Requisition ID: req57103 Job Title: National Local Co-Investigator - Qualitative (Afghan National) Sector: Monitoring & Evaluation Employment Category: Consultant Employment Type: Full-Time Open to Expatriates: No Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Work Arrangement:In-person Job Description Key Responsibilities: Design and Preparation Support in contextualization, review, and pilot testing of tools, including consent forms; Support translation of research tools and other materials, in coordination with IRC’s dedicated translators Participate in and support training of trainers for data collection; supervise and co-deliver cascade training for quality assurance supervisors and enumerators, as needed Support the review and updating of research implementation work plans to ensure they reflect project objectives, timelines, and stakeholder requirements. Provide technical inputs in the design of a robust stratified sampling approach to ensure diverse demographic representation, including gender, socio-economic status, and geographic locations. Data Collection and Monitoring Support the supervision of quality assurance supervisors and enumerators during data collection, ensuring adherence to protocols, troubleshoot challenges, and maintain data integrity. Support review and collection of data from relevant literature Implement rigorous and real-time quality assurance processes, including data cleaning, coding, transcription, and synchronization. Data Analysis Support raw data analysis i.e., collaborate with the research team assigned personnel in processing raw data to inform topline findings and further in-depth analysis, create required charts, tables, and graphs to support narrative report General Document lessons learned, best practices, and challenges throughout the research process, and provide inputs to recommendations to improve ways of working Participate in regular research meetings, providing updates, addressing challenges, and sharing insights with stakeholders. Qualifications Education: Degree in social sciences, education, statistics, or related fields; advanced degree in related fields is preferred Language Proficiency: Proficiency in English, Dari, and Pashto, with strong written and verbal communication skills in each language. Professional Experience and Competencies: Minimum of 5 years’ experience in conducting baseline and endline studies, education-focused research or similar research activities Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including instrument design, data collection, and analysis. Experience with USAID-funded projects is highly desirable. Familiarity with Afghanistan’s education system, including terminology, policies, and cultural considerations. Proficiency in statistical and qualitative analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, NVivo). Proficiency in leading and conducting data collection/research training Demonstrates alignment with IRC’s mission, vision, and values. Demonstrates accuracy, a high attention to detail, and the ability to handle large volumes of documents effectively. Strong communication skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team. Strong report writing and presentation skills. Ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams. Availability to travel to project sites across provinces in Afghanistan as required.