As the Head of Research & Analytics, you will lead evidence-driven decision-making and impact measurement across our skilling and livelihoods programs. This pivotal role requires a deep understanding of development sector research, the ability to translate field data into actionable policy insights, and extensive expertise in measuring the long-term outcomes of training and employment interventions. You will play a crucial role in shaping our strategic direction through robust data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Key Responsibilities
- Research & Knowledge Generation:
- Design and lead labor market and sectoral research to inform project design, advocacy efforts, and strategic partnerships.
- Collaborate with global and local think tanks, academic institutions, and industry bodies to co-create impactful research outputs.
- Produce high-quality knowledge products, including research briefs, policy notes, and white papers for public dissemination.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL):
- Oversee the design and execution of baseline, midline, and endline evaluations across multiple projects and geographies.
- Develop Theory of Change (ToC), logframes, and indicator matrices aligned with donor reporting requirements (e.g., USAID, GIZ, DFID).
- Ensure that lessons learned are effectively integrated back into program design and strategic decisions.
- Data Systems & Analytics:
- Build robust, scalable data systems for capturing and analyzing program performance, from enrollment through job placement.
- Utilize tools like Power BI, Tableau, R, or STATA for real-time analytics, dashboards, and donor presentations.
- Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical handling across all data touchpoints.
- Stakeholder Reporting & Advocacy:
- Support program teams with research-backed inputs for grant proposals, donor reports, and strategic documents.
- Represent the organization in donor meetings, consortiums, and policy-level dialogues, articulating impact and insights effectively.
- Coordinate with field teams to ensure meaningful data collection that prioritizes the learner and community voice.
- Team Management & Capacity Building:
- Lead and mentor a team of M&E specialists, field researchers, and analysts.
- Foster a learning culture through regular capacity-building sessions on data literacy, qualitative methods, and participatory research.
- Promote cross-team collaboration to ensure research insights drive actionable outcomes and accountability.
Qualifications
- Education: A Master's or PhD degree in Development Studies, Public Policy, Statistics, Economics, Education, or a related field.
- Experience: Extensive experience in research, MEL, or analytics roles within NGOs, multilateral agencies, or development consulting firms.
- Donor Exposure: Prior experience working with international donors (e.g., World Bank, UNDP, USAID, BMGF, ADB, DFID) is highly desirable.
Skills & Expertise
- Research & Evaluation Methodologies: Proficient in mixed-method research, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), cohort tracking, and various evaluation frameworks.
- Data Tools: Hands-on proficiency with tools like R, STATA, KoboToolbox, Survey CTO, and data visualization software (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
- Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights.
- Leadership & Communication: Collaborative leadership abilities, exceptional cross-cultural communication, and compelling storytelling skills to articulate impact and insights to diverse audiences.
- Data Governance: Understanding of best practices in data quality, integrity, and ethical data handling.
