OTT is looking for a Research and Projects Officer to join our team. You will be crucial to the delivery and growth of our On Think Tanks initiative and related consulting projects.
About OTT
OTT is a global consultancy and platform for change. We support and strengthen the work of research organisations, foundations, governments and others in support of better-informed decision making.
Our consultancy work focuses on developing tailored solutions to specific challenges. Through services spanning research, strategy, evaluation, learning facilitation, and organisational transformation, we partner with organisations to drive evidence-informed change.
On Think Tanks is a leading global source of information, support and community for people working in, with and funding think tanks. We create a space to connect, learn and exchange knowledge, ideas and resources.
Both our consultancy and community work has public good at its heart. We are committed to gathering new knowledge and making it available to everyone. We continuously seek to drive the sector forward.
About OTT’s Evidence Generation and Communication work strand
This role will support OTT’s work on Evidence Generation and Communication, which is grounded in nearly 15 years’ experience and a track record of making a difference through our On Think Tanks initiative.
Founded in 2010, today, On Think Tanks is a leading global source of information. It supports a community working with and funding think tanks. We create a space to connect, learn and exchange knowledge, ideas and resources.
Our efforts are currently possible thanks to partnerships with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Mercator Stiftung, the Robert Bosch Foundation, and others.
About the role
The Research and Projects Officer (RPO) will work with OTT to support the implementation of the On Think Tanks Initiative and deliver projects for our clients. Current and recent clients include the Gates Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, European Union, Open Society Foundations, IDRC, and the Tax Justice Network.
We seek a proactive and creative team member with a proven track record in project implementation and research with relevant writing and communication skills. The RPO will also participate actively in fundraising and business development activities. Experience in capacity building, alliance management, collaborative work, proposals and business development, and/or communications is desirable.
This is a remote post (OTT does not have an office) that entails working with various actors in the evidence-informed policy field, including funders, research institutes, policymaking bodies, academics, civil society organisations, and the private sector.
The role will involve working across multiple projects with different scopes, timelines and responsibilities, requiring excellent time management.
Work on specific projects will be guided by the project leads (usually a senior associate or consultant). It will involve working with project technical teams, researchers, communications and MEL colleagues, and project assistants.The RPO will be line managed by the OTT Senior Associate of Evidence Generation and Communication, who will support planning work across projects, developing and
understanding the role, and ensuring his/her well-being at work.
Specific responsibilities
Specific responsibilities will vary per project but are likely to include:
Support the planning, budgeting, coordinating, and contracting in projects.
This may include for example:
- Supporting the project lead with overall project design and reporting elements such as workshops, mid-term review meetings and final reports.
- Leading or coordinating a strand of activities or deliverables within a project.
- We expect this role to progress and include a leading responsibility in different projects.
Conduct research and analysis. This may include for example:
- Assisting in the development or/and developing short pieces of desk research to produce, e.g., literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, or summaries.
- Drafting and/or summarising short articles, case studies or learning briefs independently.
- Collaborating with other team members to co-author longer reports or reviews.
- Supporting MEL within projects — such as producing feedback forms, registering information for evaluation purposes, or facilitating internal learning/sensemaking sessions.
Support the production of deliverables and communications products. This may include for example:
- Drafting Miro boards, PowerPoint presentations, blogs or other tools to present and share lessons from our work.
- Supporting with visual aspects of written deliverables such as formatting and producing tables or graphics.
- Coordinating with editors, designers, and other communications experts supporting the project.
Support and contribute actively to business development activities such as
proposals and concept notes.
In addition to the work within projects, the RPO will contribute towards our overall organisational growth and development. This will include:
- Supporting thought leadership, communications and engagement activities.
- Contributing to strengthening our networks, partnerships and collaborations.
Skills knowledge and experience
Required:
- At least two years of experience coordinating and delivering strands of work within a project setting. This could be from any sector but should involve coordinating the work of others, managing tight and shifting timelines, and experience with standard project management activities such as work planning, timekeeping, risk management, budgeting and reporting.
- Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research, gained through an academic and/or policy research, think tank or consulting background. We would expect this to include the production of high-quality (consultancy style) research outputs in a short period of time and for different audiences.
- Proven experience organising events, such as conferences, seminars, workshops, trainings, etc.
- Interest in the key issues and organisations related to evidence-informed policy and international development, with specific knowledge/experience in research production, research communication, knowledge translation, M&E, or evidence use.
- Exemplary writing skills in English, including capabilities with various formats and audiences (e.g., reports, presentations, literature reviews, briefs/summaries, communications products).
- Exceptional time management and self-organisation skills in a remote/international team setting. We expect this to include communication within teams, planning and expectation setting to work within tight deadlines and report to senior positions, and coordination across multiple time zones.
Desirable
Experience in any/all of the following areas would be an asset:
- MEL, e.g., outcome mapping, theory of change, project-level M&E plans, and design of M&E tools.
- Supported managerial responsibilities, and/or had been part of strategic processes within a project or organisation.
- Communications, specific skill areas (design, editing, digital) or project level/general communications planning and delivery of activities such as blogs, events, or social media.
- Capacity-building approaches, especially training(virtual and/or in person), designing workshops and other learning activities, peer learning and communities of practice.
- Fundraising and business development management and/or proposal writing.
- Project coordination.
- Drafting Terms of References and managing contracts within teams.
- Handling alliances and collaborating with partners, funders, clients and/or other stakeholders in diverse contexts.
- Experience designing and/or leading projects in a non-profit, consultancy or think tank setting.
- Ability to work in languages other than English.
- Experience and networks in the following regional contexts: Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East and West Africa.
- Basic knowledge (or inclination to learn) of any data analytic software, whiteboard software such as Miro, WordPress websites, or design software.
- Experience working in a ‘matrix management’ style setting (across multiple projects and reporting lines).
How to apply
- Please submit a CV and cover letter by April 8, 2024 to the following email address: [email protected].
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a writing sample and attend an interview (expected during the third week of April)
- Following the first round of interviews, final candidates may be invited to a follow-up conversation with the OTT Founder and Director.
Terms of employment
Contract type: Fixed, 1 year, with the option to renew.
Hours: Full-time with flexible working hours.
Salary: USD 18000-21000 per year
Please note that OTT is a UK-based company. For UK residents, this would be a salaried position; for non-UK residents, the post may be in the form of a consultancy contract, depending on the legislation of your country of residence.
A note on diversity and inclusion
At OTT we value diversity. We are a Southern-led global initiative. We encourage applicants from all over the world and will not discriminate on the basis of anything other than the candidate’s ability to do the job.