Quantitative Social Science Researcher

Responsibilities

Technical Responsibilities

• Develop conceptual frameworks that guide project work.
• Manage and analyze large-scale data files for research.
• Apply appropriate quantitative techniques to collect and analyze data.
• Organize and document analytic results and research procedures.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings to clients, professional associations, and the public.
• Mentor junior researchers, share approaches to solving concrete problems, and provide feedback on the work of others.
• Manage or lead projects and workstreams within projects.
• Serve as client contact for analytical or statistical expertise.
• Design and support primary data collection

Resource Mobilization Responsibilities

• Contribute to the identification of new business opportunities in the area of international development research.
• Support all aspects of new proposal development such as background research, technical writing, budgeting, and identifying in-country research partners.

Other Responsibilities

• Contribute to eminence building by presenting AIR sponsored work at international and regional conferences and workshops, meeting with prospective clients and policy-makers and publishing policy briefs and academic articles.
• Demonstrate cultural competence and sensitivity in all interactions with colleagues, stakeholders, and study participants.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Ph.D. in economics, public policy, or related social science field, with expertise in advanced quantitative methods and modern impact evaluation techniques (experimental and quasi-experimental designs)
• Experience living and/or working in Africa
• At least 1-2 years’ work experience applying advanced statistical methods
• At least one academic publication or technical report
• Field work experience in Africa is highly desirable but not required

Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively about these methods to non-technical audiences
• Highly proficient in STATA, and open to learning new statistical tools as required by different projects (e.g. R, python); proficient in handling and analyzing large data sets, both survey and administrative data
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Proficiency in English
• Proficiency in French or Arabic is highly desirable but not required
• Proficiency in an African language highly desirable but not required