Research Associate Job - Tax Compliance Project at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

Reporting To: Research Manager

Start Date: ASAP

Location: Nairobi

Duration: 7 Months

Deadline to Apply: 10th October, 2018

Eligibility: Position open to local Kenyan hires only.

Project Summary: The Tax Compliance project is working on research activities with a view to build evidence on effective and sustainable approaches to increase revenue collection and improve tax compliance.

The studies aim to evaluate innovative solutions to increase tax compliance for small and medium firms and expect that these studies will provide rigorous and independent evidence on the impact of alternative innovations with a view to build evidence on effective and sustainable approaches to increase revenue collection and improve tax compliance.

Results rising from these studies could then inform the implementation of broader initiatives that would replicate at a larger scale the most successful interventions.

Position Summary: The Research Associate will be based in Nairobi, Kenya while field visits will be in Nairobi and other select regions. The Research Associate will take a lead role in collecting data in the field, managing a field team, managing large databases, piloting survey instruments and the interventions.

The Research Associate will work independently and maintain regular communication with the PI. The position requires excellent interpersonal and organization skills. It also requires proficiency with Stata. Familiarity with other data management and statistical packages is a plus.

The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research.

Duties

• Assisting in the development and piloting of survey instruments and conducting pre-tests and pilots.
• Coordinate, and occasionally conduct, qualitative and quantitative interviews with selected firms and businesses
• Working closely with partners and liaising between all stakeholders to ensure all project interests are aligned and accounted for.
• Manage relationships with staff at the partner organization, including regular follow-ups and meetings
• Ensuring all data quality protocols are followed including auditing staff and performing regular data checks on collected data
• Design forms for electronic data collection (using Survey CTO) and manage survey data;
• Ensure all aspects of data quality by overseeing the implementation of data quality protocols including daily quality checks and data security and sharing;
• Take a lead on data cleaning, preliminary analysis (as directed by the PI and RM) as well as data management on the project;
• Writing regular progress reports and leading project meetings to ensure deadlines are met.
• Work closely with the Research Manager and Grants Manager in managing donor deliverables and assist with donor reporting and proposal writing for new grants;
• Manage project staff hiring; prepare project staff hiring adverts, work with the HR department on screening and assist in conducting project interviews;
• Maintain regular communication with the Principal Investigators, keeping them updated on the progress. And will also maintain and constantly update the project log;
• Overall finance oversight on the project including financial tracking, reporting and budget management;
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Job Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferable.
• Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative and qualitative skills
• Assertive personality and demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations and government entities
• Demonstrated experience managing research projects required.
• Fluency and excellent communication skills in English
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, a team player
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials.