Role Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to lead and support key research activities for the Promoting Resilience, Preparedness, Adaptation, and Response to Climate Change in Complex Crissis project. The Research Associate will support qualitative components of two climate-environment and health resilience projects in Kenya and Tanzania. He/She will investigate how institutions and communities organize and respond to converging climate, conflict, and health risks, and how these groups perceive and adapt to climate-sensitive vulnerabilities across nutrition, WASH, environment, and health.

Specifically, the associate will support the development of protocols and tools, coordinate qualitative fieldwork and manage community entry, stakeholder engagement, interviews, focus groups and participatory activities. They will oversee transcription, coding and analysis, and synthesize findings from the study and any other study to inform policy and operational guidance. The position supports project coordination, ensures methodological rigor, and contributes to integrating qualitative aspects with broader scientific interlinkages and assessment

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of study protocols, sampling frameworks, ethics submissions, and data collection tools.
• Coordinate and supervise field activities, including community entry, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with local partners.
• Ensure high-quality data collection, transcription, management, and analysis.
• Prepare technical reports, policy briefs, and manuscripts; facilitate stakeholder workshops to translate evidence into actionable recommendations.
• Manage project logistics, timelines, and resources; supervise field researchers and ensure compliance with ethical and methodological standards.
• Support integration of findings across study components to strengthen overall project outcomes.
• Undertake additional research, coordination, or analytical tasks as assigned by the Team Lead.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Public Health, Environmental Health, Social Sciences, Climate Change, Development Studies, or a related field.
• 5–10 years of research or program experience in health, climate adaptation, or humanitarian/development sectors.
• Proficiency with qualitative data management software (e.g., NVivo, MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti).
• Demonstrated ability in literature review and synthesis.
• Prior experience collaborating with international research teams, NGOs, or academic consortia.
• Experience working in fragile or conflict-affected settings, particularly within the humanitarian–development nexus.
• Expertise in climate change and health systems.
• Advanced analytical and conceptual competencies.