Research Associate - Agriculture Sector at Laterite

What you will do:

As a Research Associate, based in one of our offices, you will:

• Coordinate a portfolio of small research projects with a large client: coordinating the project team; ensuring implementation according to protocols; managing the budget and timeline; and working with client teams.
• Play a hands-on role in all steps of the research process: designing the technical approach; developing protocols, research instruments, and sampling strategies; monitoring data quality; conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis; writing reports; and presenting to clients.
• Contribute to the development of new business: proposing research ideas; writing technical proposals; and pricing.
• Improve the way we work: researching and piloting new methodologies and technologies; standardizing and automating processes for data collection and analysis; and supporting internal operations like recruitment and IT.

You will develop skills and experience in:

• Technical design of research projects
• Data analysis
• Business development
• Managing client relationships
• Managing a portfolio of research projects

What you will bring:

• Our ideal candidates are passionate about social and economic research in East Africa. They can quickly grasp research concepts and structure their technical approach to a problem. They have strong analytical and interpersonal skills, self-motivation, and a drive to flourish in a fast-paced environment, where timelines can often be unpredictable. Our candidates have project coordination experience and can manage activities involving varying levels of stakeholders and multiple team members. They are willing to develop their professional skills, contribute to the growth of an organization dedicated to social impact, and thrive in an innovative and collaborative organization.

An ideal candidate will have:

• A master’s degree in Education, Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Public Policy or a related field.
• At least three years of professional experience in research (whether in a project/program or academic setting).
• Strong analytical skills, experience working with quantitative data, and proficiency in Stata.
• Experience communicating with external stakeholders or in a client-facing role.
• Solid project management skills and experience coordinating projects with multiple components or teams.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

In addition, we value:

• Experience working with primary data (data collection or cleaning and analysis)
• Experience with Open Data Kit (ODK) or an ODK-based platform such as SurveyCTO or CommCare.
• Previous work experience in East Africa
• Research experience in one of Laterite’s core sectors - education, youth and labor, public health, agriculture or urbanization.
• Knowledge of Python and/or R