Research/Evaluation Data Specialist

About Bodhi

Bodhi Global Analysis is a woman-led international development research consultancy established in London in 2017, with subsidiaries in Nairobi (2018), Singapore (2023), and Dar es Salaam (2025). We specialise in formative and evaluative research through participatory approaches, serving UN agencies, bilateral donors, INGOs, and foundations across fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Our services span political economy and conflict analyses, gender and inclusion analyses, baseline through endline evaluations, and capacity building. Bodhi Kenya, based in Nairobi, serves as our East African hub with a growing team of local and international specialists.

About the Role

We are recruiting a Research/Evaluation Data Specialist to join the Bodhi Kenya team on a one-year fixed-term contract, with the option to extend based on performance and organisational need. This is a mid-level technical position that is primarily remote, with periodic in-person presence required in Nairobi for team collaboration and client meetings, alongside international fieldwork deployments.

The Research/Evaluation Data Specialist will serve as the quantitative backbone of Bodhi’s evaluation and research teams. Working closely with project leads and senior researchers, the Research/Evaluation Data Specialist will be responsible for survey design and programming, data processing pipelines, statistical analysis, and the production of clean, reproducible analytical outputs. The role involves transforming raw field data into rigorous evidence that informs evaluation findings, indicator measurements, and client recommendations.

This position is ideal for someone who combines strong programming and statistical skills with a genuine interest in international development research. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between writing Python scripts for data cleaning and producing accessible tables and visualisations for non-technical audiences. They will also support fieldwork logistics, contribute to enumerator training on digital data collection tools, and conduct data quality audits during collection periods. Candidates who enjoy field deployments and the practical, hands-on side of primary data collection will thrive in this role.

Key Responsibilities

Data Management and Analysis

• Build and maintain end-to-end data processing pipelines using Python (pandas, NumPy), including data ingestion, cleaning, validation, transformation, and export for evaluation projects across multiple countries
• Conduct quantitative analysis including descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations with disaggregations (sex, age, disability, location), hypothesis testing, and regression modelling to measure baseline, midline, and endline indicator values
• Produce clean, well-documented analytical codebooks, syntax files, and output tables that enable transparent and reproducible research workflows
• Manage version-controlled repositories using Git, ensuring all analytical work is tracked, documented, and accessible to project teams
• Support the development of containerised analytical environments using Docker to standardise toolchains across distributed teams and ensure reproducibility of results
• Create data visualisations, charts, and summary tables for evaluation reports, presentations, and policy briefs using Python (matplotlib, seaborn) or other appropriate tools

Survey Design and Digital Data Collection

• Design, programme, and test quantitative survey instruments on digital platforms including KoboToolbox, ODK, and SurveyCTO, ensuring accurate skip logic, validation rules, and multi-language support
• Develop and maintain sampling frameworks in collaboration with project leads, including sample size calculations using standard formulae (Cochran’s formula, design effects) and stratification plans
• Support enumerator training on the use of digital data collection tools, including practical sessions on tablet-based surveying, troubleshooting, and data upload procedures

Data Quality Assurance

• Conduct systematic data quality audits throughout field collection periods, including daily review of incoming submissions, automated flagging of inconsistencies and outliers, back-check analysis, and enumerator performance monitoring
• Design and implement real-time data quality dashboards that enable project leads and field supervisors to monitor collection progress, completion rates, and data integrity during fieldwork
• Lead data cleaning and validation processes post-collection, producing documented cleaning logs and delivering analysis-ready datasets to project teams

Fieldwork Support

• Travel to project locations for fieldwork deployments (typically 2–4 weeks), providing on-the-ground technical support for digital data collection, real-time quality monitoring, and troubleshooting
• Support the piloting and refinement of survey instruments in field settings, identifying translation issues, skip logic errors, and question sequencing problems before full-scale data collection begins
• Contribute to daily field debriefs by presenting emerging data patterns and flagging quality concerns to the evaluation team

