Head of Research - Regional

About the Company

Inkomoko supports entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in order to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and help communities thrive.

Founded in 2012, Inkomoko has worked with more than 60,000 entrepreneurs across East Africa, including thousands of refugee entrepreneurs. Inkomoko provides a combination of training, consulting, access to finance, and market-level systems change. We are the largest lender to refugee entrepreneurs in Africa.

Inkomoko has +500 staff in 30 offices across Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, South Sudan and is expanding in 2024 into Chad. Through Inkomoko’s 2030 strategic plan, we are adding 4 additional countries to serve more than 550,000 entrepreneurs and growing our $30M loan fund.

Company Values

All staff at Inkomoko are connected to a shared set of organizational values:

Purpose: be solutions-oriented, produce high-quality work, be a global leader.
Achievement: push yourself to reach beyond what you previously thought possible.
Improvement: be humble, engage in continuous growth through open & accurate feedback.
Bravery: willing to take risks, create a safe space for others, be compassionate, inclusive.
We Eat Goat: we celebrate success and support each other in hard times. We do this work together in the spirit of turikumwe, tuko pamoja, abren nen, Kula na sawa, On est ensemble.

Inkomoko is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Persons who reflect the diverse communities we serve are strongly encouraged to apply.

About the Opportunity

The Head of Research serves as an integral thought leader for the organization, working with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team in shaping and executing Inkomoko’s research vision. The position is primarily responsible for overseeing and coordinating the research of the organization, supervising research staff, leading quality control efforts, developing rigorous research insights on various topics, and assisting organizational leadership in the development and execution of Inkomoko research and advocacy agenda.

The Head of Research must be adept at research and analysis and possess excellent writing, editing, publishing, and oral communication skills. The Head of Research must be organized, a problem solver, self-directed, and demonstrate leadership and initiative, while at the same time being a committed team player. The position requires being development savvy, a keen understanding of major refugee-focused policy issues, and strong leadership and project management skills.

The Head of Research reports to the Regional Director of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.

Responsibilities

1. Research coordination and quality control

Design and lead research and development programmes and projects across the breadth of Inkomoko’s strategic priorities – ensuring that work is delivered to time and quality expectations, within budget, and with appropriate measures of its impact. Expected research outputs include:

Reports - Produce comprehensive research reports that address key strategic priorities.
Papers - Submit research papers to relevant conferences and journals.
Briefs - Create policy and research briefs to inform stakeholders and support advocacy efforts.
Action research - Design and implement action research initiatives that directly contribute to program improvements and strategic decision-making.

Coordinates development and review of Inkomoko’s research agenda(s) and work plans, working in conjunction with the MERL team and programme staff.
Develops and maintains relationships and systems to support research coordination and goals.
Manages the research process and keeps research products on track.
Reviews and edits all research reports and fact sheets produced by staff, as well as other research products as needed to ensure methods and findings conform to Inkomoko’s standards for qualitative and quantitative research.
Works with Inkomoko leadership to identify new research and analysis opportunities and to further develop the Inkomoko research agenda
Builds meaningful partnerships with MERL colleagues and other staff.

2. Policy research and advocacy

Proactively provide advice, support and guidance to colleagues across Inkomoko in order to improve the quality and impact of our research, working closely with other Heads within the MERL team and with the Senior Management/Leadership Team.
Support in developing and executing advocacy and market systems research agenda.

3. External relations

Serves as a leading resource and liaison on research to local, state, and national partner organizations including trusts and foundations, service providers, and other research centers and think tanks.
Work with relevant teams to communicate and promote our work and to identify opportunities for research and evidence to influence policy and practice across Inkomoko activities

4. Other duties

Keep up to date with key developments in policy, research, and practice on entrepreneurship, refugee livelihoods; and innovations in research and evaluation methods and tools.
Contribute to the personal and professional development of the L&W research team, including through line management of senior researchers and/ or researchers
Performs other duties as assigned related to the mission of Inkomoko or to support coalition partners, funders, or other stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

10+ years of relevant experience, including managing multi-country research in East Africa
Experience of developing and leading a high-performing team, including coordinating and managing projects and priorities, and supporting professional and personal development.
Post-graduate Degree (in a relevant subject), equivalent qualifications, or evidence of equivalent experience.
Excellent quantitative and/or qualitative research skills.
Experience in writing research grants with good donor/partner relations/ publications
Skills on impact and implementation science research (in addition to action research)
Excellent data management, ethics in data, and data reproducibility
Understanding of project management and phases where research plugs in
Excellent trainer on action research and field coordination with diverse communities
Ability to review and critically appraise data and empirical literature
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage a range of audiences, stakeholders, funders and partners.
Proactive and ability to work independently
Available to travel frequently across East Africa.

What You'll Get

This role is inside a high-growth, mission-driven social enterprise. By joining, you’ll access:

Competitive salary, and potential Performance-based bonus
Incredible company culture, with opportunities for learning and growth
Diverse colleagues across the region, and policies that demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion
Ability to make a significant social impact to your community
Health insurance for self and family
Staff savings and provident fund, negotiated bank rates for long-term employees
Generous annual leave, parental leave, and sabbatical options.

To Apply

If you’re excited about this role, please submit your application through the application portal, including links to previous research projects. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, Apply now!

Tell us about what you’ll bring to this growing company.

Inkomoko is committed to justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. As we seek to reflect the communities we serve, refugees and women are strongly encouraged to apply. As a company, we have policies that ensure fair treatment in the application process.

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Employment is conditional upon successful background checks and other verification as needed.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and background screening checks. Inkomoko also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual misconduct, fraud, or abuse. By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.