Title                : Research Assistant
Department    : Research and Learning
Reports To      : Head of Research, BBC Media Action
Based              : Dhaka, Bangladesh
Effective from: ASAP

Context:

BBC Media Action uses various forms of media and communications to tackle poverty and contribute to long-term change in some of the world’s poorest places. To achieve this, we partner with civil society, local media and governments to:

  • Produce creative programmes in multi-media formats which inform and engage audiences
  • Strengthen the media sector through building professional capacity and infrastructure

The Research & Learning (R&L) Group based in London and in each of our country offices, focuses on four key activities: (1) providing BBC Media Action projects with audience and market insights to guide project strategies; (2) conducting quantitative and qualitative research studies to capture the impact of all Media Action media interventions; (3) building capacity in research skills and methodology and (4) documenting and disseminating the insights and learning from BBC Media Action’s projects internally and to the wider development community.

Overall Purpose:

To assist in managing its research work, the Media Action Bangladesh is seeking Research Assistant for its Bangladesh country office.

The Research Assistant will be interested individuals in conducting qualitative research with strong analytical skills. He/she needs to be sound in qualitative methods of data collection and analysing and reporting.  He/she will be highly motivated research professionals with ready to go in the field in short notice. 

Any experience of undertaking audience research to inform communications on the social issues is highly desirable. Specific knowledge or experience in conducting research in maternal and neo-natal child health and social media platform and/or transparency, accountability and community participation within democratic processes in Bangladesh will be an asset. The candidate will have strong written and spoken Bangla and English.

At the BBC we respect each other and celebrate our diversity so that everyone gives their best. The BBC positively encourages applications from all parts of the community and is committed to promoting equality of opportunity.

Duties:

  • Research- Be involved in formulating research design and preparing RFPs/research brief (where appropriate).
  • Designing Research Methodology: Working with ROs to design and draft research instruments. Input and help draft research design – sampling, recruitment and logistics.  Reviewing research instruments (questionnaires, discussion guides) prepared by agencies/internal clients.
  • Liaison with Agencies/field team conducting fieldwork: Help ROs to brief the field team and supervising the pretesting/piloting of the research instruments, and recruitment of research participants as needed. Monitor and control the quality of fieldwork/data collection.
  • Conducting fieldwork: Moderate focus groups, and conduct depth interviews, PRAs, ethnographies.  Continually look for ways to improve data collection, research design, moderation and analysis of data.
  • Analysis and reporting: Work closely with ROs in analysis of qualitative data, and help drafting reports.
  • Presenting Findings: Research Assistant may require presenting research findings to internal clients and stakeholders. So, good presentation skill will be an asset.
  • Personal Development: Review the latest trends and developments in research methodologies related to behaviour change, impact assessment and communications research, and evaluate their suitability to the Media Action’s Research and Learning work.
  • Training - Participate in Research and Learning workshops, and represent the Trust in other knowledge sharing workshops related to project activities and project partners. Train and share knowledge with the assistants where appropriate.

Essential Knowledge, Skill and Experiences

  • A minimum bachelor degree from any social science discipline or any relevant discipline.
  • Experience in audience research specially in maternal and neo-natal child health and social media platform and/or transparency, accountability and community participation within democratic processes in Bangladesh.
  • Experience using qualitative/interview research methodologies.
  • Strong IT skills, including Word, Excel and Power point;
  • Strong written and spoken Bangla and English. Simultaneous interpretation ability from Bengali to English will be an asset. 
  • Good time management skills, with a track record of delivering research findings to deadline.
  • Demonstrable understanding of cultural diversity and cross-cultural research within Bangladesh.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

  • Masters or MBA will add value.
  • Experience with statistical software packages such as SPSS is an added benefit.  
  • Previous research experience working with NGOs, or media organization will be an added benefit.

Applications: Interested applicants should carefully complete the BBC Media Action job application form by downloading from the link and email to applications@bd.bbcmediaaction.org mentioning the position in the subject field. The deadline for submitting applications is midnight on 16 July 2017.

The BBC is an equal opportunities employer.