Senior Research Officer at BBC Media Action

Department: Research and Learning
Reports to: Head of Research and Learning 
Start Date: October 2018
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Duration of Contract: 6 months (with possibility of extension)

Job Purpose

• The Senior Research Officer will provide senior level support to the overall design and implementation of research activities conducted to inform content, strategy and quality, to monitor and evaluate the impact of BBC Media Action’s development communications projects in Nigeria, under the guidance of the Head of Research & Learning where appropriate.
• S/he will work with the Head of Research & Learning to ensure the research is technically well designed, resourced, implemented, reported and disseminated to a range of audiences. S/he will also be responsible for research project management including budgeting and resource management.
• This role will also include line management of one or more Research Officers / Assistant Research Officers and supporting their personal development in elements of research such as research design, tool development, fieldwork, data analysis and interpretation. As such, the Senior Research Officer is expected to have substantial experience in research methods and research project management. The position is based in Abuja and will require travel to other states within the country.

Main Duties

• Support the overall effective design, co-ordination and delivery of quantitative and qualitative research for all BBC Media Action’s projects across a range of different themes (e.g. health and governance).
• Lead on the development of research plans when assigned a research project, using innovative and suitable methodologies, including development of research instruments and sampling design, fieldwork and fieldwork management, data analysis and interpretation, reporting and dissemination of research findings to internal and external teams on time, to budget and to high quality, under the supervision of the Head of Research & Learning.
• Support the procurement and commissioning of research agencies and/or freelancers for research.
• Facilitate and monitor research (e.g. focus group sessions, panel studies, case studies, outreach activity assessments, quantitative studies / surveys etc.), including negotiations on technical matters with BBC Media Action staff and external agencies, working to budget and deadline requirements.
• Plan and monitor resource needs, including creation and input into research planning documents, project and programme plans and input into budget design for research elements of projects, with support and guidance from the Head of Research & Learning.
• To prepare and present research presentations that inform the production process and monitor and evaluate project effectiveness for internal and external audiences including producers and project managers, research firms, academic institutions, media partners, donors and NGOs.
• Lead on organising and implementing research review processes for key research deliverables (designs, reports) with project stakeholders, with support and guidance from the Head of Research & Learning.
• Support and develop Research Officers and Assistant Research Officers, including coaching, mentoring and/or training to develop their research and project management skills.
• Undertake, and support others to design and undertake data collection, analysis and reporting, ensuring that the interpretation supports development of media products and capacity strengthening designs.
• Engage proactively and collaboratively with the Project Management Team, Production and Training staff, Operations staff, Finance staff and London based research staff, with minimal supervision from the Head of Research & Learning to ensure research supports wider organisational/programme objectives and is properly resourced and reported.
• Oversee planning and implementation of study fieldwork, site selection, recruitment of respondents, data collection, data storage and data processing.
• Oversee research activity travel planning, including risk assessments.
• Line manage Research Officers and/or Assistant Research Officers including supporting personal development, motivation and technical support.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned.

Academic/Professional Qualification

• Minimum of a first degree in the Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, the Humanities or any other relevant field.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• The Senior Research Officer should have at least 5 years experience conducting research and evaluation for development projects or have similar experience in conducting social/market research in any research agency and/or media and communication research. The Senior Research Officer should be an experienced researcher with strong design and analytical skills.
• Significant quantitative research skills (sampling and survey design, data management and analysis using SPSS, questionnaire design, report writing etc).
• Highly competent in qualitative and quantitative data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to plan and design qualitative and quantitative research and design and manage mixed method researches.
• Strong field work experience, including in rural and geographically challenging areas. Ability to undertake or manage fieldwork and adapt methods to challenging and resource-constrained conditions.
• Experience/knowledge in research project management in Nigeria including budgeting and resource management.
• Demonstrable understanding of cultural diversity and cross-cultural research within Nigeria.
• Knowledge and understanding of the importance of and application of ethical procedures in research.
• Experience in commissioning research to research agencies/third parties/freelancers through competitive bidding processes and managing them to ensure quality and timely delivery.
• Experience supervising and running field research teams, for quantitative and/or qualitative studies.
• Ability to work closely with a Production and Media Development/Training team (internal or external) in applying research findings to media outputs.
• A good grasp of, or enthusiasm to learn about, communication strategies and development issues.
• Strong skills in writing precise and clear reports and briefing documents.
• Strong presentation skills, communicating complex technical ideas using non-technical language to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to plan and conduct work with minimal supervision.
• Good time management skills, with a track record of delivering research to deadline.
• Good IT skills, including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as other relevant data analysis software.R
• Result oriented and commitment to excellence.
• Transparent judgement and decision making, and high level of professionalism.
• Ability to speak and write one or more of the following Nigerian Languages: Hausa, Yoruba and / or Igbo.
• Previous experience in international development or media research would be an advantage.
• Previous research experience working with NGOs would be an advantage.

Key Competencies:
The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.

• Strategic thinking - Can identify a vision along with the plans that need to be implemented to meet the end goal. Evaluates situations, decisions, issues, etc. in the short, medium and longer-term.
• Analytical thinking - Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically. Able to identify causal relationships, and construct frameworks, for problem-solving and/or development.
• Decision making - Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made.
• Flexibility - able to adapt and respond strategically and smoothly to changing situations within the workplace and context.
• Imagination/Creative thinking - Is able to transform creative ideas/impulses into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.
• Planning and organisation - Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
• Resilience - Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Influencing and persuading - Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Communication - The ability to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
• Managing relationships - Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.
• Self-Development - Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development.
• Skill building - Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development that support the development of other team members’ skills.