The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team at Oxford Policy Management is currently seeking a Qualitative/Quantitative Research Specialist on a 12 month fixed-term basis. 

The position will be located in our Abuja, Nigeria office.

We are an international development consultancy working to improve lives through sustainable policy change in low- and middle-income countries. Our vision is for fair public policy that benefits both people and the planet.

Through our global network of offices, we work in partnership with national stakeholders and decision makers to research, design, implement and evaluate impactful public policy. We draw on our local and international sector experts to provide the very best evidence-based support. We deliver projects with expert knowledge and experience, and can be relied upon for excellence in all aspects of project delivery. We work collaboratively, with ambition, to help deliver impactful public policy that will bring about lasting change.

As a key member of the team, contribute to the growth of the country office and company-wide consultancy business by providing advice and inputs on technical issues relating to actual and potential projects. You will support the work of the Nigeria team as required to deliver projects and carry out other tasks under the direction of the team leader in accordance with an agreed annual performance agreement including associated financial and other targets.

The principal requirements are technical or specialised skills in quantitative and qualitative data theoretical concepts and principles and its context through knowledge acquired from practical experience on the job over the years, professional and academic qualification

Role holders will use their discretion and initiative to make judgments on most project work issues within those frameworks with some support from a senior consultant.

As a Qualitative/Quantitative 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.

As a Qualitative/Quantitative Specialist, MERL at OPM you will:

• 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

• 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 Nigeria and West Africa
• 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.

• We enable colleagues’ capacity to grow professionally through enhanced learning resources, opportunities to work cross functionally, and space to engage with a range of internal and external industry events.
• Our non-hierarchical culture values support, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and a rich diversity of perspectives.
• We provide an exceptionally generous annual leave entitlement and a hybrid working model to encourage and enable healthy work/life balance.
• Wellbeing resources including a global Employee Assistance Programme and access to the UnMind app.
• Competitive salary and contributory pension scheme.

We are strengthened by the diversity of colleagues across our global business and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace for all. 

Our recruitment practices reflect our ambition to make the international development sector more inclusive and firm belief that our work delivers the best outcomes when we actively include a diversity of perspectives and experiences. 

If you share our vision for fair public policy that benefits both people and planet, we would love to hear from you. 

Please submit your application through our careers’ site by the closing date OR We review and interview applicants on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply by way of CV via our careers site at the earliest. 

We may close this advertisement before the published closing date, should a suitable candidate be identified.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role and candidates must have a pre-existing right to work in country for their application to be considered.

Oxford Policy Management is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of the business.  Should you require adjustments to make the application process more accessible please contact us via: recruitment@opml.co.uk