Bridge International Academies Research Associates Job in Kenya

Bridge International Academies is a start-up company revolutionizing education across Africa with a truly unique business model. The company has launched a large-scale franchise-like network of ultra low-cost for-profit private primary schools across Africa.

Our schools profitably deliver high-quality education for less than $4 per child per month, enabling local school managers to operate their school businesses profitably, while creating a highly successful business at the central level. We now have 25 schools in Kenya, and plan to rapidly scale the company to serve more than 1 million students.

About this position

We have and are continuing to develop one of the most sophisticated approaches to providing affordable education to MILLIONS of children in one of the most challenging environments in the world!

A central part of this approach is played by our Research Department, which has core responsibility for conducting research, analyzing and providing critical analysis, insight, reports and data to the rest of the company about:

• Socio-economic conditions of neighborhoods where we are considering locating new schools
• Competitive landscape of schools in the neighborhood (including pricing, offering and local perception)
• Plot-specific research regarding security and neighborhood perception of suitability
• Population Density analysis and calculation of normal walking distance of children
• Research at our existing schools to determine why parents choose or don’t choose our school

Our Research Department uses a number of tools and resources to conduct this research

• Household surveys conducted on the ground by Research Associates using net books
• Handheld GPS machines for calculating distances, catchments, population density info
• GIS Satellite Mapping software system
• Excel for data entry
• Automated analysis of data to quickly identify key metrics
• Systematized rating system for new potential plots

More specifically:

Research Associates are the primary field-based researcher responsible for

• Personally conducting household interviews in slum communities
• Conducting field-based exercises to calculate population density using survey and GPS equipment
• Consolidating and entering data from surveys and research exercises into Excel at the office
• Writing research reports based on both quantitative and qualitative observations
• Participating in the design of new research studies and research tools
• Attending to any other duties as may be assigned by the Project Manager

About You

• You have minimum of 2+ years experience in conducting field research
• You have experience working in slums and informal settlements
• You are experienced and familiar using Excel for data entry
• You are experienced in using statistical analysis tools (SAS, STATA and SPSS)
• You are very good at interpreting and using maps, and connecting what you see on a map with the realities when on the ground
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Bachelors degree in social sciences (Sociology, Demography, Anthropology)
• Experience in use of PDA or net books for data collection a plus

How to apply

Applicants should go to Bridge International Academies website – job postings - where all the new jobs are listed

Deadline for applications: 28th March 2011

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