Research Associate at WootLab

About the Programme

• The South South BPO Workforce Development Programme seeks to equip young people across the South South region with industry-relevant skills for employment in Business Process
• Outsourcing (BPO), technology-enabled services, and creative industries. The programme will adopt a training-to-jobs approach through employer partnerships, internships, apprenticeships, remote work opportunities, and entrepreneurship pathways.
• The programme includes large-scale beneficiary mobilisation, employer engagement, curriculum co-creation, job placement, and stakeholder coordination across the South South region.

Role Summary

• The Research Associate will support programme planning, implementation, and decision-making through high-quality research, labour market intelligence, ecosystem mapping, skills demand assessments, and data analysis.
• The role will be responsible for generating evidence-based insights that inform programme design, curriculum development, employer engagement, beneficiary selection, and employment strategies.
• The successful candidate will work closely with programme leadership, technical teams, employers, and stakeholders to ensure programme decisions are informed by current labour market realities and industry demand.

Key Responsibilities

Labour Market Research and Analysis

• Conduct labour market assessments and workforce demand studies.
• Analyze employment trends, skills gaps, and emerging opportunities across priority sectors.
• Monitor local, regional, and global BPO industry developments.
• Generate labour market intelligence reports to support programme planning.
• Ecosystem Mapping and Industry Engagement
• Conduct ecosystem mapping of employers, training providers, innovation hubs, industry associations, and workforce development actors.
• Identify potential employer partnerships and industry engagement opportunities.
• Support stakeholder consultations and market validation activities.
• Maintain databases of ecosystem stakeholders and industry actors.

Data Collection and Reporting

• Design and implement research tools, surveys, interviews, and assessment instruments.
• Collect, analyse, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data.
• Prepare research reports, policy briefs, presentations, and evidence summaries.
• Support programme reporting and donor information requirements.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Document programme insights, trends, and lessons learned.
• Support development of knowledge products and learning resources.
• Contribute to evidence-based programme improvement and innovation.
• Support programme reviews, evaluations, and strategic planning processes.

Key Deliverables

• Labour Market Assessment Reports.
• Skills Demand Analysis Reports.
• Employer and Ecosystem Mapping Reports.
• Research Briefs and Industry Intelligence Reports.
• Stakeholder Analysis Reports.
• Programme Learning and Insight Reports.
• Data Visualisation and Presentation Materials.

Required Qualifications

Professional Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience conducting labour market research, ecosystem mapping, industry analysis, skills demand assessments, or policy research.
• Experience supporting workforce development, employment, education, entrepreneurship, or donor-funded programmes is desirable.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Experience using research tools and data analysis software is an advantage.

Core Competencies

• Research design and implementation.
• Labour market and workforce analysis.
• Data collection and analysis.
• Report writing and presentation.
• Stakeholder research and ecosystem mapping.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Data visualisation and communication.