Research Manager (Hybrid) at Precision Development

Job Title: Research Manager (Hybrid)

Location: Newton, Abuja (FCT) with current and ongoing work authorization.

Employment Type:  Full-time, fixed-term for an initial 12 months; extension is subject to project funding and staff performance.

About Precision Development (PxD):

Precision Development (PxD) is a global non-profit that harnesses the power of technology, data science, and behavioral economics to provide targeted information to farmers in low and middle-income countries. Providing the right information to the right people in the right way and at the right time increases incomes, protects the environment, and improves well-being. We are evidence-based: we test our interventions with randomized controlled trials to prove our impact and cost-effectiveness, to simultaneously learn from and improve our service, and to demonstrate our value to funders and partners. There are few programmes in international development that are as demonstrably cost-effective as ours.

Summary of the role:

• PxD seeks a dynamic, creative, and self-motivated Research Manager to join a high-performing, flexible, and non-hierarchical team.
• In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute to PxD’s new work-stream, collaborate closely with PxD and affiliated researchers, and play a key role in testing and refining innovative ideas.
• We are looking for a proactive self-starter with strong research management skills and the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• The ideal candidate will focus on scaling digital agricultural initiatives and designing impactful and inclusive solutions. A solid understanding of digital technology adoption and scaling through government channels is essential.
• We encourage you to apply if you are passionate about leveraging evidence, technology, and government partnerships to drive positive change in the agricultural sector.
• This is an initial 1-year position, with the possibility of extension.

Responsibilities:

The role will grow as you develop, but you will start by focusing on the following key responsibilities:

• Identify learning objectives and resources available for one or more individual projects and manage the implementation of research activities, ensuring that projects adhere to appropriate rigor, policies, timelines, and budgets.
• Work with the team leadership and colleagues to scope, design, pilot, and scale evidence-backed digital agriculture services.
• Develop and implement new research ideas and projects that support PxD’s programs and partners.
• Guide teams in using evidence-based approaches and ensure that PxD maintains the standards for technical appropriateness and rigor.
• Interpret and contextualize external and internal evidence and insights for PxD programs
• Oversee data management and analysis for research projects and survey creation and implementation.
• Oversee documentation of research activities, research results, and rationale for decisions made.
• Develop and fill in frameworks with specific information to identify program insights.
• Manage partner relations and work with external stakeholders to implement program operations.
• Responsible for developing and ensuring compliance with IRB protocols and relevant in-country research permission requirements.
• Contribute to funding proposals and project reports.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and global functioning of the organization.
• Provide close mentorship and guidance to Associate level staff.
• Contribute and support internal and external communications to disseminate project results and research findings, including briefs, blogs, reports, and presentations.
• Contribute to PxD’s institutional knowledge management and internal learning efforts.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor’s or a Master’s Degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Public Policy, or a closely related field.
• Professional experience managing at least two large projects that design and implement rigorous research or evidence-based programs, including gathering feedback from rural populations in LMIC countries.
• Ability to draw inferences from data to identify pathways for program improvement (e.g., call centre productivity, feedback of users to an SMS campaign, looking at usage statistics).
• Adept at consuming large amounts of academic and scientific literature as well as other technical information, synthesizing key findings, and applying takeaways to program and research design.
• Deep understanding of economics and randomized evaluations.
• Excellent knowledge of Stata or R or similar software for data analysis
• Experience in using Survey CTO / ODK or a similar program for survey design.
• Strong grasp of the research & program life cycle and ability to supervise all activities on the ground.
• Experience in a multi-faceted role, with the ability to balance and prioritize across multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Experience managing program and/or research staff.
• Experience managing partnerships with an implementing organization.
• Understanding and application of research ethics for human subjects in the social sciences.
• Strong English writing and oral communication skills, with attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Hausa and knowledge of any other Nigerian language are a plus.
• Experience working with government agencies.
• Must have the right to work in Nigeria, with experience working in Nigeria and willingness to travel to field sites, subject to security considerations.

Salary:
Competitive

Application Closing Date:
7th April, 2025 6pm WAT.

How to Apply:

Click here to download the Editable CV Template

Note:

• PxD is committed to building an inclusive and diverse organisation.
• We don’t make decisions based on gender, gender identity, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristics that are unrelated to the role.
• We understand that everyone has different lifestyles and we accommodate flexible working to make sure you are as productive and happy as you can be.
• We will use any personal data you provide for recruitment purposes only.