Youth Research Officer

Full Job Description

6th December, 2023

About Restless Development

Restless Development is a global non profit agency. We support the collective power of young leaders to create a better world. We are independently registered and governed in nine countries (India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe) bound together by our vision for youth power. We run youth-led programmes to tackle the issues that young people care about the most as well as running a growing global Youth Collective. Read more on our strategy and latest annual report . 

We have 230 staff in 13 countries, 59% aged 18-24, more than 90% of our staff in Africa and Asia.   We are a people centred agency - that believes in the power of young people to lead change.  We are a values based employer - placing a focus on culture, equity, wellbeing, safeguarding and power shifting in all that we do

Our approach to safeguarding

Restless Development considers the welfare and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults to be an organisational imperative with primacy over the success of programmes or strategic objectives. We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we expect all of our staff, volunteers and partners to ensure we protect the communities in which we operate from harm and abide by our Safeguarding Policy .

About the role

Restless Development is seeking to recruit a talented and dynamic individual to join our youth-led research team at Restless Development Uganda. 

You will provide support on a range of research projects for Restless Development, while employing our Youth led Research Methodology as well as using the evidence to design research projects.

Key Responsibilities :

1| Recruitment and Facilitation of Young Researchers (35%)

• Lead on recruitment and contracting of youth researcher teams.
• Develop and deliver training on practical field-based research methods to induct Young Researchers.
• Provide training and guidance to Young Researchers on safety/security and safeguarding.

2| Mentorship and Support Supervision of Young Researchers (25%)

• Support Young Researchers to develop data collection plans and set targets.
• Provide ongoing support to Young Researchers during data collection periods, ensuring delivery to targets at quality and troubleshooting challenges they face.
• Provide ongoing mentorship to Young Researchers throughout and following the research process to support their continued research and leadership journeys.
• Continually monitor any possible risks to researchers/activities and develop risk mitigation plans.

3| Logistics and Budget Management (25%)

• Track and manage data collection and training budget lines in real-time.
• Coordinate all logistics for researcher stipends, trainings, fieldwork, and sharing & learning events.
• Develop quarterly narrative and financial reports, under the guidance of the Research and Learning Manager

4| Supporting Delivery of Our Research Vision (10%)

• Providing support to the research team on developing guidance for research training
• Providing creative thinking to how we can share our research findings with external stakeholders

5| Other (5%)

Job title : Youth Research Officer

Location : Jinja

Salary:   UGX 3,720,434 (Monthly), 5% Housing allowance         

Preferred start date : As soon as possible.

Length of contract: 1 Year with a possibility of renewal

Reports to : Research and Learning Manager

Expected travel

About you

We are looking for people with the right competencies and skills for the role, and who demonstrate the personal qualities consistent with our values .

Our value: HEART - We are who we serve. We are brave.

Values Led - Inspires a Restless passion and professionalism in those they work with, both internally and externally.

Innovation - Works on own initiative and offers creative approaches to improving work

Our value: HEAD - Delivers Quality. We are 100% professional.

Delivers Quality - Manages their time effectively to deliver quality against individual goals. Ensures value for money when utilising resources and efficiently processing finances

Decision Making - Proposes solutions to challenges and consults with others when making operational decisions within their area of responsibility.

Our value: VOICE - We generate leaders. We are proud to carry the banner for youth-led development.

Leadership - Capably manages their own workload and takes up opportunities to lead on areas of work, with support from colleagues. May supervise Interns and/or teams of Volunteers

People Development - Understands how individual goals contribute to team priorities. Uses feedback to identify personal growth areas willingly provides constructive feedback to others

Our value: HANDS - We are in it together. We listen and learn.

Effective communication - Clearly expresses ideas or opinions and actively listens and learns from those around them. Applies effective communication when actively engaging with stakeholders and teams of volunteers

Collaboration - Is an integral team member, contributing to team excellence and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

Skills and experience

Essential

• Graduate level degree in Development Economics, Social Sciences and Development studies .
• At least 2 years of experience in the development sector, NGO experience
• Demonstrated experience in delivering field-based research projects especially under climate Justice.
• Demonstrated experience in training and facilitation
• Previous field experience in Eastern Uganda 
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Desirable

• Experience supporting research teams, particularly remotely
• Experience in youth-focussed and participatory research methods
• Experience in youth led research methodology.
• Prior experience managing an activity budget

Restless Development is an Equal Opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. Restless Development will ensure that no applicant or staff member receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, caste, race, ethnic origin, religious belief, age, HIV status, disability, or any other factor that cannot be shown to be relevant to performance.

What we do for you

Remuneration

We are proud to commit to a transparent global salary scale, ensuring a fair and comparable system of pay across all global locations. In addition to salary, we offer pension contributions and other benefits in accordance with the local Hub.

Values and Culture

At Restless Development, we’re proud that the strength and integrity of our Values has been recognised by staff, young people, donors and others who we work with. Beyond this, we have a culture of recognising and celebrating both our Values and our global achievements with monthly Values Champions and an annual Values Day.

Work-life Balance

It goes without saying that we work hard at Restless Development. We also recognise the importance of helping staff to maintain a positive work-life balance by offering:

• 24 days’ annual leave (in addition to public holidays and with an extra day of annual leave given for each full year of service, up to a maximum of 28 days).
• Birthday Leave
• Access to flexible working.
• Generous study leave, maternity, paternity or adoption leave, and other leave allowances.

Professional Development

Restless Development is proud to be an employer who recognises potential and invests in the development of its staff.  We are committed to the professional development of our staff through:

• Empowering opportunities to work on significant projects which stretch and inspire staff – allowing them to develop on-the-job. 
• Regular performance management.
• Training and development opportunities, including supporting our staff to identify mentors both within and outside of the agency.
• Quarterly Staff Workshops for all staff to give and receive agency updates, receive training, and socialise.

Travel and Medical Insurance

When travelling abroad with work, all staff will be covered by Restless Development’s travel and medical insurance.

Please submit your resume and a cover letter that provides tangible examples of how your skills, knowledge and experience will support your ability to perform the key priorities outlined in the above job description (using no more than 750 words) here .) .

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