Research Manager at CARE International

JOB SUMMARY: 

CARE International is seeking an experienced professional to oversee the management of our research project. We are seeking an ambitious candidate who wants to take part in shaping the country program and portfolio of research studies in Nigeria. The Research Manager will play a key role in supporting the success of Social Norms and Diagnosis research of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The position will be based in Abuja, Nigeria with extensive travel to project sites around the country. Under the supervision of program director, the research manager will be responsible for overseeing the design and development of research projects; managing budgets and resources; working effectively with team members, partners, donors, and other stakeholders throughout the research cycles. He/She will coordinate all research activities, brainstorming research ideas and contribute to the dissemination of research findings. This role requires a strong background in qualitative and qualitative research methodologies and analysis with a track record of delivering social norms research. The Research Manager will uphold the highest level of confidentiality regarding all data collection procedures. He/She will proactively implement safeguards to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of information and data belonging to CARE and its partners throughout this assignment.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIY: 

Job Responsibility #1: Research Planning      

• Develop TOR’s and facilitating reviews of research protocols, qualitative and quantitative tools including modifications, continuing reviews, and project closures.  and implement the research objectives. 
• Lead research teams on the IRB application process and obtain Ethical Committee feedback on study protocol. 
• Design research approaches and methodologies according to CARE requirements and principles as well as partners’ information needs.
• Ensure that required secondary data review and/or analysis has been conducted and available in preparation of an assessment.
• Ensure that research team are identified and trained for primary data collection and monitor data collection, ensuring correct implementation in line with agreed protocols. 
• Keep track of progress and delays of all assigned assessments throughout the research cycle.
• Ensure that enumerators are identified and trained for primary data collection.
• Ensure the availability of tools and resources to ensure seamless data collection.

Responsibility #2: Research Implementation  

• Oversee data collection efforts, including conducting surveys, interviews, or observations, and ensure data quality.
• Engage in field visits to implement data collection and understand data flow, reliability, contextual factors to ensure that the data is collected in the fashion and format that allows for a clean and analysis of the data.
• Develop the statistical analysis plan and circulate to the research team for discussion and validation.
• Ensure the maintenance of  ethical research practices, including informed consent, privacy, and data protection, throughout the research process.
• Perform data cleaning, validation and analysis and drafting of the findings to derive insights.
• Support the review production of all research products and ensure that all written products are validated by CARE team.
• Manage research projects, including budgeting, timeliness, and team coordination, ensure timely and successful execution of research activities.
• Prepare and present research findings in clear and actionable reports, providing recommendations for stakeholders.
• Collaborate CARE and partners to integrate research results into program strategies.

Job Responsibility #3: Strategy Development and Result Dissemination  

• Lead on identifying information gaps in line with humanitarian priorities, and identify advocacy and dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of our work. 
• Lead on formalizing synergies with other assessment and knowledge management actors, as well as strategic partnerships with key humanitarian stakeholders and decision makers. 
• Write technical report highlighting key findings and recommendations and contribute to the development and implementation of country strategy.
• Collaborate with the communication team to identify and review dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of research projects.
• Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate outputs that consolidate the analyses from each research cycle into relevant products such as fact sheets, reports, briefs, presentations, etc. which comply with CARE quality standards.
• Ensure that research products accurately reflect the information collected and that information is conveyed in a way that maximizes their impact and visibility in line with their intended use;
• Follow the designated time line of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors. 

Resource Mobilization  

• Contribute to CARE’s resource mobilization efforts

Other Responsibilities as Assigned     

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Required

• Minimum of a master’s degree in Statistics, Research Methodology, Econometrics, Economics, Social Sciences/Research or related field, PhD will be an added advantage. 
• At least 6 years of relevant working experience or proven progression in human subject research, social norms, and community-based research studies or equivalent
• Demonstrable first-hand experience publishing scientific work in peer-reviewed journals.
• Previous experience in managing research teams, budgets, and other resources in an INGO at field level with an excellent understanding of qualitative research design, implementation, analysis, and report writing.
• Demonstrable understanding of research uptake including strategies to effectively communicate research      findings and address the obstacles decision-makers face when adopting research.
• Excellent analysis skills, in analytical qualitative and quantitative analysis software such as  NVivo, ATLAS.ti , Statgraphics i, STATA, PBi is required 
• Excellent understanding of good research principles, ethics, practice and obtaining  Institutional Review, Board approvals and research systems infrastructure 
• Excellent command of English is required, with exceptional writing and communication skills and the ability to present information in clear, concise, and compelling ways.
• Excellent skills in in MS Office software package
• Experience supervising data collection, teams of field workers, survey design and implementation, and data management. 
• Ability to multi task with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment.
• Strong background in research methods including randomized control trails.
• Strong budgeting and financial management skills; experience with writing donor reports and research grant proposals development 
• Strong skills qualitative and quantitative research methodology design and implementation

Desired

• At least PhD with 3 years of relevant working experience in human subject research, social norms, and community-based research studies.
• Excellent skills in developing a range of outputs for communicating research products – in print, electronic and face-to-face formats.
• Data-driven decision-making mentality
• Skills in social norms research and gender research integration 
• Skills in in quantitative analysis and methods including analysis 
• Excellent statistical skills in qualitative and quantitative analysis software’s including STATA, R and familiarity with visualization software’s. 
• Strong skill in mobile data collection tools and digitalization of survey tools 
• Strong skills qualitative and quantitative research methodology design and implementation

COMPETENCIES:

• Approachability                            
• Building Effective Team
• Customer Focus
• Integrity and Trust
• Drive for Results
• Comfort around Higher management
• Business Acumen
• Negotiating
• Organizational Agility