Senior Manager Research

1. POSITION VACANT: Senior Manager Research, Language and Learning Foundation, New Delhi

2. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Language and Learning Foundation (LLF) was founded in 2015, with a vision to develop strong foundational language and literacy among all children, to facilitate thinking and reasoning, through capacity building of teachers and teacher educators. The organization works with various state governments and has been recognized as a domain leader in language and literacy learning and multilingual education.

LLF is a member of a number of national and state-level committees and working groups for the new National Education Policy, 2020, Early Childhood Education and Foundational Learning, Curriculum, and Pedagogy, and is committed to supporting the national agenda of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN). It is implementing India's first CSR-funded Education Development Impact Bond (DIB) through its Learning Improvement Program in Haryana.

LLF is a system-focused and impact-driven organization dedicated to addressing the foundational learning crisis in collaboration with the national and state governments in India. Over the past 8 years, LLF has improved foundational learning outcomes of 850,000+ children and classroom processes of 2,50,000+ teachers and teacher educators across 8 states.

For more information about LLF, please visit: https://languageandlearningfoundation.org/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the AD - REML (Research, Evaluation, Monitoring and Learning), the Senior Manager Research (SMR) shall be responsible for driving high-impact research initiatives, setting the research agenda, and collaborating closely with stakeholders to inform program and policy improvements across geographies.

The postholder shall manage the research team, ensuring methodological rigor, timely execution, and alignment with organizational goals.

Key Job Responsibilities:

(A) Research Strategy and Leadership:

(1) Define and lead the strategic research agenda, ensuring alignment with LLF's vision and goals;

(2) Manage and mentor the research team, fostering a culture of rigor and excellence in research;

(3) Drive long-term research projects with national and global partners, ensuring high-quality outputs.

(B) Programmatic Research:

(1) Identify key programmatic areas requiring research, such as classroom practices and teacher beliefs, and design comprehensive studies to address them;

(2) Collaborate with program teams to integrate research findings into program design across multiple project sites, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.

(C) Larger Ecosystem Research:

(1) Lead large-scale, ecosystem-driven studies on critical educational themes such as Multilingual Education and multi-level classroom management;

(2) Oversee research partnerships with external organizations and academics, ensuring LLF remains at the forefront of educational research.

(D)Study Designs and Data Collection:

(1) Develop and approve study designs for research projects, ensuring the inclusion of robust qualitative and quantitative methodologies;

(2) Oversee the creation of data collection tools, ensuring accuracy and consistency across project sites;

(3) Provide guidance to field teams to ensure high-quality data collection and adherence to research protocols.

(E)Recommendations and Implementation:

(1) Interpret complex data to provide actionable insights that support programmatic improvements and policy advocacy;

(2) Prepare detailed reports and presentations, communicating research findings to internal and external stakeholders;

(3) Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement research recommendations and track the impact of research on program design.

(F)Publications and Knowledge Dissemination:

(1) Lead the dissemination of research findings through publications, reports, and conferences, positioning LLF as a thought leader in the field;

(2) Engage with academic and policy forums to promote LLF's research and influence educational practices nationally.

(G)Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams to Gather Information on Existing Processes and Identify Areas for Evaluation:

(1) Analyse current processes to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement;

(2) Conduct data collection through interviews, surveys, observations, and data analysis tools;

(3) Analyse data and make recommendations.

(H) Support Teams by Providing Specific Feedback from Process Study Findings and Help Them Make Changes in Program Design Across Projects:

(1) Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities based on data analysis and stakeholder input;

(2) Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop actionable recommendations for enhancements;

(3) Create detailed reports and presentations outlining evaluation findings, recommendations, and implementation plans.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification and Experience

(1) Applicants must be a post-graduate degree from a reputed institute with a focus on research methods, including quantitative and qualitative analysis.;

(2) A higher degree (M.Phil/ PhD) is highly preferred;

(3) 10-15 years of experience leading research projects, with a strong background in education or related fields;

(4) Experience working with senior stakeholders, including government bodies, academic institutions, and donors.

Skills and Competencies

(1) Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple projects, and mentor junior researchers;

(2) In-depth knowledge of diverse research methodologies and techniques, including qualitative and quantitative approaches;

(3) Strong skills in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration across functions.

5. TRAVEL: Field travel will be required

6. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

Gross compensation budgeted for the position is attractive. The offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.

7. LOCATION: New Delhi

8. REFERENCE: SMR-LLF

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS

Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.

1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar

New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025

Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612

9. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply using the link https://bit.ly/Apply-SMR-LLF by or before November 20, 2024. (Note:LLF is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages women and differently abled individuals to apply.)