Senior Research Officer - Nigeria and West Africa at ARK Group

Purpose of the Job

• We need a Senior Research Officer with experience of conducting policy-oriented research focused on irregular migration and forced displacement in Nigeria and West Africa. The role will work on a strategic communications project that addresses the challenges posed by irregular migration and human trafficking in Nigeria and the broader region.
• The key purpose of the role is to conduct mixed-methods research and lead in the design, data collection, analysis and production of research outputs and deliverables, under the supervision of the Head of Research. The Research Officer will be responsible for all research activities and outputs, as well as any potential capacity building activities of the project’s beneficiary in the areas of research methods and applied research.
• The position sits within ARK’s Research Department, which conducts mixed-methods multi-disciplinary research and analysis.
• The department has a diverse range of thematic, geographic and methodological expertise, supported by research consultants and data collection networks. The department’s staff – a highly dynamic, capable, multinational team – are empowered to work collaboratively with other members of the department, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) and project teams, to cross-pollinate skills, approaches and findings.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, in coordination with the Project Manager, the Head of Research and other members of the team, the design of research project plans, deliverables and data collection tools, such as Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, questionnaires, field surveys and other participatory research methods;
• Assist the Project Manager, the Head of Research and MEAL colleagues in the coordination between research and MEAL activities, in planning, utilization of resources, data collection, data management, among other aspects;
• Assist in the preparation and conduct of data collection activities for Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities (DMEL) components of the project;
• Contribute to Organisational Capacity Assessments (OCA) of the beneficiaries in the areas of research methods and applied research;
• Collect, manage and analyse the data from the OCAs in order to produce relevant insights that can inform the design of project activities such as training sessions and capacity building;
• Clean and analyse primary and secondary data and draft thematic and analytical reports;
• Participate in the training of enumerators and assist with supervision of data collectors and field researchers and associated protocols and quality control mechanisms;
• Tabulate descriptive statistics and prepare charts and tables;
• Edit and review research and outputs and deliverables produced by other members of the team;
• Maintain situational awareness by keeping abreast of relevant socio-political, economic and security developments, which may directly or indirectly impact data collection and project implementation activities;
• Review and synthesize relevant scholarly and specialist material from academic journals, policy institutes/think tanks and international organisations on relevant areas such as irregular migration and criminal networks, or irregular migration and strategic communications, among other;
• Contribute to the preparation of project-related presentations and attend meetings and calls with research clients and/or other relevant stakeholders;
• Build a profile as a subject matter expert through the development of papers and publications, as well as participation in relevant conferences and events.
• In conjunction with the Project Manager, the Head of Research, and the rest of the project team, attend regular calls with the donor, the beneficiary, ARK’s partners and other relevant stakeholders;
• Develop a public profile as Migration specialist and strengthen those credentials by publishing research and analysis in relevant publications and expert forums.

Requirements
Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
Essential:

• A Master's Degree in Migration Studies, Political Science, International Relations, Sociology, Development Studies, Conflict Studies, International Human Rights Law, or related fields
• At least 5 years of experience conducting research in Nigeria and West Africa on irregular migration, forced displacement and human trafficking;
• Familiarity with design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methodologies;
• Full professional proficiency in English and advanced writing skills;
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information;
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
• Accuracy, attention to detail with the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team using a solutions-oriented approach;
• Willingness to travel occasionally;
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a fast-moving team, willingness to contribute at different levels required to achieve success, self-motivated and ability to work independently;
• Advanced computer literacy/skills.

Desirable

• Interest in and knowledge of data management processes and relevant software.
• Experience with conflict sensitivity principles and gender main streaming;
• Familiarity with relevant software such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data visualisation tools.