Reporting and Knowledge Sharing

• Draft quantitative sections of evaluation reports, including methodology descriptions, results tables, and statistical annexes, ensuring findings are presented clearly for non-technical audiences
• Prepare data summaries and visualisations for stakeholder presentations and validation workshops
• Contribute to building Bodhi’s internal analytical capacity by documenting standard operating procedures, maintaining shared code libraries, and supporting colleagues in adopting reproducible research practices

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Master’s degree in statistics, data science, economics, quantitative social sciences, computer science, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in data analysis within international development, humanitarian, or research consultancy settings, including direct fieldwork experience supporting primary data collection
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, including working fluency with pandas, NumPy, and at least one visualisation library (matplotlib, seaborn, or Plotly). Candidates should be comfortable writing scripts from scratch, not only using notebook templates.
• Working knowledge of Git for version control (branching, committing, pull requests) and familiarity with Docker for containerised environments
• Experience designing and programming surveys on digital platforms such as KoboToolbox, ODK, or SurveyCTO
• Demonstrated experience conducting data quality audits during primary data collection, including automated validation checks and enumerator performance monitoring
• Strong understanding of sampling methodology, including probability-based sampling, stratification, weighting, and sample size estimation
• Fluent or native English (written and spoken), with the ability to produce clear, well-structured analytical writing for non-technical audiences
• Willingness to travel internationally on short notice for fieldwork deployments of 2–4 weeks, comprising 30–40% of working time (up to 60% at peak periods). Candidates must have prior fieldwork experience and genuine enthusiasm for in-person field data collection
• Based in Nairobi or willing to be based in Nairobi, with the ability to attend in-person meetings and team sessions as required

Strongly Desirable

• French language skills at any level, to support data collection and tool development in Francophone project contexts
• Experience with STATA or R in addition to Python
• Familiarity with quasi-experimental methods, including difference-in-difference analysis and propensity score matching
• Experience with qualitative data management or coding software (NVivo, Dedoose, or equivalent)
• Fieldwork experience in Sub-Saharan Africa or comparable contexts is an asset
• Experience producing automated reports or dashboards (Jupyter Notebooks, Streamlit, or similar)
• Knowledge of OECD-DAC evaluation criteria and how quantitative evidence is used within evaluation frameworks

What We Offer

• A one-year fixed-term contract with the option to extend, offering stability within a growing, mission-driven organisation
• Competitive gross monthly salary of KES 200,000 to KES 280,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications
• The opportunity to work on technically challenging evaluations for UN agencies, bilateral donors, and leading INGOs, with direct exposure to senior-level research and client engagement
• International fieldwork across diverse contexts in Africa and beyond
• Professional development support, including mentorship from senior evaluation specialists and access to Bodhi’s internal training resources
• A collaborative, intellectually rigorous working culture that values women’s leadership, local expertise, and academic standards
• A primarily remote working arrangement, with periodic in-person collaboration in Nairobi for team events and client meetings

How to Apply

To apply, please click on the Apply button below and follow the application instructions for this role. You will be invited to submit:

• A CV demonstrating relevant technical skills, analytical experience, and any fieldwork deployments
• A cover letter addressing your experience with Python-based data analysis, digital survey platforms, and your interest in international development research
• Proof of right to work in Kenya

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early application is encouraged, as we may close the vacancy before the deadline for exceptional candidates.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Bodhi is a women-owned enterprise committed to gender parity at all levels of the organisation. We recognise that diverse teams produce stronger research and more equitable outcomes. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from women data professionals and candidates from the Global South, especially those who bring lived experience from the regions where we work. We actively seek to strengthen women’s representation in technical and analytical roles within the evaluation sector.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religious beliefs, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic background, or disability. Reasonable accommodations will be made for candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

For more information about our organisation and the work we do, please visit www.bodhiglobalanalysis.com.