPSS and or
CSPro.
- Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work successfully
with diverse constituencies required. Experience in conducting field
research in developing countries required. o Strong budgeting and
financial management skills.
- Experience with presenting research findings at public forums, including to non-research focused audiences, is preferred.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, and complete fluency in English is required. Kiswahili proficiency is preferred.
To Apply
Applicants should email their applications attaching a detailed
curriculum vitae and a letter indicating why they are interested in and
qualified for the position and the names of three referees who can
provide confidential assessment of their capabilities to a Search
Committee.
All communications relating to applications for this position should be addressed to: email address: therecexpert@gmail.com. Applications should be received by 12th November 2012. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
On the subject matter of the email please indicate the position you are applying for.
You may also like -
