This is a fixed-term contract with an initial duration of one (1) year. We are committed to fostering long-term relationships, and contract renewal will be reviewed based on your performance and successful achievement of key objectives.

Role description

The role of Researcher 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 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 following form the core responsibilities of the Researcher role:

• Co-design quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods methodologies
• Collect data, both face-to-face and remotely
• Clean, validate and analyse data
• Contribute to writing reports and presentations
• Present research findings for a variety of internal and external audiences
• Collaborate with Jigsaw partners and clients on data collection where relevant
• Support proposal development for potential new projects
• Contribute to Jigsaw’s internal work, including participating in internal meetings and supporting key internal priorities

Skills, competencies and experience

Essential skills, competencies and experience

• Demonstrated interest in the education sector
• Experience of undertaking research in a professional context
• An understanding of the project cycle - proposal development, designing mixed-methods methodologies, collecting data, analysing data, writing reports and presenting findings
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to identify problems and solutions
• Ability to adapt calmly to changing situations
• Ability to manage a complex workload under pressure
• High aptitude for personal learning
• Attention to detail (in data collection, analysis and writing)
• Keenness to grow and engage with constructive feedback
• Willingness to use established tools and processes that facilitate effective teamwork
• Zambian language proficiency

Desirable skills, competencies and experience

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to design project workflows, monitor milestones, and adapt plans in response to challenges, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are met
• Experience of qualitative and quantitative education research design methodologies, such as mixed methods, quasi-experimental, participatory, case study or process evaluation methods
• Experience of qualitative analysis and qualitative data analysis software
• Experience of statistical methods (descriptive & inferential statistics)
• Arabic or French language proficiency
• Experience of delivering training - both face-to-face and online

• Co-design quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods methodologies
• Collect data, both face-to-face and remotely
• Clean, validate and analyse data
• Contribute to writing reports and presentations
• Present research findings for a variety of internal and external audiences
• Collaborate with Jigsaw partners and clients on data collection where relevant
• Support proposal development for potential new projects
• Contribute to Jigsaw’s internal work, including participating in internal meetings and supporting key internal priorities

• Demonstrated interest in the education sector
• Experience of undertaking research in a professional context
• An understanding of the project cycle - proposal development, designing mixed-methods methodologies, collecting data, analysing data, writing reports and presenting findings
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to identify problems and solutions
• Ability to adapt calmly to changing situations
• Ability to manage a complex workload under pressure
• High aptitude for personal learning
• Attention to detail (in data collection, analysis and writing)
• Keenness to grow and engage with constructive feedback
• Willingness to use established tools and processes that facilitate effective teamwork
• Zambian language proficiency
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to design project workflows, monitor milestones, and adapt plans in response to challenges, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are met
• Experience of qualitative and quantitative education research design methodologies, such as mixed methods, quasi-experimental, participatory, case study or process evaluation methods
• Experience of qualitative analysis and qualitative data analysis software
• Experience of statistical methods (descriptive & inferential statistics)
• Arabic or French language proficiency
• Experience of delivering training - both face-to-face and online

• Demonstrated interest in the education sector
• Experience of undertaking research in a professional context
• An understanding of the project cycle - proposal development, designing mixed-methods methodologies, collecting data, analysing data, writing reports and presenting findings
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to identify problems and solutions
• Ability to adapt calmly to changing situations
• Ability to manage a complex workload under pressure
• High aptitude for personal learning
• Attention to detail (in data collection, analysis and writing)
• Keenness to grow and engage with constructive feedback
• Willingness to use established tools and processes that facilitate effective teamwork
• Zambian language proficiency
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to design project workflows, monitor milestones, and adapt plans in response to challenges, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and quality standards are met
• Experience of qualitative and quantitative education research design methodologies, such as mixed methods, quasi-experimental, participatory, case study or process evaluation methods
• Experience of qualitative analysis and qualitative data analysis software
• Experience of statistical methods (descriptive & inferential statistics)
• Arabic or French language proficiency
• Experience of delivering training - both face-to-face and online