Project Researcher

İşin təsviri

The Center for Innovations in Education is announcing a vacancy for the position of full-time Project Researcher to be located in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

The Center for Innovations in Education (CIE) is opening a Policy Unit (PU) in order to develop CIE’s research capabilities and position the organization to have a greater impact on the development of social policy. The mission of the Policy Unit will be to reduce inequality and advocate for equitable access to education and social services across Azerbaijan. The CIE Policy Unit will produce regular, high-quality research that inspires discussion across a diverse group of social policy stakeholders, and leads to greater cooperation between civil society and the state and an improved policy making process. 
The policy unit will operate with three goals in mind. Firstly, to provide thorough, policy-relevant research that fills knowledge gaps currently existing in the education and social spheres and raises the level of policy analysis within the state and civil society organizations. Secondly, to widen the base for constructive policy debate by bringing together civil society and the state. Finally, to introduce more unified, agenda-based public advocacy among local civil society and international organizations through the development of a policy network of social policy stakeholders and providing research-based advocacy campaigns that diverse CSOs can unite behind.
To this end, the Policy Unit will develop a comprehensive internal research strategy that explores the overall theme of access to social services through the various stages in a child’s development. This strategy will provide a systematic direction for CIE’s research and will be used to better synchronize research of different actors in social services. Guided by its research strategy, the Policy Unit will conduct three major studies per year, presenting its results in the form of policy reports, briefs, the Policy Unit blog, and if successful, in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

Project area: Baku
Project duration: 36 months

POSITION SUMMARY
The Researcher will be an employee of the Center for Innovations in Education, and will report directly to the CIE Executive Director and CIE Program Director. His/Her main responsibility will be to bring research expertise to the PU team and will need to have understanding of and experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as a specialty in education and/or social policy. He/she will also need to have fluent English skills and provide examples of previous policy papers and academic research. In addition to leading research efforts, the PU Researcher should also be prepared to work within the CIE team to further other aspects of the Policy Unit. This includes building cooperation with local and international policy networks, relevant national authorities and visiting project consultants and providing relevant input to the work of the communication and advocacy team.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

 Be responsible for conducting research and producing high quality policy papers and policy briefs;
 Contribute to the planning of a comprehensive Policy Unit research and communication strategy;
 Organize and support research teams for each research direction;
 Communicate effectively with the CIE Executive and Program Directors, CIE team on project implementation, following administrative and reporting policies and obligations;
 Provide necessary input for communication and advocacy team;
 Promote the project with local communities, local authorities, and partner civil society organizations;
 Contribute to the management of administrative, reporting and other project related activities based on CIE policies and procedures.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATONS
• PhD or Master’s degree or equivalent in education, social sciences and humanities, and/or other relevant disciplines with specific focus on research (degrees and/or research experience in American or European Universities is strongly preferred).
• Previous research experience preferably with publication in peer-reviewed academic journals;
• Extensive research, program management and planning skills;
• Fluency in Azeri and English;
• Excellent communication skills;
• High level of computer literacy.

Interested candidates should send their cover letter and detailed curriculum vitae to Gulay Veliyeva ([email protected]) and Vitaly Radsky ([email protected]) no later than January 11, 2013.

Please indicate in the e-mail subject line: "CIE Policy Unit Researcher." In addition, please indicate your salary expectations, submit up to three of your most significant research reports/publications, and provide at least two references (name, position, email, telephone) whom we may contact. 

Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered. 
If you have any questions, please contact:

Ms. Ulviyya Mikayilova
Executive Director
Center for Innovations in Education
Vidadi str. 187, apt.24/26
Baku, Azerbaijan 1014
Tel: (994-12) 498-60-43
Fax: (994-12) 498-85-57
Email: [email protected]

CIE is an Equal Opportunity Employer which supports diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation.