Research and Learning Advisor

• Department/Program: Evidence and Learning
• Reports to: Director, Evidence and learning
• Dotted line reporting: Director, SRH & RMNCH
• Based on: Addis Ababa
• Duration of contract: Indefinite based on performance and availability of funds
• Remuneration: As per organization pay scale plus other PSI Ethiopia staff benefits.

Who we are

We’re Population Services International (PSI), the world’s leading non‐profit social marketing organization. We work to make it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by marketing affordable products and services that range from mosquito nets to contraceptives to HIV testing. We are a $560m enterprise based in Washington, DC, operating in the private and public sectors in more than 65 countries.

Join us!

There are over 9,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. It’s a diverse group of entrepreneurs and professionals with an unusually wide range of backgrounds – from the medical industry to the music business – all with unique skills we bring to the job.

PSI/Ethiopia wants reimagine healthcare, put the consumer at the center, and whenever possible, bring quality care to the front door. We achieve health impact in Ethiopia by working with both government and private partners and harvesting technology innovation to bring quality care closer to communities, schools, and homes. We empower consumers by including them in the design of healthcare solutions, offering them more healthcare choices, and helping them to have a voice in influencing national priorities. We work with all market actors in the health system to understand their needs, designing and delivering solutions so that market systems can sustainably serve consumers for the long term, helping to support the Government of Ethiopia in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

We are looking for:

PSI Ethiopia seeks a Research and Learning Advisor to provide strategic leadership and technical support for the design, implementation, and management of research and learning activities across reproductive, maternal, child, adolescent and malaria projects in PSI-Ethiopia. This includes but not limited to implementation research, baseline assessments, midline, and endline evaluations, and other learning initiatives exist in PSI. The Advisor will work closely with external consultants and country and global PS teams to ensure high-quality, ethical, and timely research and evaluation outputs that inform program design, adaptive management, and policy engagement.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Research Design and Implementation

• The Research and Learning Advisor will lead the oversight of the implementation learning and research, ensuring methodological rigor, data quality, and actionable insights to inform program learning and decision-making.
• In collaboration with program and MEL team, develop and lead research frameworks, methodologies, and protocols, ensuring alignment with the project learning agenda
• Oversee data collection processes on various research projects using qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Ensure high-quality data throughout all research phases.
• Ensure adherence to ethical standards in research, particularly when working with children and vulnerable groups
• Provide technical leadership for research and learning activities across RMNCAH- and malaria projects (that include Smart Start scale-up, self-care, maternal and child health, HPV vaccination and malaria) ensuring alignment with PSI standards, donor requirements, and national priorities.
• Oversee the design and implementation of baseline, midline, and endline evaluations, as well as implementation research and other learning initiatives.
• Manage relationships with external consultants and research firms, ensuring quality, ethical compliance, and timely delivery of outputs.

Learning and Capacity Building

• Develop templates and other materials that help support and improve the quality of M&E and research staff day-to-day work, in close collaboration with other colleagues.
• Translate research findings into actionable strategies and tools for program improvement.
• Organize learning forums, workshops, and webinars to share research results with internal and external stakeholders.
• Build internal capacity on research design, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Collaborate with PSI Global teams on multiple research and evaluation efforts including quality improvement focused assessments.
• Serve as the technical focal point for research within SRH department, representing PSI Ethiopia in technical working groups and research forums

Data Quality Assurance, Data Cleaning, Data Analysis and Reporting

• Set up mechanisms and systems to assure high data quality in both research and learning activities.
• Continuously check up on data quality, and coordinate and support other colleagues involved in data quality.
• Clean data that require correction and maintain both raw and cleaned datasets.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of SRH interventions.
• Present findings through clear, concise, and engaging reports, presentations, and infographics tailored to diverse audiences, including implementors, policymakers, and donors.
• Publish research papers and policy briefs on SRH interventions to influence health system policy and practice.
• Present on these papers and briefs in international fora and at conferences.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish cooperative and cordial relationships with research consultants, while remaining a critical lens on their products and activities to assure they align with PSi and Project needs, they are contextually relevant, and they result in high quality research.
• Engage with government and donor staff research coordination committee to promote the integration of evidence-based recommendations into health system policies and practise
• Foster partnerships with academic institutions, donors, and global networks to conduct research on areas of interest to SRH.
• This role requires strong technical expertise, systems-thinking, and collaborative leadership. The ideal candidate will support program professionals and managers in translating assessment and research findings into national reproductive, maternal, child and adolescent health and malaria strategies, ensuring accurate dissemination of results and the consistent delivery of high-quality, evidence-based services across communities and health facilities.

Sounds like you? Read on!

Qualification and Experience

• Six years for master’s degree holders or eight years with a first degree in public health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics,
• Relevant experience in research design, implementation of research, and management within health programs (RMNCH-N and malaria areas of experience preferred). Strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Strong skills in developing and managing digital data collection tools and platforms (KoboCollect, SurveyCTO, ODK).
• Ability to design and implement data quality assurance checks (automated validations, skip logic, consistency checks, field monitoring).
• Experience with data analysis using statistical software (Excel, SPSS, STATA).
• Experience with qualitative data analysis using software (Dedoose, Nvivo, Atlas Ti…_)
• Excellent communication skills in English, including writing, conversing and presenting.
• Strong interpersonal skills with cross-cultural teams.
• Proven experience in supervising research consultants/firms.
• Minimum of 10 publications on peer-reviewed reputable journals
• Experience managing external research partners and ensuring compliance with ethical standards.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with Ethiopian health system especially RMNCH, PHC and Malaria management policies.
• Willingness to travel frequently and flexibly, including in very rural areas.

What would get us excited?

• Hands-on experience with implementation research and adaptive learning approaches.
• Strong skills in data visualization and translating evidence into policy and practice.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Core competences:

• Result-oriented
• Continuous improvement
• Cooperation