▷ [15h Left] Research & Analytics Head

Job Description As the Head of Research & Analytics, you will lead evidence-driven decision-making and impact measurement across our skilling and livelihoods programs. This pivotal role requires a deep understanding of development sector research, the ability to translate field data into actionable policy insights, and extensive expertise in measuring the long-term outcomes of training and employment interventions. You will play a crucial role in shaping our strategic direction through robust data collection, analysis, and reporting. Key Responsibilities - Research & Knowledge Generation: - Design and lead labor market and sectoral research to inform project design, advocacy efforts, and strategic partnerships. - Collaborate with global and local think tanks, academic institutions, and industry bodies to co-create impactful research outputs. - Produce high-quality knowledge products, including research briefs, policy notes, and white papers for public dissemination. - Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL): - Oversee the design and execution of baseline, midline, and endline evaluations across multiple projects and geographies. - Develop Theory of Change (ToC), logframes, and indicator matrices aligned with donor reporting requirements (e.g., USAID, GIZ, DFID). - Ensure that lessons learned are effectively integrated back into program design and strategic decisions. - Data Systems & Analytics: - Build robust, scalable data systems for capturing and analyzing program performance, from enrollment through job placement. - Utilize tools like Power BI, Tableau, R, or STATA for real-time analytics, dashboards, and donor presentations. - Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical handling across all data touchpoints. - Stakeholder Reporting & Advocacy: - Support program teams with research-backed inputs for grant proposals, donor reports, and strategic documents. - Represent the organization in donor meetings, consortiums, and policy-level dialogues, articulating impact and insights effectively. - Coordinate with field teams to ensure meaningful data collection that prioritizes the learner and community voice. - Team Management & Capacity Building: - Lead and mentor a team of M&E specialists, field researchers, and analysts. - Foster a learning culture through regular capacity-building sessions on data literacy, qualitative methods, and participatory research. - Promote cross-team collaboration to ensure research insights drive actionable outcomes and accountability. Qualifications - Education: A Master's or PhD degree in Development Studies, Public Policy, Statistics, Economics, Education, or a related field. - Experience: Extensive experience in research, MEL, or analytics roles within NGOs, multilateral agencies, or development consulting firms. - Donor Exposure: Prior experience working with international donors (e.g., World Bank, UNDP, USAID, BMGF, ADB, DFID) is highly desirable. Skills & Expertise - Research & Evaluation Methodologies: Proficient in mixed-method research, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), cohort tracking, and various evaluation frameworks. - Data Tools: Hands-on proficiency with tools like R, STATA, KoboToolbox, Survey CTO, and data visualization software (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). - Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights. - Leadership & Communication: Collaborative leadership abilities, exceptional cross-cultural communication, and compelling storytelling skills to articulate impact and insights to diverse audiences. - Data Governance: Understanding of best practices in data quality, integrity, and ethical data handling.