Job title: Junior Research Facilitator
Duration: 6 months
Time commitment: Full time
Remuneration: Dependent on the experience of applicants
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract type: Fixed term, 6 months
Reporting to: Senior Research Facilitator
The role
The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) is a non-profit initiative of the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC) at the University of Oxford and the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA). The RLRH has offices in Oxford and Nairobi. Its research programme enables researchers with a displacement background to lead primary and secondary studies on topics relating to humanitarian response and forced migration, from start to finish.
The Junior Research Facilitator will have a crucial role in fulfilling RLRH’s mission. They will provide direct support to displaced researchers and affiliates at the Hub, conduct training sessions on research methods, contribute to proposals and ongoing research projects, and support the dissemination of research findings. The Junior Research Facilitator is expected to work at the RLRH office in Nairobi for a minimum of three days per week. Candidates with a lived experience of displacement will be given strong preference. The RLRH is not able to provide a relocation allowance for candidates currently residing outside of Kenya.
Responsibilities
Direct support to colleagues and affiliates:
1. In collaboration with the Senior Research Facilitator, provide detailed document feedback and mentorship at different stages of the research process to 1) core team members; 2) independent research grantees; 3) RLRH-BIEA GAS attaches; 4) RLRH Research Trainees; 5) other RLRH affiliates.
2. Contribute to the development of curriculum and materials for training sessions and deliver in-person and remote training on research methods to colleagues and affiliates.
Proposal development and stakeholder engagement:
3. Contribute to setting the RLRH research agenda and developing proposals related to refugee self-reliance and refugee leadership in Kenya.
4. Prepare the agenda and engage in meetings with RLRH partners, as required.
Publications:
5. Support the Research Facilitator in finalising publications for the RLRH research series. This may include: providing feedback, editing, copy-editing, formatting, and visualisation.
6. Support the Academic Director in finalising publications for the RLRH blog.
Research dissemination:
7. Assist in organising the annual conference on refugee-led research in Nairobi, including content development and logistics.
8. Develop social media posts for RLRH research publications.
Selection criteria
Required:
1. A master’s degree or equivalent in international development, refugee studies, international relations, education, or in a relevant field in Social Sciences or Humanities.
2. Academic and/or professional experience with qualitative research methods.
3. Academic and/or professional experience on displacement-related topics, with familiarity with fields relating to refugee livelihoods and refugee leadership.
4. Ability to support and transfer skills to learners from diverse backgrounds and skill levels.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, analysis, and report writing.
6. Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with experience working across diverse teams with empathy and sensitivity.
7. Ability to work independently, prioritise own workload, and work flexibly as part of a team.
8. Commitment to the RLRH mission of enabling refugee leadership in research.
Desirable:
1. Holds refugee status or is otherwise affected by displacement (e.g., as an asylum seeker, IDP, stateless person, former refugee, etc.)
2. Demonstrated experience in project coordination and management, with excellent organisational skills.
3. Experience writing research proposals to private and public donors and institutions.
4. Published writing (academic or grey literature).
5. Academic and/or professional experience with quantitative research methods.
6. Proficiency in data visualisation.
7. Experience in content development for websites and social media (Twitter)
8. Experience in disseminating research findings through presentations, events and stakeholder engagement.
How to apply
To apply, please send the following materials to [email protected] by 18 March 2024 before 5pm EAT:
1. Your CV (maximum 2 pages)
2. One writing sample relevant to the position (2,000 words maximum, excerpts welcome, and from work that you independently authored)
3. A cover letter that includes, at the minimum, the following points:
a. One paragraph describing your academic and professional background.
b. One to two paragraphs describing your research skills and examples of projects where you have used them.
c. One paragraph explaining why you are well-suited to support others in conducting research.
d. One paragraph describing past experiences working independently, in cross-cultural contexts, and in a dynamic team environment.
All documents should be in PDF format. The subject line of the email should be “Junior Research Facilitator”. If you have any questions about the application process, please email [email protected].
All applicants will be contacted and informed of the outcome of their application. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a virtual interview.