This role will work in the Research Unit within the Monitoring and Evaluation Department as a team member providing professional expertise and skills in research methodology, research design, data collection, data analysis, and the interpretation and presentation of research results.

The Research Specialist is responsible for the full life cycle of research support and implementation, from conceptualization and design, to field-level implementation, and analysis and report writing.

Core Responsibilities:

• Identify and choose relevant and achievable research topic/s, taking into consideration the specifications and standards of JRF as well as the donor agencies including the projects’ timeframes, human and financial resources, and ability to access primary and/or secondary data.
• Develop the conceptual framework of the research topic, and design and formulate the research aim, research question and sub-questions, and the research SMART objectives.
•  Identify the most appropriate Research Methodology and Research Methods for the chosen topic including the approach, tools, techniques and procedures used to obtain and analyse data gathered, taking into consideration the time, resources, confidentiality and ethics.
• Provide critical analysis of the research and perform Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the topic from recent and available researches and evaluations in similar contexts (through summary, classification, comparison).
• Choose and apply the appropriate sampling framework of the targeted population, including random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and self-selection sampling.
• Develop research proposal (Terms of Reference) and budgets.
• Under the guidance and supervision of the Program Quality and Research Senior Manager, develop the research tools (qualitative and quantitative) including interviews, Focus Group Discussion, questionnaire and observational journals, and develop data collection templates for qualitative research (question guide, note taking template, transcriptions, etc.).

Lead, organize and carry out qualitative and quantitative fieldwork (data collection) through the different methods, in different locations and contexts across Jordan.

• Carrying out quantitative data analysis of existing secondary data sets and primary quantitative data, using software e.g. Excel and SPSS, and conducting qualitative analysis of data conducted through interviews, focus groups, workshops or other methods using NVIVO or any other qualitative data analysis software.
• Apply the data analysis techniques of summarizing categorical data, analyzing relationships/correlations, and Descriptive and Inferential analysis.
• Producing high quality and varied research outputs for a range of audiences including analysis, narrative report writing and presentations where necessary.
•  Communicate the research results and choose the appropriate way that suits the different audience, and prepare infographics of main findings and results of the research.
• Lead the research team including the facilitators and enumerators, and develop research work plans according to the assignment needs.
•  Making sure that the research work is participatory, including working with peer MEL staff, programs and partners and valuing the importance of communicating with different audiences.
• Delivery of particular work strands relating to research. This will include taking personal responsibility for key elements of work (including data and administration) as well as supporting others in the team. 
• Maintain research and evaluation documentation, literature, forms, data and databases in a manner that is secure (especially where data is confidential), and ensure that the research data is managed and stored properly during and after the assignment.
• Develop a library for previous and current researches and evaluations carried out by JRF or the different agencies but relevant to JRF’s work and context, to be as a reference for literature review.
• In collaboration with the Program Quality and Research Senior Manager, develop relevant research SOPs, and ensure adherence to polices, systems, processes and procedures so that work is carried out in a controlled manner.
• Prepare recommendations as well as lessons learned reports and presentations, to facilitate the learning process across departments of JRF, and organize learning workshops on each project basis, as a mid-line exercise and end of project exercise.
• Build the capacity of all relevant team members (MEL and IM) on the data analysis software (SPSS and NVIVO).
• Build the capacity of the enumerations and research team members on tools, data collection and interviewing techniques.

·        Any other duties as required by the line manager in line with

Skills

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in social work, economics, public policy, business administration, industrial engineering or development-related studies.
• Strong English and Arabic language skills (written and spoken).
• Solid experience in designing and conducting research, including data analysis and reporting- required.
• Experience in development context- required.
• Experience in data analysis software (SPSS, Stata, NVIVO, etc.)- required.
• Experience working in an M&E role on an economic growth, competitiveness or workforce development program-preferable.
• Experience in designing, managing and implementing results-based M&E activities-preferable.