Senior Research Associate, Knowledge Leadership (Fortification) at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Senior Research Associate, Knowledge Leadership (Fortification) to support the Country Offices, Monitoring team and KL team in operational and administrative backstopping of project portfolio of Knowledge Leadership led initiatives. This role will be offered on a 15-month fixed term contract, subject to availability of funding and will be based in Abuja, Nigeria.

The position holder will manage knowledge leadership functions across countries with focus on defined programmatic topics. They will support the design and implementation of activities of Knowledge Leadership(KL) projects, technical and operational backstopping for focus KL projects and support monitoring frameworks.

Key Responsibilities include

• Contribute to the development of learning agendas and the integration of research, evaluation and learning into GAIN country programs and projects.
• Liaise with the project managers and global KL counterpart for periodic and donor reporting on the results framework of projects.
• Develop monitoring protocols in collaboration with monitoring focal persons (who oversee the quality of monitoring data shared by partners, mentor partners on accurate and timely reporting on project deliverables) to ensure alignment with program frameworks, evaluation and learning agenda.
• Provide technical oversight to the implementation of KL activities in collaboration with project managers across project portfolios.
• Manage the implementation of activities with high focus on research as well as strengthening program monitoring of fortification program (Large Scale Food Fortification, biofortification, but may include others), to ensure generation, analysis and sharing data and information on programs in strategically selected geographies.
• Maintain communication with project partners, including government and private sector as well as contracted agencies to ensure timely delivery of project deliverables and dissemination of project outputs.
• Monitor quality of and analyze outputs generated by contracted agencies, consultants and project partners to develop and execute dissemination of the project outputs with relevant global and local stakeholders working on programmatic focus topics.

About you

• The ideal candidate should possess experience in research, program monitoring and/or evaluation including the development and operationalization of project M&E frameworks and plans in non-profit sector. Experience in quantitative and qualitative research analysis oriented to nutrition, food systems thematic areas is preferred.
• The position holder should have excellent project management skills and experience supporting multiple countries, ability to budget and track activities and write comprehensive reports. Stakeholder management experience is required especially working with partners, government and private sector.
• The position holder should hold a master’s level training or equivalent in social sciences/economics/ development economics or related experience.