Research Associate

Closing date: 01 Apr 2011
Location: Nigeria - Yobe and Jigawa states
JPAL seeks two qualified applicants for the position of Research Associate for a project entitled “Strengthening the Midwife Service Scheme with Community Focused Interventions: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Field Trial in Nigeria”. The project will evaluate several community-based interventions designed to decrease maternal mortality in rural communities in northern Nigeria (Jigawa and Yobe states). The project is being executed in collaboration with the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, which will be the host organization and the formal employer in Nigeria. The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. These two positions will be based in the capitals of the states (Dutse, Jigawa state, and Damaturu, Yobe state) and will entail significant travel around the state to the study locations.

Project Associates work closely with academic researchers and other field staff to perform a variety tasks including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Communication activities
• Maintaining regular communication between PIs and Nigeria-based field teams.
• Meeting potential donors and current donors during their visits to Nigeria.
• Preparing monthly, quarterly and annual reports on project status.
• Disseminating evaluation findings for use by staff and management to share with communities and donors.
Conducting meetings with local and state government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders.

2. Management of data collection
• Designing and modifying questionnaires according to the guidelines set out by academic investigators.
• Joining field teams during pre-testing of questionnaires and other pilot activities.
• Participating in training of field enumerators.
• Coordinating the progress of data collection in conjunction with the project manager and monitoring its quality.
• Liasing with the intervention implementation team at Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria to ensure that coordination in activities.

3. Training
• Regular training of staff members in data analysis procedures and quality controls.
• Assisting in the orientation of new staff members and training them in conducting surveys.

4. Data
• Performing basic data analysis as suggested by the principal investigators.
• Generating quarterly tabulations of the data collected.

Desired Qualifications and Experience
• A Bachelor's or master’ (master’s preferred) degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, public health, or related fields.
• Experience managing program implementation or field research in health or development economics in a developing country for at least a year.
• Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
• Fluency and excellent communication skills in English
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations
• Knowledge of Stata (strongly preferred) or other data analysis software is preferred.
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials preferred.
• Prior experience in Nigeria or West Africa preferred.
We are looking for a commitment period of at least one year for this position, and ideally two.

If you are interested, please do two things:

1. Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application indicating that you are interested in applying for a "Type 1" position. Please note: you are not required to include transcripts or letters of recommendation upon initial submission. After submitting, you can edit your application at any time and may add these materials, if requested.

2. Send an email to jpaljobs@gmail.com, following these instructions exactly:
In the subject line: Put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name.
Attachments: Please attach ONLY your CV.
In the email body: Copy exactly the following position line:
100286 JPALNigeria, Research Associate, Strengthening the Midwife Service Scheme
Please do not include any text besides the position line(s) in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application.
If you are applying to multiple positions, you can put multiple positions lines in the same email. And you may send multiple such emails. However, please do not do this for more than 10 positions per every 6 month period. So, if you put 10 position lines in one email, then that counts as ten. Or if you put 4 in one email, and 6 in another, that also counts as ten.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.