Research Assistant
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Research / Development, Assistant
- Schedule:Full-time
- Salary: Negotiable
Department: Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) & Center for Governance and Inclusive Society (CGIS)
Reports To: Centre Directors (CERI and CGIS)
Supervises: Interns and Enumerators
Expected Duration: 1 Year with possibility of extension
Institutional Arrangement and Guidelines
The Research Assistant will operate under the standard office procedures and practices of CDRI. While assignments generally require the interpretation of established guidelines, the incumbent is expected to exercise initiative and independent judgment for activities not explicitly covered by existing manuals.
This job description is subject to periodic review and may be amended to reflect changing organizational needs. Any modifications will be made in mutual agreement between the employee and the employer.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Core Research and Analytical Support (50%)
- Research Design & Ethics: Assist in drafting research designs, developing data collection instruments (survey questionnaires, interview guides), and preparing documentation for research ethics review across both centres.
- Literature & Documentation: Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to support ongoing research activities, project formulation, and manuscript write-ups.
- Fieldwork & Data Collection: Coordinate and execute fieldwork plans, including organizing enumerators and data entry operators. Conduct interviews and manage surveys while strictly maintaining subject confidentiality and accurate record-keeping.
- Data Processing & Analysis: Transcribe, summarize, and translate interview data. Perform data entry, cleaning, and tabulation under the guidance of senior researchers to ensure data integrity.
- Drafting & Dissemination: Contribute to the drafting and translation of research articles, analytical reports, presentations, and other scholarly publications.
- Logistics: Procure necessary software, equipment, and supplies required for seamless project implementation.
- Project Administration and Coordination (30%)
- Administrative Support: Provide comprehensive administrative and logistical support to the research teams and field staff of both CERI and CGIS, including arranging project meetings, preparing minutes, and organizing events (inception, consultation, and dissemination workshops).
- Project Tracking & Finance: Assist in developing work plans and budgets, tracking project progress against deliverables, collecting timesheets, and preparing progress reports for team leaders and external donors.
- Supervision & Liaison: Supervise project interns, track their assignments, and act as the primary liaison between interns and the respective Centre Directors.
- Communications & Outreach: Manage project-related correspondence, facilitate communication across CDRI centres, and regularly update project information for the CDRI website.
- Knowledge Management: Maintain and archive project documents and unit records systematically.
- Resource Mobilisation and Grant Development (10%)
- Proposal Support: Compile required documentation, background materials, and institutional data for submission to grant agencies and calls for proposals.
- Professional and Capacity Development (10%)
- Self-Initiated Research: Develop and implement an independent, self-initiated research project, culminating in a concept note, findings presentation, and publication.
- Continuous Learning: Actively participate in assigned online and offline capacity-development courses to enhance technical and thematic expertise.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Languages:
- Khmer - Fluent
- English - Fluent
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Education, Political Science, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a closely related field
- Master's Degree is preferred
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
- Prior working experience in a research-related field or project environment is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively within partnership teams and engaging with external organizations.
- Familiarity with data management and analytical software packages (e.g., NVivo, STATA) is a distinct advantage.
- Exceptional command of both English and Khmer languages (written and oral) is strictly required.
- Research & Analysis: Strong grasp of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
- Inclusivity: Demonstrated awareness and understanding of gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and socially inclusive research practices.
- Adaptability: Willingness to learn new concepts, adopt new tools, and travel to remote and rural communities for fieldwork operations.
Soft Skills
- Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments. Ability to work independently and under pressure.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues across all CDRI Centres to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas; shares information and promotes a cohesive team spirit.
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; tailors language, tone, and formatting to match the audience; exhibits strong interpersonal skills.
