Vacancy title:
Data Operations Associate

Jobs at:
Laterite Ltd

Deadline of this Job:
15th November 2018

Duty Station:
Kigali, Rwanda

Summary
Date Posted: 15th October 2018 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed , Employment Type: Full-Time

Laterite, we transform the way development research is done. Our mission is to deploy the most innovative research methods and the latest academic thinking to design effective responses to development issues.

JOB DETAILS:
Position: Data Operations Associate
Start date: Immediate
Duration of commitment: 1-year minimum
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Required Qualification: At least 2 years of experience managing field research projects, ability to make budgets, ability to prepare and conduct training, and experience with using Excel

Language Requirements: English and Kinyarwanda- excellent written and oral
Preferred Qualification: Experience and/or prior knowledge using STATA and/or SurveyCTO

Job Summary
Are you passionate about rigorous development research and helping organizations use evidence to make decisions? If so, Laterite’s Data Operations Associate role is a perfect opportunity to hone your leadership and technical skills, working at the intersection of impactful research and large-scale programming across Rwanda.

About Laterite
At Laterite, we transform the way development research is done. Our mission is to deploy the most innovative research methods and the latest academic thinking to design effective responses to development issues. We provide three types of services to clients:

• comprehensive data collection and data processing solutions; ii) research services, from the design of large-scale research projects through to analysis; and
• strategic and technical advice to public and private sector clients.
  Laterite currently operates in Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, and the Netherlands. Laterite brings together more than 40 full time staff. In the last few years, we have successfully completed over 100 research projects, working with internationally recognized universities, global think tanks, international NGOs, multilateral donor organizations and several Government ministries and agencies.
  

The Laterite Model

• We believe that impact is a long-term endeavour that requires being embedded in the local context: In order to achieve policy impact through research it is important to establish a strong local presence. Delivering high quality research and advice requires building a local team and data collection systems, understanding the context, establishing close working relationships with key players and understanding their constraints and motivations. We only conduct research where we have offices.
  
• We are rigorous and structured, but not rigid in our choice of analytic methods: Our mission is to deploy the most innovative research methods to design effective responses to development issues. We do not define ourselves by a particular method or approach (e.g. RCTs), but by our ability to embrace and deploy new technologies and research methodologies in our project work. We work in an anti-disciplinary way, by borrowing methods not only from econometrics but other fields as well.
  
• We innovate with every opportunity: With every new challenge and opportunity we try to innovate, always with the objective of creating new and better ways of conducting research in low-resource country contexts. The Laterite Lab, our internal research development arm, catalyzes our research efforts and aims to equip our teams with new research methods and techniques. Our aim is not only to acquire and implement new methods, but to create new methods.
  You can find out more about Laterite on our website at www.laterite.com
  

Who we are
Laterite is led by a team of young entrepreneurial professionals who see the opportunity to transform the way research is done. The research team has degrees from some of the world’s top universities, including Harvard University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Columbia University, University of California – Berkeley, MIT, London School of Economics and Yale University with vast experience working in development research in several countries. Our entire data collection team is recruited and trained from the best local universities in the countries we operate. Laterite is proud to be a culturally diverse organization with permanent staff from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Greece, US, UK, France, the Netherlands, Colombia and Cameroon.

Working at Laterite
Working at Laterite will provide you with the opportunity to build on your management and technical expertise to make a difference on priority development questions. At Laterite, you will have:

• The opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a dynamic and growing research firm;
  
• A chance to make a difference on relevant policy and development issues in a high-pace environment;
  
• The opportunity to manage and focus on the professional development of a high performing team of researchers and data collection specialists; and,
  
• The challenge to constantly upgrade your own technical capabilities, to ensure that as a company we are always on the cutting-edge of research with impact.
  

About the position
This position will be based in Kigali, Rwanda, with travels to field locations. Data Operations Associate position is based in Kigali, although it sometimes involves trips to the countryside. The role entails i) managing medium-size field research projects, ii) training the field team, iii) facilitating fieldwork through interaction with local officials, and iv) actively contributing to the growth of the Data Team.

Key Responsibilities
Under the guidance of the assigned Data Manager, the Data Operations Associate will devise a strategy for implementation of assigned project and operationalize the project. This will entail planning and implementing with the support of the Senior Field Supervisor, aspects of in-office preparation, field preparation, data collection and field reporting. Related responsibilities are listed below:

Project management

• Under the supervision of the line Data Manager, the Data Operations Associate will work to design strategy of field preparation and data collection activities for assigned medium-size projects.
  
• Draft training manuals for the field team
  
• Review field plans to ascertain that they can be operationalized and are logistically and financially efficient.
  
• Draft budget and submit to the data manager for review.
  
• Train enumerators on project specific information, protocols and instruments.
  
• Lead pilot activities and debriefing sessions
  
• Monitor field activities during field preparation and data collection and engage in occasional spot checks to ascertain quality
  
• Manage transcription and translation of qualitative data and ascertain quality of final qualitative dataset
  
• Implement surveys monitoring tools and provides bi-weekly reports to Data Manager and Senior management on progress of activities on the field.
  
• Engage in feedback session with the field team during the project and upon its completion.
  
• Perform sample verification checks on accounting receipts and sign receipts as submitted by the Senior Field Supervisor
  
• Review field staff salaries prior to submission to the Senior Data Manager for approval
  

Data-team based responsibilities

• Update application templates prior to each round of data team recruitment
• Review and confirm interview schedules as drafted by Senior Field Supervisor
  
• Manage enumerators’ database and flag human resource needs as well as dormant human resources to line Data Manager
  
• Draft field team allocation and update it regularly
  
• Ensure that the administration officer updates relevant data team databases (external and internal)
  
• Perform other duties as assigned
  

Profile
An ideal candidate has outstanding and excellent written and oral communication skills (in English), and can effectively communicate internally and externally. You have the ability to prepare projects’ budgets and plans and conduct training.
You are passionate about social-economic research and making a difference to Rwanda’s development. You have at least 2 years of professional experience relevant to managing logistics of field projects, teams and project finances. You have a Bachelors’ Degree and are proficient with the use of the MS Office suite. You have excellent written and oral communication skills (in both English and Kinyarwanda). Experience and/or prior knowledge of STATA and/or SurveyCTO is preferred.

Required Qualifications:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
  
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably relevant to social and economic research
  
• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience
  
• A team player as well as able to work well independently when assigned projects and tasks
  
• Be a Rwandan National Strongly Preferred:
  
• Experience living and working in diverse cultural settings
  
• Experience and/or prior knowledge of STATA and/or SurveyCTO is preferred.

Compensation
Competitive with similar roles in other social enterprises and research firms. Benefits include generous leave, health insurance, and individual/team bonuses.