Research Advisor, Market Research at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

About the Role

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Research Advisor, Market Research to manage the design and implementation of research and learning initiatives in supporting GAIN programming. This role will be on a 2 years’ fixed-term contract basis, subject to availability of funding. This position is open to GAIN’s country offices in New Delhi, Nairobi and London.

Reporting to the Senior Technical Specialist, Knowledge Leadership, the Research Advisor will be a member of the Healthier Diets research unit under our Knowledge Leadership team. You will be responsible for ensuring high-quality design and implementation of research and learning initiatives to support GAIN programming. These programs are aimed at directly reaching individuals with the goal of enhancing nutrient adequacy and improving diet quality. In particular, the position will provide strategic and technical leadership through evidence to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects.

Key Responsibilities include

• Overseeing and delivering technical advice to country projects and supporting on the integration and development of research questions and methods
• Conducting literature reviews or data searches relevant to food and nutrition issues, as relevant to the projects
• Leading the selection, managing and engaging with key technical partners (e.g., local data collection firms, think tanks) for the high-quality design, implementation, and dissemination of the research
• Leading the implementation of research activities throughout all stages, including design (protocol and questionnaire development), implementation (training, data collection and quality assurance), data analysis and reporting
• Leading the development of a learning agenda to strengthen the methods, tools, and resources available for the design, implementation and evaluation of projects with demand creation component
• Developing and reviewing reports, papers, briefs, blogs, and presentations related to the research methods and results that can enhance GAIN’s demand creation work
• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality technical outputs from external partners and team members by conducting comprehensive technical reviews and collaborating with them to enhance quality as necessary
• Collaborating closely with project teams to interpret these technical outputs and translating their implications for project design and/or revision
• Representing GAIN at technical and non-technical events as appropriate. Presenting research findings to stakeholders in country workshops and at scientific or other relevant conferences to facilitate the uptake of results for decision making
• Leading or supporting monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) activities, including working with monitoring specialists to advance the development of standard indicators that can be used for tracking progress on demand creation activities
• Providing technical support to programs with a demand creation component, to ensure appropriate design and implementation of evidence-based activities
• Collaborating with programmes colleagues (programme services and country programmes teams) and communications teams on development of manuscripts, publications, blogs, white papers, articles, factsheets, and briefs on relevant topics

About You

• The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in research design and implementation using either quantitative or qualitative methodologies, in nutrition or a related field. Experience should encompass design of research methodologies, analysis of data and reporting of results. You will also possess hands-on experience of programmatically relevant research in a low- or middle-income country, in collaboration with local research counterparts.
• The postholder will possess strong report writing and presentation skills, including on technical topics and demonstrated experience in critical analysis skills to support evidence generation and reporting. In addition, you will be proficiency in interpreting market research results and integrating key findings into the development of communication campaigns and strategies. Candidates with proven research project management experience in complex and diverse environments, including delivering projects on time and within budget and using project management processes and tools would be an asset.
• In addition to this, you will have excellent communications skills and able to work with diverse groups/individuals and comfortable working in multicultural and multi-lingual environments. You will be fluent in both written and verbal English. Candidates with proficiency in French or Portuguese would be an additional advantage. The postholder should also be highly flexible and willing and able to travel internationally regularly
• A Master’s degree in consumer research, marketing, nutrition, public health, sustainable development or related field. Candidates with PhD in marketing, nutrition, sustainable development, economics, development studies, policy or related field would be an advantage. You will be computer literate in Microsoft Office, with demonstrated skills in data analysis software, such as R, Stata, SAS, or SPSS; or nVivo or ATLAS.ti. would be an asset.