About the Job: 

The Research & Design Specialist will be responsible for identifying, designing, and iterating interventions in education with a focus on literacy and early childhood development. The work involves designing interventions based on reliable evidence, a deep understanding of local context, and an eye on QRF's strategic direction and ambitions.

This position involves working across QRF existing programs to improve the design based on unraveling evidence and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, and integrating behavioral science in these programs and interventions. The role includes offering technical support to partners of QRF on Early Childhood Development and behavioral science.

The candidate must have strong knowledge of a variety of research methods and their uses depending on the research questions. They must also be able to apply a number of research methods (qualitative or quantitative) to support program design. Essential competencies include a growth mindset and willingness to learn flexibility, and adaptability.

The Research and Design Specialist will be responsible for staying on top of the latest evidence and approaches in intervention design and iteration and subject knowledge in Early Childhood Development and behavioral science.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Conduct secondary and primary research to effectively design and iterate interventions that meet target audiences’ needs and strategic outcomes.
• Draft concept notes and proposals for interventions, in addition to presentations to executive management to present the case for intervention.
• Keeping track of program performance, implementation fidelity, MEL outcomes, and implementation costs to inform iteration and offer recommendations on the future of programs, e.g., take to scale or not.
• Develop Theories of Change in collaboration with the MEL team and project team and determine the research/ evaluation questions for testing phases of programs.
• Set project goals and priorities in collaboration with Project/program manager, Marketing and Communications team, MEL team, and other relevant project team members.
• Support QRF partners in improving their projects and program designs by conducting research, behavioral science principles, and design principles. This work could include workshops, training, and report writing for the partners.
• Contribute to QRF strategy development, mainly supporting research and recommendations.
• Querying the evidence, designing and conducting primary and secondary research, synthesizing evidence, writing, and presenting.
• Draft ToRs, and service agreements based on the QRF template and conduct procurement for projects as needed, e.g., technical expertise, data collection, etc.
• Manage assigned R&D projects according to QRF's Project Management standards, e.g., project timelines, risk identification, and management, reporting and closure policies, etc.
• Document work, deliverables, and projects according to QRF documentation standards and procedures.
• Attend and contribute to meetings as required for projects.

Job Qualifications: 

Educational Level 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Economics, Behavioral Science, Early Childhood Development).

Years of experience 

• Min of 5 years of experience in a relevant field. 
• Prior NGO experience is required. 
• Research and Design work experience in a relevant field: education, economic development, public policy, research, consulting, etc.
• Academic or professional experience in Research and Design with solid knowledge of behavioral science focus. 

Languages: 

• Fluent in spoken and written Arabic
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

About the Job: 

The Research & Design Specialist will be responsible for identifying, designing, and iterating interventions in education with a focus on literacy and early childhood development. The work involves designing interventions based on reliable evidence, a deep understanding of local context, and an eye on QRF's strategic direction and ambitions.

This position involves working across QRF existing programs to improve the design based on unraveling evidence and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, and integrating behavioral science in these programs and interventions. The role includes offering technical support to partners of QRF on Early Childhood Development and behavioral science.

The candidate must have strong knowledge of a variety of research methods and their uses depending on the research questions. They must also be able to apply a number of research methods (qualitative or quantitative) to support program design. Essential competencies include a growth mindset and willingness to learn flexibility, and adaptability.

The Research and Design Specialist will be responsible for staying on top of the latest evidence and approaches in intervention design and iteration and subject knowledge in Early Childhood Development and behavioral science.

Main duties and responsibilities: 

• Conduct secondary and primary research to effectively design and iterate interventions that meet target audiences’ needs and strategic outcomes.
• Draft concept notes and proposals for interventions, in addition to presentations to executive management to present the case for intervention.
• Keeping track of program performance, implementation fidelity, MEL outcomes, and implementation costs to inform iteration and offer recommendations on the future of programs, e.g., take to scale or not.
• Develop Theories of Change in collaboration with the MEL team and project team and determine the research/ evaluation questions for testing phases of programs.
• Set project goals and priorities in collaboration with Project/program manager, Marketing and Communications team, MEL team, and other relevant project team members.
• Support QRF partners in improving their projects and program designs by conducting research, behavioral science principles, and design principles. This work could include workshops, training, and report writing for the partners.
• Contribute to QRF strategy development, mainly supporting research and recommendations.
• Querying the evidence, designing and conducting primary and secondary research, synthesizing evidence, writing, and presenting.
• Draft ToRs, and service agreements based on the QRF template and conduct procurement for projects as needed, e.g., technical expertise, data collection, etc.
• Manage assigned R&D projects according to QRF's Project Management standards, e.g., project timelines, risk identification, and management, reporting and closure policies, etc.
• Document work, deliverables, and projects according to QRF documentation standards and procedures.
• Attend and contribute to meetings as required for projects.

Job Qualifications: 

Educational Level 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Economics, Behavioral Science, Early Childhood Development).

Years of experience 

• Min of 5 years of experience in a relevant field. 
• Prior NGO experience is required. 
• Research and Design work experience in a relevant field: education, economic development, public policy, research, consulting, etc.
• Academic or professional experience in Research and Design with solid knowledge of behavioral science focus. 

Languages: 

• Fluent in spoken and written Arabic
• Proficiency in spoken and written English