What you will do:
As a Research Associate, based in our Freetown office, you will:

Manage one or two research projects in Sierra Leone: coordinating the project team;
ensuring implementation according to protocols; managing to the budget and timeline;
and communicating with clients.
● Play a hands-on role in all steps of the research process: designing the technical
approach; developing protocols, research instruments, and sampling strategies;
monitoring data quality; conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis; writing
reports; and presenting to clients.
● Contribute to the development of new business: proposing research ideas; writing
technical proposals; and pricing.
● Improve the way we work: researching and piloting new methodologies and
technologies; standardizing and automating processes for data collection and analysis;
and supporting internal operations like recruitment and IT.
You will develop skills and experience in:
● Technical design of research projects
● Data analysis
● Business development
● Managing a portfolio of research projects
What you will bring:
Our ideal candidates are passionate about social and economic research in West Africa. They
can quickly grasp research concepts and structure their technical approach to a problem. They
have strong analytical and interpersonal skills, self-motivation, and a drive to flourish in a fastpaced environment, where timelines can often be unpredictable. Our candidates have project
coordination experience and can manage activities involving varying levels of stakeholders
and multiple team members. They are willing to develop their professional skills, contribute to
the growth of an organization dedicated to social impact, and thrive in an innovative and
collaborative organization.
An ideal candidate will have:
● A master’s degree in Education, Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Public Policy or
a related field.
● At least three years of professional experience in research (whether in a
project/program or academic setting).
● Strong analytical skills, experience working with quantitative data, and proficiency in
Stata.
● Experience communicating with external stakeholders or in a client-facing role.
● Solid project management skills and experience coordinating projects with multiple
components or teams.
● Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
In addition, we value:
● Experience working with primary data (data collection or cleaning and analysis).
● Experience with Open Data Kit (ODK) or an ODK-based platform such as SurveyCTO
or CommCare.
● Previous work experience in West Africa. A plus if you are from Sierra Leone or West
Africa.

Research experience in one of Laterite’s core sectors – education, youth and labor,
public health, agriculture or urbanization.
● Knowledge of Python and/or R
What’s in it for you?
Laterite offers a competitive remuneration package, including medical insurance and 21 days
of annual leave. We are also committed to supporting our staff’s learning, providing an annual
learning budget of up to $1,000 per person and 10 days of time off for professional learning
each year. We also provide remote work options in accordance with Laterite’s remote work
policy.
The salary for this role is between $2,620 to $3,130 net per month. The salary may be paid in
local currency and is re-adjusted for any devaluation in the currency compared to the US dollar
based on the latest exchange rate (USD to local currency) of January 1st each year. The exact
salary grade will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience and
performance in interviews. Salaries are pegged against the pay matrix, and grades are
reviewed every 6 months. There is ample opportunity for growth both in terms of salary scales
and roles. Promotions at Laterite are reviewed every 6 months during our performance
evaluation.

Requirements in a nutshell
Education:

Master’s degree in Education, Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Public
Policy or a related field
Experience:

Three years of professional research experience
Languages:

English
Must-have:

Experience managing data collection or research projects, including contact
with external stakeholders; quantitative data analysis skills in Stata.