AACS Consulting is seeking to hire on an URGENT basis a skilled and experienced Research Specialist who will provide oversight to our Research and Survey projects in Afghanistan. The candidate must have advanced data analysis capabilities, excellent report writing skills, and the organizational skills requisite to manage research undertakings. The Research Specialist will work under the supervision of the Research and M&E Director. 

• Take the lead in managing and delivering research projects, from scoping through to methodology and report writing, including managing and developing client relationships;
• Work with senior managers and directors to win new work from new and existing clients and proactively identify new business opportunities both in terms of research services and policy markets;
• Produce insightful research reports with sophisticated advice to support your clients in their decision-making;
• Plan, manage, and coordinate research and M&E projects including financial budget;
• Develop a wide range of appropriate project plans, research and M&E tools, and applicable procedures for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting;
• Ensure timely collection, analysis, and dissemination of high-quality data through efficient utilization of available sources; put in place a strong data quality assurance mechanism and conduct regular data quality assessments;
• Prepare professional, high-quality daily, monthly, quarterly and final reports for high-level audiences;
• Lead and assist in the design and development of functioning ODK and KoBo databases and tools.
• Review and analyze project process and identity, documents, and utilize lessons learned for improved project implementation;
• Carry out high-quality research and draft superior quality research reports;
• Draft progress reports on the implementation of AACS Consulting research projects;
• Be the focal point for the internal consultations of research and M&E Projects.
• Monitor and keep record of a research team with the comments received from the clients and any other party engaged with the project report review;
• Draft short memos to produce research notes and case studies;
• On daily bases team management and assigning tasks to them based on their role and responsibilities in AACS HQ and in the regional level;
• Provide technical assistance and training to the AACS Consulting Staff to design, improve and/or manage project-level performance management plans;
• Contribute substantively to the design and field testing of evaluation methodology, participatory data collection methods and protocols, data verification techniques and other technical evaluation and analysis tasks conducted under the contract;
• Manage the data collection efforts of project staff, enumerators, and surveyors, including ensuring the adequacy of data collection instruments, the feasibility of data collection plans, the timely collection of data (including surveyors), and the quality of data collected, analyzed, and reported to AACS Consulting clients;
• Responsible for the design, quality, development, and completion of the assessments, analysis reports, and evaluations, and review of technical outputs;
• Ensure that all monitoring and evaluation tasks are completed on time and are of high quality. Carry out additional tasks supporting AACS Consulting Research and M&E project goals and objectives as assigned by the Supervisor;
• Undertake any other tasks assigned by Supervisor.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Social Science, or in any other relevant field (master’s degree is preferable)

Experience:

• Minimum of 4-7 years of relevant experience in research, survey and M&E
• Experience in external and client relation;
• Recent experience in supervising teams;
• Experience and advanced knowledge of KoBo and ODK tools is highly required;
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office and SPSS (knowledge of STATA is an advantage)
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Pashto and Dari; working knowledge of English is highly required.

Core Competencies:

• High level of spoken and written proficiency in English is a must
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous projects and tasks while meeting deadlines
• Ability to communicate professionally, effectively and consistently with team members, clients and partners
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong teamwork ethics, managerial and collaborative skills