Graduate Research Coordinator at Operations Research and Impact Evaluation (ORIE)

The Operations Research and Impact Evaluation (ORIE) Project is an independent component of the six-year, DFID-funded Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) programme seeking to improve the nutritional status of 6.2 million children under five across five northern Nigerian states of Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Yobe. ORIE is managed by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and consists of three other UK-based institutions, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and Save the Children UK (SCUK) in conjunction with Nigerian partners. The overall purpose of ORIE is to “fill important gaps in knowledge about the causes of and optimal responses to undernutrition in Northern Nigeria”. ORIE undertakes various kinds of research and evaluation to this end.

One of ORIE’s objectives is to strengthen capacity to undertake and disseminate research to improve nutrition in the Northern states of Nigeria. ORIE will fund researchers to undertake high quality research which will contribute to improving maternal and child nutrition in the Northern states, and support them by offering training, networking activities and the support of a more experienced mentor.

This work will be facilitated and supported by a part-time Research Coordinator based in ORIE’s Abuja office hence this is a part-time position. The Research Coordinator will undertake a wide range of coordination, management and administrative tasks including coordinating with a wide range of nutrition researchers and stakeholders working on nutrition in Nigeria. This is an administrative post and would benefit from an interest in research in general, but does not require any technical subject knowledge.

The Research Coordinator will be hired for a fixed term, from December 2014 through December 2016, with a three month probationary period.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Research Coordinator

Location: Abuja
Responsible to: ORIE National Team Leader

Main Accountabilities

• Support the development and implementation of ORIE's nutrition research capacity building workstream.
• Contribute to management, coordination and reporting of the research capacity-building workstream in Abuja under the direction of the ORIE National Team Leader, including support to the Abuja office and researchers working in Nigeria

Specific responsibilities: Under the direction of ORIE National Team Leader:

• Prepare MOU and grant contract documents.
• Design reporting templates
• Support the initial review and selection process, including work of the review panel
• Support ongoing work of the mentors on the Nutrition Research Support Group (NRSG)
• Manage grants budgets and overall workstream budget.
• Organise quarterly disbursal of grants funds
• Undertake regular grants auditing.
• Set up and manage electronic platform/mailing lists, facilitate and encourage the exchange of information by grant recipients, mentors and other relevant individuals
• Organise and attend meetings, workshops and training courses, circulating relevant information.
• Support quarterly and annual monitoring and reporting against ORIE's research capacity-building indicators.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• HND or first University Degree.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to interact with all cadre of staff/ partners and be a good team player
• Detail-oriented, honest and patient.
• Basic knowledge of grants management guidelines, formal filing and documentation systems
• Flexible, organised and dependable
• Willing to follow instructions, but also show initiative when required
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders in complex settings.
• An interest in achieving improved nutrition outcomes in Nigeria desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of research methodologies and implementation will be an advantage.
• Experience managing online communications desirable

Application Closing Date
15th October, 2014.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their cover letter and CV as a single MS Word file to Dr. Vincent Ahonsi at: [email protected]

Note: This is a local opportunity for Nigerians or residents of Nigeria only. While we appreciate all applicants' interest to work with ORIE, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted