Senior Research Officer

Currently, we are seeking to hire Senior Research Officer at Frontieri office, responsible for the development of various research proposals, research reports, research methodologies, and project management while ensuring client satisfaction is met.

Join our team of professionals and be part of our energetic team that is committed to bringing change by providing adequate research findings and advisory services for policymakers and contributing to the development of the countries we serve. We provide the best working relations and environment to allow aspiring talented professionals to engage in various research work and grow their potential while working with the best in the industry.

Position Purpose and Scope

This is a senior-level and full-time position that the position holder will be responsible for conducting in-depth research and analysis on various aspects of market dynamics, market interventions impact evaluation, market participation, market penetration, customer satisfaction, private sector growth, Micro-Finance (Finance), Investment, Cooperatives, Value Chain, MSMEL (Medium, Small, Micro and Large Scale) Enterprises, Entrepreneurship, project planning and management, Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, economic valuation, labor market, economic development, Financial Products and services development, project MEAL, marketing strategies, growth opportunities, pricing, capacity building/technical assistance, soft-skill training, and so forth. This role also involves developing technical and financial proposal, client handling, providing strategic insights, designing research methodologies, managing research projects, and delivering high-quality reports and recommendations to clients. The Senior Research Officer collaborates with cross-functional teams and contributes to the overall success of projects managed by Frontieri Consult.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical and Financial Proposal Development: The SRO is responsible to hunt (assist the hunting of) ToRs/RFPs relevant to market and private sector development, assess their relevance, appreciate them, prepare presentation about his/her understanding of the ToRs/RFPs, craft proper table of content by aligning with the needs of the client, draft a technical proposal with the highest quality, review, edit and format the TP, use appropriate infographics and templates, prepare budget parameters to develop (assist the development of financial proposal).
2. Craft Research Approach, Research Design and Methodology: The SRO is responsible to choose and prepare proper research approaches relevant to the objectives and the requirements of the ToRs/RFPs. Most importantly, in addition to academic orientation, the SRO is expected to ensure that her/his research approaches are robust, innovative, and aligned with industry (a consultancy firm) best practices. The SRO is also expected to design and develop research frameworks, methodologies, and strategies to address client needs and project objectives. S/he will be responsible to design proper sampling design (sampling methods and proper sample size determination/calculation), prepare the right mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods (questionnaire, interview schedules, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, observation checklist, focus group discussions, and so on), data collection instrument/tool development and standardization, identify required data types and sources,  
3. Survey (Data Collection) and Analysis: The SRO is also expected to conduct high level quantitative and qualitative types of data from primary and secondary sources, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data. S/he is responsible to apply statistical analysis using advanced quantitative and qualitative soft wares such as R, STATA, SPSS, SAS ATLAS.ti, NViVO, MAXQDA, etc, econometric modeling, and other relevant analytical techniques to derive insights and support evidence-based decision-making.
4. Market and Private Sector Analysis: Largely, the SRO will be responsible to conduct comprehensive market and sector analysis, including market assessments, competitor analysis, feasibility/prefeasibility analysis, value chain analysis, economic valuation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Market SWOT assessment, and trend forecasting. Identify opportunities, challenges, and market dynamics that impact private sector development and economic growth.
5. Write reports, Presentations, Policy Briefs/insights and Strategy Development: Writing high-quality research reports, policy briefs, and presentations that effectively communicate research findings, analysis, and recommendations to clients and stakeholders is at the heart of the SRO responsibility. Present research findings to clients and participate in discussions and workshops. The SRO is expected to provide strategic recommendations and insights to clients based on research findings. S/he will be responsible to contribute to the development of policies, strategies, and action plans to foster market competitiveness, private sector growth, and sustainable economic development.
6. Project Management: This is the most important responsibility of the SROF. S/he is expected to plan, monitor, evaluate, lead and manage research projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards. The SROF will be responsible to coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, research partners, and subject matter experts, to ensure smooth project execution. Communication proficiency and client handling is what counts most in this role. S/he is also expected to manage projects using project management templates and soft wares such as Zoho and others.
7. Thought Leadership: The SRO is expected to stay updated with the consulting industry trends, emerging research methodologies, and best practices in market and private sector development. S/he will be responsible to contribute to the firm's thought leadership initiatives by publishing articles, participating in conferences, and engaging in professional networks.
8. Client Relationship Management: Frontieri expect its Senior Researchers to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, understand their needs, and providing exceptionally high service. S/he is expected to collaborate with clients to identify research opportunities, propose new projects, and support business development efforts.

Qualifications, Experiences, and Skills:

• Master's degree or higher. in Marketing, Economics (Agricultural Economics/Development Economics/Resource Economics/Transport Economics/health economics, etc), Value Chain, Business Administration, Project Management/planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, or a related field with a focus on market development, private sector development, or economic development.
• Minimum of 5/2 years of experience for Masters or PhD Degree in the above fields of study
• Lead high level and large-scale impact evaluation research with national and international organizations
• High level project management experience in multinational and international NGOs, such as the World Bank, USAID, UNICEF, FAO, ILO, GIZ, IOM, etc.
• Lead the planning and coordination of project activities; Monitoring of activities’ progress and performance at designated study sites (delivery, quality) and Evaluation of project outcomes.
• Developing and refining projects’ Theory of Change (TOC) by incorporating project impact, outcome, output, activities, key assumptions and risks
• Ability/experience in building the MEAL framework based on the project  impact, outcome, output and input to provide robust measurement of project results using scientifically reproducible mixed-method methodologies
• Experience in the design and implementation of MEAL plan based on the project Theory of Change
• Strong research and analytical skills, with expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience in capacity development, business development support, and technical assistance for MFIs, value chain actors, SMEs, etc.
• Solid understanding of market dynamics, private sector development, and economic growth principles.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R, or others).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines, ability to use project management soft wares (especially Zoho and others)
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, with the capacity to generate creative solutions and insights.
• Knowledge of international development frameworks, policies, and practices related to market and private sector development is desirable.
• Experience working in consulting firms, research institutions, higher learning institutions, or international development organizations is preferred.
• Knowledge of other local and internal languages is a plus.

Other Desirable skills and competencies: 

• Highly motivated, self-initiator, self-learner, and willing to work with team members of diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent project leadership and management skills
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills and the ability to effectively coordinate diverse teams.
• Thorough understanding of the technical and programmatic aspects of a market and private sector oriented program/projects, including the ability to identify and quickly address any challenges or obstacles.
• Willingness and ability to under time pressure
• Attention to details and ability to work with diverse team from diversified cultural settings.
• Willingness and ability to frequently travel across Ethiopia.

How To Apply

Interested candidates who meet the requirements are invited to apply for the position via email at career@frontieri.com by mentioning the position title in the subject line. Alternatively, applicants can submit their application, motivation letters, and updated CV through the provided link https://vastatalent.com/job/frontieri-consult-p-l-c-senior-leve-senior-research-officer/.