Senior Research Officer – Market and Private Sector Development 57 views

Frontieri Consult PLC, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and with branch offices in Berlin (Germany), Juba (South Sudan), Nairobi (Kenya), and Kampala (Uganda) is one of the leading consulting firms. The firm was established in 2008 primarily to undertake research and consultancy assignments in the areas of development and growth in several disciplines. It works with a range of development issues commissioned by governmental and non-governmental organizations, and bilateral and multilateral institutions.

Frontieri is a company for talented researchers with different backgrounds and perspectives and we have gathered competent professionals and work in partnership with scholars across the country and abroad in Social Protection and Development; Health, Nutrition, and Gender; Agriculture and Rural Development; Education and Youth Development; and Market and Private Sector Development. For further information, please visit our website at: www.frontieri.com

Currently, we are seeking to hire Senior Research Officer at Frontieri office, responsible for the development of various research proposals, research reports, research methodologies, and project management while ensuring client satisfaction is met.

Join our team of professionals and be part of our energetic team that is committed to bringing change by providing adequate research findings and advisory services for policymakers and contributing to the development of the countries we serve. We provide the best working relations and environment to allow aspiring talented professionals to engage in various research work and grow their potential while working with the best in the industry.

Frontieri’s Value Proposition

A diverse workforce of employees working in the fields of Agriculture, Economics, Health, Education, Market and Private Sector Development and many more development projects yielding an innovative and thought leadership mindset. A place where many bright minds come together to create on the ground for real data-backed research work. An environment where employee well-being; personal growth and career advancement are embedded into our culture.

Position Purpose and Scope

This is a senior-level and full-time position that the position holder will be responsible for conducting in-depth research and analysis on various aspects of market dynamics, market interventions impact evaluation, market participation, market penetration, customer satisfaction, private sector growth, Micro-Finance (Finance), Investment, Cooperatives, Value Chain, MSMEL (Medium, Small, Micro and Large Scale) Enterprises, Entrepreneurship, project planning and management, Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, economic valuation, labour market, economic development, Financial Products and services development, project MEAL, marketing strategies, growth opportunities, pricing, capacity building/technical assistance, soft-skill training, and so forth. This role also involves developing technical and financial proposal, client handling, providing strategic insights, designing research methodologies, managing research projects, and delivering high-quality reports and recommendations to clients. The Senior Research Officer collaborates with cross-functional teams and contributes to the overall success of projects managed by Frontieri Consult.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical and Financial Proposal Development: The SRO is responsible to hunt (assist the hunting of) ToRs/RFPs relevant to market and private sector development, assess their relevance, appreciate them, prepare presentation about his/her understanding of the ToRs/RFPs, craft proper table of content by aligning with the needs of the client, draft a technical proposal with the highest quality, review, edit and format the TP, use appropriate infographics and templates, prepare budget parameters to develop (assist the development of financial proposal).
2. Craft Research Approach, Research Design and Methodology: The SRO is responsible to choose and prepare proper research approaches relevant to the objectives and the requirements of the ToRs/RFPs. Most importantly, in addition to academic orientation, the SRO is expected to ensure that her/his research approaches are robust, innovative, and aligned with industry (a consultancy firm) best practices. The SRO is also expected to design and develop research frameworks, methodologies, and strategies to address client needs and project objectives. S/he will be responsible to design proper sampling design (sampling methods and proper sample size determination/calculation), prepare the right mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods (questionnaire, interview schedules, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, observation checklist, focus group discussions, and so on), data collection instrument/tool development and standardization, identify required data types and sources,
3. Survey (Data Collection) and Analysis: The SRO is also expected to conduct high level quantitative and qualitative types of data from primary and secondary sources, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data. S/he is responsible to apply statistical analysis using advanced quantitative and qualitative soft wares such as R, STATA, SPSS, SAS ATLAS.ti, NViVO, MAXQDA, etc, econometric modeling, and other relevant analytical techniques to derive insights and support evidence-based decision-making.
4. Market and Private Sector Analysis: Largely, the SRO will be responsible to conduct comprehensive market and sector analysis, including market assessments, competitor analysis, feasibility/prefeasibility analysis, value chain analysis, economic valuation, Environmental Impact Assessment, Market SWOT assessment, and trend forecasting. Identify opportunities, challenges, and market dynamics that impact private sector development and economic growth.
5. Write reports, Presentations, Policy Briefs/insights and Strategy Development: Writing high-quality research reports, policy briefs, and presentations that effectively communicate research findings, analysis, and recommendations to clients and stakeholders is at the heart of the SRO responsibility. Present research findings to clients and participate in discussions and workshops. The SRO is expected to provide strategic recommendations and insights to clients based on research findings. S/he will be responsible to contribute to the development of policies, strategies, and action plans to foster market competitiveness, private sector growth, and sustainable economic development.
6. Project Management: This is the most important responsibility of the SROF. S/he is expected to plan, monitor, evaluate, lead and manage research projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards. The SROF will be responsible to coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, research partners, and subject matter experts, to ensure smooth project execution. Communication proficiency and client handling is what counts most in this role. S/he is also expected to manage projects using project management templates and soft wares such as Zoho and others.
7. Thought Leadership: The SRO is expected to stay updated with the consulting industry trends, emerging research methodologies, and best practices in market and private sector development. S/he will be responsible to contribute to the firm’s thought leadership initiatives by publishing articles, participating in conferences, and engaging in professional networks.
8. Client Relationship Management: Frontieri expect its Senior Researchers to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, understand their needs, and providing exceptionally high service. S/he is expected to collaborate with clients to identify research opportunities, propose new projects, and support business development efforts.