Aga Khan University was established in 1983 as an international university with an objective to promote human welfare in general, and the welfare of the people in the countries in which it operates, by disseminating knowledge and providing instruction, training, research and service in the health sciences, education and such other branches of learning as the University may determine.

The Institute for Educational Development was established in 1993, the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan (AKU-IED, P), is a highly respected institution recognized for its teaching, research, policy analysis, as well as its work in the field with schools and other educational institutions. The Institute has three Professional Development Centre in Karachi, Gilgit and Chitral. 

The Data and Research in Education (DARE) project is a 30-month project funded by the FCDO. With an overall value of GBP 9.39 million, DARE aims to i) develop a rigorous body of timely and accessible evidence on the key issues within the education service delivery in Pakistan – such as getting more girls into school, studying for longer and learning better, improving teaching quality, increasing accountability, reaching out to marginalised girls and boys such as those with disabilities and from minorities and the use of technology in education, ii) promoting the use of this accessible research by policymakers and the government and iii) building the research capacities of local academic institutions and think-tanks. 

This is a short-termed grant-funded contractual position for a period of four months with a potential of further extension.

You will be responsible to work alongside the Research Director, Deputy Research Director and Thematic Leads, to ensure smooth implementation of the research being carried out under DARE. Specifically, you will be responsible to: 

• manage research projects and assignments taking place under DARE; carried out through short-term technical experts, firms or grantees
• support the Research Director, Deputy Research Director and Thematic Leads in ensuring that the advertising/procurement, evaluation of applications and contracting of research experts/firms is carried out according to agreed policies and procedures, in coordination with the Fund Management Lead.   
• ensure that research is carried out according to the agreed work plan and that Means of Verification (MoVs) are achieved in a timely manner. 
• support the Thematic Leads in coordinating and carrying out oversight of the technical milestones of researchers/grantees. 
• coordinate and take part in regular check-in meetings with researchers. 
• develop and maintain a filing structure to document and record the research being carried out under the programme – and to ensure it is organised and available. 
• work with the MEL team to support reporting against the Log frame. 
• support the Thematic Leads in developing digestible and concise versions of the research being carried out under DARE for policymakers. 
• work with the Comms Lead to make sure the research developed under DARE is open and accessible to all. 
• maintain regular coordination and good working relationships with researchers and grantees. 
• identify risks related to the research component and propose mitigation strategies.
• support in the development of effective quality assurance including providing methodological best practices guidance, establishing and maintaining internal and external peer review processes. 
• facilitate communication and knowledge sharing among DARE research teams.
• support in ensuring core principles and policies for the programme, including research ethics, data access, and security, gender and inclusion, and capacity building are embedded throughout the research work of the programme. 
• ensure research is of high quality and rigour, meeting the highest academic standards and FCDO research standards.  
• prepare for and attend Advisory Group and Steering Committee meetings. 
• support in the timely reporting of research developments and progress against the agreed work plan, log frame indicators and milestones according to agreed processes, formats, and schedules. 
• support in ensuring that all FCDO required reporting, particularly quarterly and annual reporting is done in accordance with OPM quality standards.