Job Summary

The Research and Evaluation Manager will have all-round responsibility for leading and managing PDA’s research and evaluation consultancies and related activities as profitable ventures both in terms of PDA’s profile and in financial terms. He / She will endeavour to consolidate its reputation for qualitative and, increasingly, mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) in this field.

He or she will liaise with the Managing Director, partners, clients and other external stakeholders, to plan, co-ordinate and oversee research and evaluation consultancies and related activities. The position includes managing and setting high standards for all stages of research and evaluation consultancies, from the development of initial ideas to design, proposal development, methodology, training, implementing, field work and report writing. It will also entail managing a small team of in-house staff, interns, external associates or consultants.
He/she will also contribute to marketing the work of PDA through representation and through its external communication channels, including on-line sites like website, Facebook, and Twitter and other social media like WhatsApp.

Responsible to: The Managing Director

Main responsibilities:

•   Leading the unit
•   Lead the day-to-day management of research and evaluation consultancies and related activities, with all the powers, discretions and delegations authorised by the Managing Director.
•   Guide the organisation in ensuring that the objectives, scope and targets of all research and evaluation consultancies are in line with the organisation’s vision and mission.
•   Ensure that PDA meets the objectives, scope and targets of all research and evaluation consultancies as agreed with the client or partner.
•   Assist in the development of organizational policy proposals to present to the PDA Board of Directors for discussion and decision.
•    Work with the MD to ensure that the organisation has the resources (human, material and financial) to execute research and evaluation consultancies as effectively as possible.
•   Provide strategic leadership in research feasibility and development by providing hands-on leadership in the writing of winnable research and evaluation proposals, whether solicited or unsolicited.
•   Identify potential new research and evaluation ventures aimed at income diversification for the organization and once approved, see to their successful execution.
•   Work with the MD to estimate and allocate the resources needed to achieve project goals.
•   Further the long and short-term research consultancy services as part of the organization’s portfolio by managing the quality of such services, the expectations of clients, staff and associates.
•   Building relationships
•   Work with the MD, in collaboration with senior management, partners, clients and other stakeholders to define the scope, goals and deliverables of research and evaluation projects that support PDA’s business goals.
•   Work with the MD to maintain effective networks with all principal partners, clients, PDA Associates/consultants and other stakeholders within the human and social development sectors.
•   Effectively communicate research project expectations to team members, implementing partners and stakeholders.
•   Liaise with partner organisations and clients with which PDA conducts work, including involvement in design of new projects, as applicable.
•   Ensure the organisation is presented to its partners, clients, associates and other stakeholders in an appropriate and professional manner.
•   Organising events
•   Monitor and scan for information, within and outside the organisation, which are of relevance to research and evaluation; and disseminate such information to the SMT and the Board of Directors for timely strategic decisions.
•   Oversee the planning, organisation and documentation of all research and evaluation related activities or projects to ensure timely execution and within budget.
•   Communicating and disseminating research and evaluation
•   Liaising with networks in-country and outside the country to share lessons from the project
•   Preparing documents to communicate ideas to a wider audience and lessons from the project
•   Where appropriate, making effective use of PDA website and those of other partners/clients in communicating/disseminating research and evaluation findings
•   Reporting to and liaising with clients and PDA management
•   Act as one of the chief external spokespersons to promote and market the services of the organisation and contribute to its website and other social media.
•   Training PDA staff and associates
•   Coach, mentor, motivate and supervise research and evaluation team members so as to get the best out of them and be accountable for the work assigned to them.
•   Identify the training needs of research staff and work with the MD and the Senior Management Team (SMT) to devise the necessary measures to meet these needs in a cost effective way.
•   Develop research and evaluation field guides, questionnaires and other instruments to guide research teams in their work – be it review and analysis of secondary data or collection of primary data.
•   Proposal writing and research
•   Work together with the Managing Director, Senior Management Team and other PDA staff to identify, develop, and market proposals for new research project opportunities and funding, including evaluations.
•   Prepare proposals, scopes of work, and research designs for clients/partners.
•   Contract management
•   Prepare terms of reference and contracts for external PDA consultants and associates hired to undertake research for PDA.
•   Managing finances and other resources of the Unit
•   Manage finances and other resources - prepare budget for projects, ensure that staff work within budget and that expenditure against budget is closely monitored and profit is maximised, but not at the cost of quality.
•   Report regularly and promptly to the MD of PDA on resource and financial matters concerning research and evaluation.

Person Specification

•   Strong commitment to a people-centred development (everyone matters) which underscores PDA’s vision, mission and values.
•   Strong, demonstrable understanding of international good practice in research and evaluation.
•   Proven and demonstrable understanding and experience in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation.
•   Proven experience of leading, managing, motivating and supervising research or evaluation teams.
•   Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and diplomacy skills. High level of emotional intelligence and sensitivity in dealing with wide range of stakeholders in multiple cultural settings.
•   Flexible and able to travel for up to three weeks at a time.
•   Good understanding of financial management.
•   Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
•   Creative, flexible and strategic thinker.
•   Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for social development.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Minimum of a second degree in social sciences, management, communications or other relevant areas.
•   Minimum of 8 years progressive work experience, with at least 2 years at management level with a reputable organization in the development or business sector.
•   Minimum of 5 years of active research work with at least 3 years as a field research team leader.
•   Ability to work with little or no supervision but a strong team player.
•   Impressive experience in design, implementation, management, analysis, monitoring and evaluation of qualitative and quantitative field research.
•   Strong research project management skills and successfully operationalising innovative research programs.
•   Experience in using information and communication technology (ICT) as a management tool.
•   Excellent analytical, interpersonal, organizational and cross-cultural skills.
•   Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail (candidate to provide samples of written work – published or unpublished).

Key Contacts
Managing Director, Finance and Administrative Manager, other Programme Managers, Programme Coordinators, PDA Associates and consultants, and staff of partner organizations and clients.

Location: Based in Accra with frequent travel to research and evaluation project sites and to other parts of Ghana and beyond to meet with partners or clients or to participate in development related events such as conferences.

How To Apply For The Job

Submit documents as requested to:-

jobvacancy@pdaghana.com

Click Here To Download Application Form

Closing Date: 30 April, 2015