About the job

Oxford Policy Management (OPM) is delighted to announce that we are looking to hire a Qualitative Research Specialist into our Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) International team that sits within our Global Research and Evidence practice.

The position is full time and may be based in an OPM office in South Asia (Islamabad, Kathmandu, New Delhi) or East Africa (Dar es Salaam, Nairobi).

The Research and Evidence Practice is a global team of MERL experts that seek to improve policies, programmes and service delivery in LMICs through strengthening the production and use of information and evidence and the systems and processes that support it, and so contribute to the reduction of poverty and disadvantage at scale. We do this in collaboration with our Sector Practices which include Health, Education, Poverty and Social Protection, Climate and Resilience and Governance. This approach offers high levels of methodological rigour in combination with deep thematic and contextual knowledge and expertise.

As a Qualitative Specialist in our MERL team, you will support the acquisition and delivery of qualitative and mixed methods research and evaluations involving participatory research methods, . We undertake impact evaluations in collaboration with our Sector Practices, and in fact a core competitive advantage at OPM is our ability to combine methodological expertise with a breadth and depth of sectoral and national level understanding for the delivery of robust and policy relevant qualitative and mixed methods research.

Key Responsibilities

• Support, and where appropriate, lead the technical delivery of qualitative research and mixed methods projects
• Work across the research cycle including defining analysis plans, leading scoping visits, designing sampling strategies, developing research guides, managing and leading training and data collection, designing and carrying out analysis, and disseminating results through written reports, briefing notes, and presentations
• Contribute to technical leadership by actively participating in the Qualitative Research Technical Community by writing research papers and blogs, presenting at workshops and managing a database of research for the team
• Lead proposal development in support of new business, including writing technical proposals, identifying experts and team leaders, and creating proposal budgets

Required skills and experience

• Degree and post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline (anthropology, sociology, development studies or other appropriate social science discipline)
• Graduate level training and advanced qualitative technical knowledge including qualitative research design and analysis, using NVIVO or similar software)
• 3 or more years of demonstrable experience leading or conducting qualitative research and monitoring, evaluation and learning projects
• Demonstrable experience designing and leading focus group discussions, interviews, observations, and participatory research in mixed methods studies, formative, summative or process evaluations
• Demonstrable experience developing and delivering training on qualitative research
• Experience working in research in in Kenya, Tanzania, or India
• Ability to travel overseas for short-term assignments

Preferred skills and experience

• Familiarity with quantitative and mixed-methods designs
• Experience in managing research teams and budgets and data collection
• Ability to work in at least one relevant language other than English
• Experience of project management, including the management of project teams
• Familiarity working with a range of clients including foundations, philanthropies and multi-lateral funders

Behavioural capabilities

• Mutual support - Builds respectful relationships that support effective and collaborative working. Facilitates open discussions that create ‘win-win’ outcomes and helps others solve problems.
• Accountability – Comfortable taking ownership, able to explain decisions and actions honestly, whilst supporting others ideas and mistakes.
• Trust - Demonstrates generosity and warmth, believes in others, giving credit where credit is due. Shares information openly, honestly and in a straightforward manner
• Integrity – Ability to take a principled position but remains open minded. Respects the rights of colleagues, partners and beneficiaries and delivers a quality product to clients with maximum impact. Recognises if mistakes are made; learns and improves.
• Collaboration - Works across boundaries to co-create solutions with colleagues, offers help and support without being asked - open to new ideas, Works as a constructive, effective and positive team members.
• Empowerment - Takes responsibility for problems and for leading the delivery of solutions, Supports a productive environment in which people can work autonomously and feel part of a supportive team.