Job Opportunities at RSS Group Kenya

Ref: RSS/2020/08/002/AFA

Research Support Services Ltd (RSS Group) is an independent employee-owned research consulting and institutional strengthening firm established to conduct health, policy, social, agricultural, environmental and development research through innovation, partnership and capacity building, with the aim of promoting evidence-based decision-making processes.

RSS is currently looking for short term enumerators to assist in data collection activities for one of its anticipated agricultural household survey projects in Kenya.

We are seeking qualified and self-motivated individuals with the following key qualifications;

• Degree or Advanced Diploma level in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness Management, Social Sciences, Community Development, Statistics, Population Studies or any relevant discipline from a recognized institution. Undergraduates still studying but are in their advanced stages of study shall also be considered;
• Experience in conducting interviews on sensitive topics for research purposes preferably in the key sectors of agriculture, food processing, agribusiness management, rural finance, rural markets, environment, gender and economic empowerment;
• Past experience in conducting household studies and studies especially within poor and rural communities;
• Good written and verbal skills in English and Kiswahili; Good interpersonal and negotiating skills;
• Extensive experience in qualitative data recording and a demonstration of skilled interviewing, expert note-taking, high quality transcription and translation; especially in local dialects to English;
• Experience in qualitative & quantitative data collection and a demonstration of good interviewing, data entry and data quality supervision; Familiarity with the use of digital voice recorders for data collection, GPS equipment and PDAs/Android Tablets for data collection, photography and recording.
• Good working knowledge of office computer applications preferably Word and Excel. Additional knowledge of any quantitative and qualitative statistical package will be an added advantage (e.g. SPSS and Nvivo),
• Previous knowledge and experience in electronic data collection;

The assignment shall be conducted within the Republic of Kenya between October 2020 and January 2021.

Due to prevailing circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, preference shall be given to qualified persons who emanate from and have local knowledge of the areas around Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares, and the Nyambene hills in Central Kenya, the Mau escarpment, Kericho Highlands, Nandi, Kisii Highlands and Cherangani Hills.

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No of Positions: 2

Ref: RSS/2020/08/001/AFA

RSS is currently looking to engage two (2) dynamic and experienced consultants to provide short-term technical assistance in the roles of an Agricultural Economist and Agribusiness / Value Chain Specialist.

The successful individuals shall join a team of like-minded experts in conducting needs analysis and policy reviews of an anticipated agricultural project in Kenya. This is a senior role in the project with high impact on policy.

We are seeking qualified and self-motivated individuals with the following key qualifications;

• Advanced Degree in Agricultural Economics, Food Processing, Agribusiness Management or Statistics; Significant practical experience shall be considered in lieu of advanced qualifications;
• Excellent skills in microeconomics, agricultural development models, policy review / formulation, econometrics and project evaluations gained from engagements within Africa; Practical experience in agro-processing needs analysis, impact evaluations, microeconomics and/or agricultural statistics;
• Good knowledge of the crops sub-sector in Kenya; In-depth understanding of Kenya socio-cultural context, rural and poor communities; Specific experience as a senior team member in agricultural research projects along the production and processing nodes within tea, coffee and cash crop value chains will be a plus;
• Experience in coordinating research projects and managing cross-functional teams for Projects or Programmes in the Agribusiness sector in Africa; Past experience in processor-centric agricultural surveys as well as household studies within smallholder cash-crop farmers in poor and rural communities;
• Strong capacity to create linkages with producers, processors, and national and county governments in the agriculture sector; ability to obtain necessary permits and clearances from National Government and relevant local authorities.
• Strategic thinker with proven capability to translate research findings into concrete policies, action plans and roadmap; with a specific focus on agricultural value chains, agribusiness development, rural finance, rural markets, gender and economic empowerment;
• Proven record of ethical conduct including research ethics and track-record for delivering highly successful project results; Excellent report writing and presentation skills; Project management capability, team player, attention to detail and ability to negotiate with ease.
• Strong supervision, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English and Kiswahili; Good interpersonal, translation and negotiating skills;
• Good working knowledge of office computer applications;

The assignment shall be conducted within the Republic of Kenya between October 2020 and January 2021.

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Ref: RSS/2020/08/002/AFA

RSS is currently looking for short term field supervisors to assist in supervising data collection activities for one of its anticipated agricultural household survey projects in Kenya.

We are seeking qualified and self motivated individuals with the following key qualifications;

• Degree in Agricultural Economics, Food Processing, Agribusiness Management, Social Sciences, Community Development, Statistics, Population Studies or any relevant discipline from a recognized institution;
• Experience in conducting interviews on sensitive topics for research purposes preferably in the key sectors of agriculture, food processing, agribusiness management, rural finance, rural markets, environment, gender and economic empowerment;
• Past experience in supervising and conducting household studies and studies especially within smallholder farmers in poor and rural communities producing tea, coffee and other high value cash-crop value chains; Recent experience in direct supervision of enumerators conducting an agricultural household survey will be an added advantage;
• Knowledge and/or experience in the production and processing value chains of tea, coffee or similarly high value cash-crops value chains;
• Good written and verbal skills in English and Kiswahili; Good interpersonal and negotiating skills;
• Extensive experience in qualitative data recording and a demonstration of skilled interviewing, expert note-taking, high quality transcription and translation; especially in local dialects to English;
• Experience in qualitative & quantitative data collection and a demonstration of good interviewing, data entry and data quality supervision; Familiarity with the use of digital voice recorders for data collection, GPS equipment and PDAs/Android Tablets for data collection, photography and recording.
• Good working knowledge of office computer applications preferably Word and Excel. Additional knowledge of any quantitative and qualitative statistical package will be an added advantage (e.g. SPSS and Nvivo), knowledge and experience in electronic data collection;

The assignment shall be conducted within the Republic of Kenya between October 2020 and January 2021.

Due to prevailing circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, preference shall be given to qualified persons who emanate from and have local knowledge of the areas around Mt. Kenya, the Aberdares, and the Nyambene hills in Central Kenya, the Mau escarpment, Kericho Highlands, Nandi, Kisii Highlands and Cherangani Hills.