Title: Research Officer  
Grade: 6 
Reports To: Research Manager 
Based: Kathmandu with possible travel to field locations 
Duration: Until March 2021 with possibility of extension subject to funding  

Context 

Established in 1998, BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international development charity. BBC Media  Action uses media and communications to help reduce poverty and support people in claiming their  rights, our aim is to inform, connect and empower people around the world. We do this through our  focus on health, governance and rights, resilience and humanitarian response, partnering with civil  society, local media and governments to  

• Produce creative programmes in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences
• Strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure

BBC Media Action has been working on communication for development projects in Nepal since 2007,  giving us a well-developed understanding of Nepali audiences and significant experience of producing and  evaluating media content on a range of issues to diverse target audiences. Our work in Nepal focuses on  health, governance, resilience, humanitarian preparedness and response with strong gender  commitments and focus.  

BBC Media Action is working on a project funded by FCDO titled “Supporting girls’ education and a safe  return to school through the power of media and communication”. The project aims to develop and  broadcast media content and support improved social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) to  support girls’ education; a safe home learning environment while schools are closed and a safe return to  school across communities in Nepal, providing guidance and support that would otherwise not be  available. 

We are seeking applications from qualified and experienced individuals for the position of Research Officer. The Research Officer will be working in close coordination with the project management and  research team within BBC Media Action Nepal

The role may involve working with groups of vulnerable children and adults. For the successful  candidate, mandatory training will be provided on BBC Media Action’s safeguarding policy and staff code  of conduct. A police background check may form part of the recruitment process. BBC Media Action  operates a zero-tolerance policy concerning all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people

Job Purpose 

The Research Officer will be accountable for the overall planning, management and delivery of research  activities of the project. S/he will undertake research to support and meet requirements of project and

production teams. S/he will also be responsible for contributing to impact reports to the donor and  ensuring the research is technically well designed and implemented. The role includes regularly  synthesising, analysing, and sharing research findings with teams, supporting the design and piloting of research instruments, qualitative and quantitative fieldwork, and analysis and interpretation.  

Main Duties 

• Support the commissioning of audience research, in coordination with production and broadcast  schedules
• Implement and deliver quantitative and qualitative audience research to ensure that activities  meet quality and standards and are completed within budget and deadline requirements. • Moderate focus group discussions, and conduct interviews with local communities, media  partners and government stakeholders
• Collect data, monitor and control the quality of fieldwork/data collection, and analyse, synthesise and present data in a standard format for further decision making and with a view to define best  practice and support producing content that is tailored to local audiences
• Design research tools and implementation plans to understand the consumption, engagement,  and impact of the programmes produced by media partners on the project targeted  communities
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate software, as required to support  project planning and development
• Assess the impact and outcomes of the project’s capacity building component to ensure that  project objectives have been met and that it has enhanced journalism, editorial and technical knowledge and the capacity of media partners.  Be involved in formulating research design to inform business development/new opportunities
• Work with other research team members to design and draft research instruments for  quantitative and qualitative work
• Support reporting requirements in terms of providing analysis and recommendations for quick  understating and decision making
• Support the research team to disseminate key findings and strategic recommendations
• Support the review of latest trends and developments in research methodologies related to  behavior change, impact assessment and communications research. Participate in research and  learning workshops and represent BBC Media Action in other knowledge sharing workshops  related to project activities and project partners. Train and share knowledge with the research  assistant where appropriate
• Understand and comply with the Safeguarding policy and the staff Code of Conduct • Participate in relevant mandatory training on Safeguarding and Respect at Work
• Report any safeguarding concerns immediately,either to the Country Director, or using the  Whistleblowing Policy
• Another research and learning task as per requirement

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Minimum University degree in relevant field with progressive 5 years of experience in  conducting research of a similar nature
• Strong experience in qualitative and quantitative market/social research, including conducting  interviews and focus group
• Relevant experience of working in the sector of education, particularly girls’ education
• Strong computer skills, including Excel and PowerPoint, and experience with data analysis  software, such as SPSS and Nvivo
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Nepali and English
• Strong report writing and presentation skills, communicating complex technical ideas using non technical language to a wide range of audiences from journalists, production staff and development practitioners
• Ability to plan and conduct work with minimal supervision 
• Track record of delivering research findings to deadline

Competencies 

The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the  job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies

• Strategic Thinking – Can identify a vision along with the plans that need to be implemented  to meet the end goal. Evaluates situations, decisions, issues, etc. in the short, medium and  longer-term
• Analytical Thinking – Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into  component parts, and to explore and evaluate them systematically. Able to identify causal  relationships, and construct frameworks, for problem-solving and/or development
• Decision Making – Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible  for the consequences of the decision made
• Imagination / Creative Thinking – Is able to transform creative ideas/impulses into practical  reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative  solutions
• Planning and Organisation – Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and  appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritizes and plans activities taking into  account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources  requirements
• Resilience – Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of  pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach  to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation and energy
• Influencing and Persuading – Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to  convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in  agreement or behaviour change 
• Communication – The ability to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of  styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information
• Self-Development – able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development