Reporting Line: Director of Research and Research Capacity Strengthening
Employment type: Performance-based contract
INTRODUCTION
Our client, who provides research and training geared towards enhancing equity, transparency, accountability, and participation in public finance management system, seeks to recruit a highly talented individual to lead the organization’s macro-fiscal and debt analysis research unit.
JOB SUMMARY
The role entails setting the overall vision for the unit, leading research conceptualization, defining research approaches and objectives, managing the delivery of a complex work agenda and fundraising for the unit. The unit has two broad areas of focus in the medium-term: generation of research evidence for policymakers to foster effective and equitable fiscal consolidation and developing evidence-based alternative approaches to financing for development. Guided by the institutional strategic plan and the overall research strategy, the Head of Unit will develop these workstreams further, defining their boundaries and policy goals, and the unit’s growth path. He/ She will manage a team of senior and junior research analyst(s) who will contribute to the unit’s workstreams.
The Head will have extensive experience in policy research, advising senior officials in economic, fiscal, and public finance management policy, team management. Ability to build relationships with senior members of government, effectively communicate to a range of audiences, and provide leadership and project management skills is critical.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
● Post Graduate Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Public Finance, or a related field.
● Minimum of seven years' experience in designing and executing policy research, of which at least two years should be within the private or civil society sector.
● At least three years’ experience managing a team
● At least one year of experience in fund-raising for research as part of a previous job
● Demonstrated experience of statistical packages and/ or data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Excel, Epi Info, SMART, STATA, R, Eviews) and advanced computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases) are a must
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
● Possess specialist knowledge in research methods and strong research writing
● Ability to implement research projects
● Use initiative and creativity to solve routine problems in relations to research projects methodological, and technical challenges
● Ability to lead, schedule and coordinate work of a team.
● Ability and willingness to train and mentor others
● Effective written and oral communication, organizational and management skills.
● Commitment to continually update knowledge in macroeconomic policy
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Develop and implement a research strategy for the unit that is aligned to the overall research strategy and organizational strategy
● Conceptualize and oversee development of key research products that advance the goals of the Unit
● Develop and represent the organization’s standpoint on key policy areas
● Mentor staff of the unit and provide quality control, in tandem with the Senior Technical Advisor, and Director of Research, on conceptualization, implementation and writing of research work
● Work closely with the communications department to ensure that work products reach and influence key audiences
● Ensure that effective research projects are completed throughout the year, feeding regular content to stakeholders.
● Actively work towards the achievement of the organization’s Vision and Mission.
● Abide by and work in accordance with the organization’s key guiding principles.
