JOBS: Senior Researcher, Ultra Poor Graduation Initiative at BRAC

Primary Responsibilities:

• The senior researcher will be responsible for informing and influencing efforts to scale proven graduation approaches through high quality and innovative research and policy engagement. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Establish a coherent body of research that advances UPGI’s mission and strengthens its reputation, including identifying new research agendas and leading on the design and delivery of robust research (including research design, project management, technical support, field research as appropriate, analysis and report writing)
• Build and maintain an appropriate network of internal and external research partners, identifying and working with partners and researchers, including from UPGI country contexts, to design and undertake research, keeping abreast of the research of others in this space (ie/ World Bank, FCDO, IFAD, DFAT, GiZ, JPAL etc) and helping to facilitate peer exchange
• Author peer reviewed reports, policy briefs, opinion pieces and other publications ensuring these are robust, policy-relevant and accessible.
• Contribute to the development of UPGI policy recommendations based on research evidence
• Actively disseminate research findings and undertake external engagements through advisory work, convening and engaging in public events, media work and social media engagement.
• Undertake senior-level representation and external engagement for UPGI on major research and policy agendas, interacting with senior officials and policymakers and providing senior level representation in major research and policy agendas to position UPGI as an intellectual leader and influential actor

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety of team members from any harm, abuse, neglect, harassment and exploitation to achieve the programme’s goals on safeguarding implementation.
• Practice, promote and endorse the issues of safeguarding policy among team members and ensure the implementation of safeguarding standards in every course of action.
• Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so.

Qualifications:

• The candidate for Senior Researcher, Ultra-Poor Graduation Initiative should have a deep commitment toward international development and the eradication of extreme poverty, and the following:

Essential:

Post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline;

• At least 10 years of related research experience with developing and delivering formative research on economic development and/or multi-dimensional poverty, with a particular focus on economic inclusion.
• Proven experience and expertise with designing and leading research and learning syntheses for projects and programmes on economic development and reforms;
• Demonstrable experience with research and evaluation design including mixed-methods research approaches; qualitative and quantitative data syntheses and interpretation skills and ability to condense, refine, and tailor large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data for external audiences; thorough understanding of research ethics)
• Experience with using information management systems and software to house and analyse data, familiarity with data visualisation tools

Experience:

• Experience in leading the production of academic and policy research outputs;
• Demonstrated ability to translate research into policy-relevant communications
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to think critically about primary and secondary literature and perform meta-analytical research

Skills/Abilities:

• Fluency in English and a capacity to write clearly in English, with good presentation and oral communication skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work independently on discrete pieces of research
• Experience in developing countries and/or transitional economies
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a collegiate approach to team work and team members and the ability to work in partnership – including at a distance - and to work as part of a team.
• Commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) principles

Desiderable:

• Fluency and a good speaking and reading command of at least one other language (eg. local language) is welcome;
• Relevant personal contacts and networks in the candidate’s specialist areas (e.g. multilateral organisations, NGOs and research institutions, and government)
• Statistical analysis and experience in visualizing quantitative data