Senior Associate - Governance

Research Design and Execution:

• Design high-quality qualitative, quantitative and experimental research, which takes into account key sampling, instrument, research integrity and ethics, analysis and interventions considerations on a variety of internal and external projects.
• Incorporate behavioral science into research projects. 
• Leads the design and the iteration of prototypes.
• Execute the core project responsibilities with the highest degree with respect to creativity, rigor, relevance, detail, and timeliness.

Project Oversight and Leadership:

• Maintain an understanding of the high-level engagement, the goals of the clients, partners, and teams within Busara, and continually push the project teams to realign around those goals.
• Manage the most sensitive or complex projects, typically of medium to large-scale research and advisory projects, end to end, with minimal supervision or support.
• Engage the leadership team and align on substantive components of the project
• Lead or support Associates and Analysts to fulfill engagement requirements.
• Develop and manage execution of project plans, budgets, work plans, and task schedules.
• Manage resources, financials, and adhere to the project plan throughout the full project life cycle.
• Monitor, track, and control outcomes to resolve issues, dependencies, and critical path deliverables.
• Manage project kick-off, on-boarding, and off-boarding for knowledge management.
• Responsible for project timelines, deliverables, reports, and staffing.
• Participate in field work for assigned projects as may be required. 
• Monitor and review project team performance.

External Relationship Management:

• Manage higher-level conversations and partnerships with clients and partners.
• Plan, manage and execute external and internal engagements from start to finish with minimal supervisory engagement.
• Serve as a point of contact for clients and partners and effectively manage the needs of stakeholders through proactive communication and troubleshooting.
• Identify opportunities to deepen engagement with clients and partners. 
• Present at conferences, networking events, and client meetings.

People Management and Organizational Engagement:

• Ensure the engagement of direct and indirect reports by driving the development and nurture of Busara’s culture and values and oversee efforts related to their well-being
• Contribute to skills-building for projects’ teams and other teams as required.
• Manage performance and serve as mentors to Associates, Analysts, and Project team members, as required.
• Serve as champions for the projects team, manage the team and bring forward all relevant and actionable requests to the leadership team.
• Maintain team morale and organizational alignment
• Coordinate hiring and onboarding of Analysts, Interns, and new Associates as needed.
• Coordinate across teams to ensure healthy work relationships are maintained.  Mediate and escalate (to supervisors, people or wellness teams) any issues that require attention.
• Communicate across organizational teams to ensure a healthy and functioning organization.
• Contribute to the design, execution, and dissemination of Busara internal research projects and initiatives
• Perform any other duty as may be assigned by the Engagement Director or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience: Minimum Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related fields. 
• Strong qualitative, quantitative, research, and data analytic skills.
• Proficient project management skills.
• Minimum of 5 years’ work experience in the global south, with at least 3 years in project and team management in a related field. 
• Strong academic behavioral science background.
• Extensive experience managing large-scale projects in developing countries.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Fluency and excellent communication and writing skills with a mastery of English.
• Ability to execute projects while sustaining a global focus and vision for institutional planning and decision making.
• Ability, interest, and willingness to travel to all project locations as assigned which may include in-country, regional, and international locations in the Global South. 

Desired Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or related fields is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing or mentoring staff.
• Technical understanding and practical experience of randomized controlled trials and/or quasi-experimental designs
• Technical understanding and practical experience of qualitative research techniques.
• Experience in applying behavioral science to real-world problems.
• Proficiency in Stata, R, or Python