Principal Investigator at Laterite Tanzania

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigator at Laterite Tanzania October 2024

Job type: Full-time
Summary
We
are looking for a new principal investigator to join our team. The role
can be based in any of our offices in Amsterdam, Kigali, Nairobi,
Kampala, Addis Ababa, and Dar es Salaam.

About Laterite
Laterite
is a data, research and analytics firm specialized in complex
development challenges. We work with universities, global think tanks,
international NGOs, multilateral donor organizations, and government
ministries and agencies. Our clients include, for example, the World
Bank, USAID, TechnoServe, Promundo, the Mastercard Foundation, and
several UN agencies.

We currently have offices in the
Netherlands, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone,
and Peru. The team brings together more than 80 full time local and
international staff, as well as 1,000+ enumerators across all countries.
We are proud to be a culturally diverse organization, and we welcome
applications from groups currently under-represented in our team. Learn
more: www.laterite.com

We
work in socio-economic development research projects. We believe that
impact is a long-term endeavour that requires being embedded in the
local context. Delivering high-quality research requires building local
teams and data collection systems, knowing the country, and establishing
close working relationships.

One of Laterite’s key strategic
goals is to create a collaborative and rewarding working environment for
our staff, where every team member feels engaged, represented, and
heard. Laterite is committed to create opportunities for learning and
career development within the team and across our offices.

Laterite
is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an
equal opportunities employer. All qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender,
gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin,
genetics, disability, age or veteran status.

About the role:
The
Lead Investigator will be a critical part of our research team,
combining the responsibilities of technical and sector-specific research
leadership, mentorship of junior investigators, and business
development. This role is designed for a seasoned researcher preferably
with a deep understanding of one of Laterite’s key sectors (Agriculture,
Gender, Education, Public Health, or Livelihoods) and a passion for
advancing rigorous research in the countries where we work, including
Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, or Uganda. The
Lead Investigator will help shape our research portfolio, support the
professional growth of our team, and ensure the quality and impact of
our work.

What you will do:

Technical Leadership: 

• Serve
  as a primary point of contact for technical assistance across the
  organization, offering expertise in one or more of Laterite’s key
  sectors.
• Lead the technical development and implementation of a portfolio of research projects in one of Laterite’s key sectors.
• Provide oversight and review of technical reports and outputs to ensure high-quality research deliverables.
• Provide hands-on support in the design, pre-analysis, analysis, and writing stages of research projects.
• Continuously
  contribute to company-wide improvements by designing and implementing
  trainings, and policies that enhance the quality of our research and
  increase the efficiency of our research processes.

Mentorship and Supervision:

• Offer sustained mentorship and technical supervision of junior
  researchers throughout the research cycle, fostering their professional
  growth and ensuring they receive the guidance needed to excel.
• Work
  closely with the senior management team to develop and implement
  professional development plans for junior investigators/researchers.

Business Development: 

• Actively
  contribute to proactive and reactive (tender-based) business
  development by identifying new research opportunities and leading the
  technical components of proposals.
• Grow our portfolio of
  research projects, by working closely with our business development and
  communications team to identify new opportunities, by growing our
  network of academic partnerships and by representing Laterite at
  research/policy events.
• Develop and manage a pipeline of research projects by turning internal research ideas into externally funded initiatives.

What you will bring:

• Significant work experience in leading one or more of the following: 
• Impact evaluations.
• Large-scale survey-based data collection.
• Implementation science research.
• Mixed methods or qualitative research.
• A
  Master’s degree is required, a Doctorate preferred (ABD candidates
  considered) in economics, sociology, epidemiology, biostatistics,
  education, earth science, agriculture, data science, or related fields.
• Demonstrated in-country experience conducting research
• Previous work experience in Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America and a commitment to equitable practices in global research.
• Applicants with local knowledge and experience are highly encouraged to apply.
• Proven ability to secure competitive research funding.
• Expertise in one or more thematic areas such as agriculture, livelihoods, gender, public health, or education.
• A strong publication track record of publishing peer-reviewed or gray literature.
• Demonstrated success in research mentorship or teaching.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with a self-motivation and drive to flourish in a fast-paced environment

What’s in it for you?
Laterite
offers a competitive remuneration package, including medical insurance
and 25 days of annual leave. We are also committed to supporting our
staff’s learning, providing an annual learning budget of up to $1000 per
person and 10 days off for professional learning each year. We also
provide remote work options in accordance with Laterite’s remote work
policy.

The starting net salary is approximately USD
$3,980 per month. Laterite offers a cost-of-living adjustment for
countries with higher living expenses that are not included in this base
salary. The exact salary grade will also be determined based on the
selected candidate’s experience and interview performance. Salaries are
pegged against the pay matrix, and the gross salary will depend on local
tax regulations.
How to Apply:
This is Full-time Job, To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.