Senior Statistician

Organizational Background:

JaRco Consulting is a leading international development consulting firm based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). We work across diverse sectors including agriculture, health, nutrition, education, livelihoods, and gender. JaRco provides high-quality research, evaluation, and data analysis services to government institutions, international NGOs, UN agencies, and development partners.

We are currently seeking a qualified and motivated Statistician to support the design and analysis of rigorous studies, contribute to the development of sampling strategies, and ensure the application of robust statistical methods across our projects.

Position Summary:

The Statistician will play a central role in providing technical expertise on quantitative data analysis, survey design, sampling frameworks, and statistical modeling for various research and evaluation assignments. to ensure the scientific rigor and credibility of JaRco’s deliverables.

The Senior Statistician will play a pivotal role in designing, executing, and interpreting statistical analyses for various research and studies initiatives. This position requires a deep understanding of statistical methodologies, strong analytical skills, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. The successful candidate will collaborate cross-functionally with program team, field teams, business development and clients to ensure the rigorous application of statistical principles and contribute to data-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop statistical analysis plans (SAPs) for (e.g., research, studies and evaluations …), ensuring alignment with study objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Perform advanced statistical analyses using various software packages (e.g., SAS, R, Python), including regression, ANOVA, survival analysis, machine learning models.
• Interpret and present complex statistical results clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences, providing actionable recommendations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including program team, field teams, business development and clients, to define data requirements, ensure data quality, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Develop and validate statistical methodologies, ensuring their appropriateness and robustness for specific research questions.
• Contribute to the preparation of statistical reports, publications, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Design statistically sound sampling methodologies and determine sample sizes based on project objectives, including design effects, confidence levels, and margins of error.
• Provide technical support in the design of household and facility surveys, including development of questionnaires, pre-testing, and digital data collection tools.
• Generate data tables, charts, and visualizations to support reporting, presentations, and decision-making.
• Contribute to the development of technical proposals by designing methodologies, writing quantitative sections and sampling methodologies.
• Support quality assurance processes for data entry, cleaning, and validation.
• Train field teams and junior staff on data collection protocols, sampling techniques, and data quality standards.
• Engage with clients and stakeholders to present findings, justify methods, and respond to data-related queries.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Statistics, Biostatistics, Mathematics, or a closely related quantitative field.
• At least 7 years of relevant work experience in statistical analysis and quantitative research, preferably in the development or consulting sector.
• Strong proficiency in statistical software (e.g., STATA, SPSS, R, Python).
• Demonstrated experience in survey sampling, experimental and quasi-experimental design, and multivariate analysis.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain statistical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience with digital data collection platforms (e.g., ODK, SurveyCTO, KoboToolbox) is an asset.