Associate- Data Systems and MEL Specialist at Busara Center

Key Responsibilities​​​​​​​

• Data Systems Management and Governance
• Receive, log, and securely store partner datasets in line with project data management and governance protocols.
• Define and manage data access permissions, ensuring only authorised users can access sensitive or identifiable data.
• Maintain clear handling protocols for raw, cleaned, and anonymised datasets across teams and workstreams.
• Maintain version control and detailed audit trails for all data processing steps.
• Ensure compliance with data protection requirements and ethical data use standards, including relevant East African regulatory frameworks.
• Data Quality Assessment and Diagnostics
• Review dataset structure, variable naming, coding, and formatting against project standards and reporting requirements.
• Conduct data quality checks on core variables including, demographics, participation dates, intervention types, and contact details.
• Assess the presence and quality of unique identifiers; detect duplicate or inconsistent records.
• Conduct internal consistency checks across variables, classifications, and timelines.
• Compare partner dataset counts with reported figures and flag and document discrepancies.
• Provide clear technical write-ups of dataset limitations that affect analysis, sampling, or verification decisions.
• Data Preparation and Analysis
• Clean and prepare datasets for analysis, sampling, and verification activities.
• Support quantitative analysis of programme and research data, including working with large administrative datasets.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of sampling processes for surveys and follow-up verification.
• Support data visualisation and the development of summary dashboards and analytical outputs for reporting.
• Work with analysts and senior staff to ensure analytical approaches are appropriate, rigorous, and well-documented.
• Project and Workstream Management
• Contribute to inception reports, analytical briefs, and final evaluation reports to a high standard of clarity and rigour.
• Manage assigned workstreams end to end, including planning activities, tracking progress, and ensuring timely delivery of outputs.
• Coordinate with internal teams, data, research, and operations,  to ensure alignment across project activities.
• Communicate proactively with project leads on risks, blockers, and emerging issues affecting timelines or quality.
• Contribute to client and partner engagement, including preparation for meetings, workshops, and review sessions.

Knowledge skills and Experience

• 5 years of relevant experience, with a combination of data management or data systems work and practical MEL engagement in development programme contexts.
• Experience working with large administrative or partner datasets in multi-partner programme environments.
• Experience supporting or leading evaluations, data quality assessments, or programme monitoring systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects or workstreams independently, including managing timelines and partner relationships.
• Experience producing written analytical outputs — reports, briefs, or technical summaries — for varied audiences
• Strong command of Excel and at least one statistical or data management tool such as Stata, R, Python, or SQL.
• Ability to detect structural issues in datasets and diagnose data quality problems systematically.
• Familiarity with digital data collection platforms such as KoboToolbox, CommCare, or DHIS2.
• Experience with data visualisation tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent is an advantage.
• Understanding of data protection and privacy requirements, including in East African regulatory contexts