Job Description

About Busara
Since 2014, Busara has evolved from a small behavioral science lab in Nairobi into a boutique research and advisory organization. Our diverse team of over 130 staff from 15+ countries has engaged in diverse projects across more than 50 countries in sectors like Agriculture, Health, Governance, and Inclusive Finance. While headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, we have expanded our footprint with offices now in India, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Latin America.
Role Purpose Statement
Research Coordinators support the research and advisory arms of Busara by leading and carrying out study and project activities as necessary.
Research Coordinators will be expected to quickly understand guiding research questions and contribute to the design and contextualization of the research and instruments such that the ultimate data collected can accurately address the needs of the project. In addition, Research Coordinators are expected to have extensive and constantly updated knowledge of the changing landscape where projects are based and be able to guide the project activities in the face of changes.
Research Coordinators are also expected to prepare and share documentation of the project as well as areas for improvement going forward.
Additionally, a Research Coordinator should have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Research Coordinators report to Lab Managers.

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities

Research Coordinators will work closely with Busara teams and directly with academic researchers and advisory clients to perform a variety of tasks including, but not limited to:
• Engage in multiple research and advisory projects at a given time.
• Engage as needed in research partnerships development.
• Manage external and internal engagements and lead select studies with limited supervision.
• Provide detailed feedback on qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments, paying close attention to the context, population, and language to ensure maximum comprehension and data quality.
• Supervise contextualization and translation of data collection instruments with Senior Research Officer/Research Officer.
• Lead surveyCTO programming and introducing any data quality checks within surveyCTO like audio audits etc.
• Provide logistical support to project activities as needed, coordinating project planning, community entry, hiring, procurement and any other necessary logistics.
• Manage overall data collection, whether in the lab or the field. Responsible for training data collection teams, creating and monitoring protocol, tracking data collection progress and ensuring data quality.
• Lead focus groups, individual interviews, and lab sessions to the highest standard.
• Troubleshoot project activities on the fly.
• Communicate with partners or PIs when necessary with project updates, or queries.
• Contribute to project on-boarding and off-boarding for knowledge management, including preparing field reports on completion of field activities, and outlining improvement suggestions for future Busara projects in that context.
• Maintain and update project timelines. Alert of data collection progress, challenges, and deadlines.
• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by the project supervisor.
Partner management
• Manage relationships with partners and principal investigators (PIs).
• Support budgeting for projects contracted at the Lab.
• Facilitate early communication with clients and PIs regarding Busara’s data collection systems and norms.
• Manage inter-divisional relationships across teams.
• Maintain a roster of enumerators and assign them to projects as needed.
• Oversee lab equipment and the storage of project-related items procured with other teams.
• Support conversations with Senior Managers or Research Leads on new initiatives and lead implementation alongside managers for the scope of work.
People management
• Support the Senior Lab Manager in understanding the skills and competencies of DRs for proper project allocation with projects that match their growth trajectory, while serving the needs of the project.
• Work with DRs in the Lab team to conduct goal-setting exercises, objectives and key results, and team-building events.
• Serve as sounding boards for initiatives that affect the Lab team.
• Serve as champions for DRs, to manage team morale and bring forward all relevant and actionable requests to the proper leadership teams.
• Serve as examples to other Lab staff of how to execute project responsibilities to a high degree through mentorship and training.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Minimum Requirements
• A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related fields.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Extensive experience managing large-scale research in Kenya/Uganda
• Demonstrates the ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations.
• Excellent management and organizational skills.
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player.
• Interest and experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Fluency and excellent communication and writing skills with a mastery of English and Swahili.
• Proven ability to translate research questions into relevant and concise data collection instruments.
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials.
• Familiarity with behavioral science.
• Familiarity with psychology or economics experiments

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Data Privacy Statement As part of Busara’s recruitment process, personal information provided by an applicant through various means will be collected and stored. This includes but is not limited to the information which the candidate provides to Busara in their application and profile, any data from role assessments, interviews information including video interviews and data provided to us by your referees. This data will be used to evaluate the application, communicate with the candidate, and where a candidate has selected this option, for future recruitment opportunities. All this information will be treated as part of each job application record and only retained for the required record retention period. By choosing to apply for this position at Busara, you are giving Busara your consent to process your personal data as described above. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is secure.