Role description

The role of Research Manager at Jigsaw Zambia is to contribute to the delivery of high-quality research, evaluation and strategy that contributes to Jigsaw’s mission to build evidence for effective education, within each of Jigsaw’s technical focus areas (Education Technology, Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crisis, Education, Climate and Environment and Teacher Professional Development.

To produce fluent and well-structured contributions to written reports and to confidently handle client interactions. The role means being an active member of a committed global team, living our shared values, and working hard to represent the individuals and communities that are the focus of our work.

The role will ideally involve at least two/three days per week, based in the Jigsaw Zambia office in Lusaka, plus occasional national and international travel.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of a Jigsaw Research Manager are to:

• Manage research, evaluation and strategy studies throughout the project cycle - writing proposals, designing mixed-methods methodologies, collecting data, analysing data, writing reports and presenting findings
• Liaise with and manage relationships with clients and donors to deliver projects on time and within budget, and that have a positive impact on the sector
• Provide technical input across Jigsaw’s work in your areas of expertise
• Support the development of the Jigsaw Zambia office
• Train Jigsaw staff and partners, both face-to-face and remotely
• Line manage one or more team members
• Contribute to Jigsaw’s internal work by helping to set the culture of the working life of the team, and taking responsibility for an area of Jigsaw’s internal work

Skills, competencies and experience

Essential skills, competencies and experience

• Experience working in education research, evaluation and strategy, and a track record of delivering high-quality outputs (you probably have at least 5 years of relevant experience working in the education sector).
• A detailed understanding of the global learning crisis and the role of evidence-building in helping to address it.
• Familiarity with the landscape of education in Zambia and other low-income countries (donor community, leading-edge implementers, INGOs, community-based organisations).
• Ability to manage large datasets, conduct data cleaning, and ensure data integrity for accurate analysis.
• Ability to interpret complex data, generate clear insights, and present findings effectively.
• Experience of qualitative tool design and analysis for building evidence (eg, mixed methods, quasi-experimental, participatory, case study or process evaluation methods).
• Experience of collaborating with education stakeholders such as schools, NGOs, UN agencies, government departments, donors.
• Ability to manage complex projects under pressure and with competing deadlines.
• Ability to solve problems, working collaboratively to identify solutions.
• A commitment to ongoing learning with the ability to coach others and be coached.
• Ability to line manage others, setting objectives and supporting professional development.
• Able to work in a manner that reflects and strengthens Jigsaw’s values.
• Zambian language proficiency

Desirable skills, competencies and experience

• Practical experience of managing remote teams.
• Experience of delivering training, both face-to-face and online.
• Experience presenting outputs at public events.
• Practical experience in education technology, education in emergencies and protracted crises, education climate and environment, or girls’ education.
• Academic expertise in education technology, education in emergencies and protracted crises, education climate and environment, or girls’ education.
• Experience of specific qualitative analysis and qualitative data analysis tools (eg, MaxQDA, Nvivo).
• Experience of specific quantitative analysis and quantitative data analysis tools (eg, ‘R’, Python, STATA).
• Arabic or French language proficiency

• Manage research, evaluation and strategy studies throughout the project cycle - writing proposals, designing mixed-methods methodologies, collecting data, analysing data, writing reports and presenting findings
• Liaise with and manage relationships with clients and donors to deliver projects on time and within budget, and that have a positive impact on the sector
• Provide technical input across Jigsaw’s work in your areas of expertise
• Support the development of the Jigsaw Zambia office
• Train Jigsaw staff and partners, both face-to-face and remotely
• Line manage one or more team members
• Contribute to Jigsaw’s internal work by helping to set the culture of the working life of the team, and taking responsibility for an area of Jigsaw’s internal work

• Experience working in education research, evaluation and strategy, and a track record of delivering high-quality outputs (you probably have at least 5 years of relevant experience working in the education sector).
• A detailed understanding of the global learning crisis and the role of evidence-building in helping to address it.
• Familiarity with the landscape of education in Zambia and other low-income countries (donor community, leading-edge implementers, INGOs, community-based organisations).
• Ability to manage large datasets, conduct data cleaning, and ensure data integrity for accurate analysis.
• Ability to interpret complex data, generate clear insights, and present findings effectively.
• Experience of qualitative tool design and analysis for building evidence (eg, mixed methods, quasi-experimental, participatory, case study or process evaluation methods).
• Experience of collaborating with education stakeholders such as schools, NGOs, UN agencies, government departments, donors.
• Ability to manage complex projects under pressure and with competing deadlines.
• Ability to solve problems, working collaboratively to identify solutions.
• A commitment to ongoing learning with the ability to coach others and be coached.
• Ability to line manage others, setting objectives and supporting professional development.
• Able to work in a manner that reflects and strengthens Jigsaw’s values.
• Zambian language proficiency
• Practical experience of managing remote teams.
• Experience of delivering training, both face-to-face and online.
• Experience presenting outputs at public events.
• Practical experience in education technology, education in emergencies and protracted crises, education climate and environment, or girls’ education.
• Academic expertise in education technology, education in emergencies and protracted crises, education climate and environment, or girls’ education.
• Experience of specific qualitative analysis and qualitative data analysis tools (eg, MaxQDA, Nvivo).
• Experience of specific quantitative analysis and quantitative data analysis tools (eg, ‘R’, Python, STATA).
• Arabic or French language proficiency

• Experience working in education research, evaluation and strategy, and a track record of delivering high-quality outputs (you probably have at least 5 years of relevant experience working in the education sector).
• A detailed understanding of the global learning crisis and the role of evidence-building in helping to address it.
• Familiarity with the landscape of education in Zambia and other low-income countries (donor community, leading-edge implementers, INGOs, community-based organisations).
• Ability to manage large datasets, conduct data cleaning, and ensure data integrity for accurate analysis.
• Ability to interpret complex data, generate clear insights, and present findings effectively.
• Experience of qualitative tool design and analysis for building evidence (eg, mixed methods, quasi-experimental, participatory, case study or process evaluation methods).
• Experience of collaborating with education stakeholders such as schools, NGOs, UN agencies, government departments, donors.
• Ability to manage complex projects under pressure and with competing deadlines.
• Ability to solve problems, working collaboratively to identify solutions.
• A commitment to ongoing learning with the ability to coach others and be coached.
• Ability to line manage others, setting objectives and supporting professional development.
• Able to work in a manner that reflects and strengthens Jigsaw’s values.
• Zambian language proficiency
• Practical experience of managing remote teams.
• Experience of delivering training, both face-to-face and online.
• Experience presenting outputs at public events.
• Practical experience in education technology, education in emergencies and protracted crises, education climate and environment, or girls’ education.
• Academic expertise in education technology, education in emergencies and protracted crises, education climate and environment, or girls’ education.
• Experience of specific qualitative analysis and qualitative data analysis tools (eg, MaxQDA, Nvivo).
• Experience of specific quantitative analysis and quantitative data analysis tools (eg, ‘R’, Python, STATA).
• Arabic or French language proficiency