Project Associate at Busara | April 2024
Job Description
About the role:
The Project Associate role and tasks will be dedicated to a technical capacity strengthening project led by Busara, with a particular focus on developing social development organizations’ capacity to incorporate behavioral science, research methods, evidence gathering, and innovative program evaluation into their work with the communities they serve.
As the primary project manager for dedicated external Busara project(s), a Project Associate quickly gains an expert understanding of a particular problem or research question and uses all tools at their disposal, both within and outside Busara to execute an engagement to the highest possible degree, with careful consideration of timing and budget. A Project Associate develops creative and rigorous solutions to client and partner needs and manages both internal and external relationships with energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism.
Project Associates liaise with the Projects Division and other Busara teams and are expected to coordinate and manage staff effectively and independently.
Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities
CORE PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Project Associates will work closely with the other Busara staff and directly with academic researchers and advisory clients to perform a variety of tasks including, but not limited to:
- Lead the design and delivery of training curricula, designing and implementation of evaluation frameworks, writing interim and final reports.
- Provide regular reports to the Nairobi office and to the client(s).
- Manage higher level conversations and partnerships with clients and partners.
- Coordinate with other Busara Tanzania team members on field activities.
- Plan, manage and execute external and internal engagements independently from start to finish with limited supervision.
- Incorporate the latest research in qualitative and quantitative methods, behavioral science, psychology, economics, and development to provide creative solutions to engagements.
- Manage and conduct qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis.
- Design, launch and analyze effective quantitative and qualitative survey instruments with coordination among project staff (Analysts, Lab Team, Programming, and Operations teams).
- Serve as a point of contact for clients and partners. Effectively manage the needs of stakeholders through proactive communication and troubleshooting.
- Contribute to project on-boarding and off-boarding for knowledge management.
- Responsible for project timelines, deliverables, reports, and staffing.
- Create proposals, concept notes, and pitch decks for new capacity-strengthening opportunities with partners and knowledge sharing. Present at conferences, networking events, or client meetings.
- Contribute to the design, execution, and dissemination of Busara internal research projects.
- Work closely to lead or support other Associates to fulfill the engagement’s requirements.
- Participate in field work for assigned projects as may be required.
- Perform any other duty as may be assigned by the project supervisor.
CORE ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
In addition to project responsibilities, Project Associates also have the following organizational responsibilities to ensure a healthy and functioning organization.
- Work with the portfolio team to conduct goal-setting exercises, objectives and key results, and team-building events.
- Contribute to skills-building workshops for portfolio team members.
- Communicate across organizational teams to ensure a healthy and functioning organization.
- Coordinate across teams to ensure healthy work relationships are maintained. Mediate and escalate (to supervisors, HR, or wellness teams) any issues that require attention.
- Complete required focus contracts, reviews, and snapshots.
- Assist with internal initiatives where necessary.
- Serve as mentors to Analyst and Project Lead team members, when requested.
- Serve on internal committees when necessary.
- Coordinate across teams to ensure healthy work relationships are maintained. Mediate and escalate (to supervisors, HR, or wellness teams) any issues that require attention.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience: Minimum Requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Community Development, Economics, or related fields.
- A minimum of two years’ experience working in the non-profit sector in Tanzania.
- Prior experience in writing reports and policy briefs is preferred.
- Past experience with organizational training and/or capacity strengthening.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Excellent individual and group-based exercise facilitation, and oral presentation skills.
- 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 working environment.
- Ability to execute projects while sustaining a global focus and vision for institutional planning and decision making
- Must be a Tanzanian national
Desired Qualifications:
- A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Community Development, Economics, or related fields.
- Experience managing or mentoring staff.
- Experience managing large-scale research and consulting projects in developing countries.
- Familiarity with randomized controlled trials is preferred.
- Familiarity with behavioral science.
- Familiarity with NVIVO or other qualitative analysis software.
- Familiarity with STATA or R.
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 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.
