Research Manager

2. Why This Role

Teach For Afghanistan is establishing a dedicated research department to produce rigorous, field-based education research that informs the whole sector.

The Research Manager will build it from the ground up: the systems, tools, team, and reputation that make TAO a trusted reference for education evidence in Afghanistan.

3. Role Summary

The Research Manager will design and lead TAO's research department. You will define what TAO needs to conduct high-quality research, build it, and then deliver studies that are rigorous, well-presented, and widely read across the education sector.

4. Key Responsibilities

Build the research function

• Assess what TAO needs to conduct research and create a clear plan, budget, and timeline to get there.
• Set up the research department, including structure, roles, and workflows.
• Develop TAO's research strategy and a multi-year agenda on priority education topics.
• Create research policies and standards covering ethics, informed consent, child safeguarding, data protection, and quality control.
• Recruit, train, and manage researchers, enumerators, and data collectors.

Conduct research

• Design studies using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.
• Develop sampling plans, survey instruments, interview guides, and data collection tools, in digital and paper formats.
• Lead fieldwork in schools and communities, including interviews with educators, students, and school leaders.
• Manage data cleaning, analysis, and storage using appropriate software.
• Evaluate TAO's own programs and measure their impact.

Report and publish

• Write clear, evidence-based research reports, policy briefs, and summaries.
• Work with TAO's communications team to turn findings into infographics, videos, and social media content.
• Establish a review process so every publication meets a high standard before release.

Share and distribute findings

• Develop a dissemination strategy so each study reaches the right people.
• Present findings at conferences, workshops, and forums, and organize TAO's own launch events.
• Build relationships with education organizations, donors, researchers, universities, and policymakers.
• Make TAO's data accessible through a public research page and open summaries.

5. Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in education, social sciences, public policy, statistics, development studies, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience conducting field research, with at least 2 years in a lead or managerial role.
• Proven record of completing research studies from design to published report.
• Strong skills in quantitative and qualitative methods, sampling, and data analysis (such as SPSS, Stata, R, Python, or NVivo).
• Experience developing research tools and training data collectors.
• Excellent writing skills in English, and fluency in Dari or Pashto.
• Understanding of research ethics, informed consent, and child safeguarding.
• Experience building a team, system, or department from scratch.

Preferred

• Experience in education research in Afghanistan or a similar context.
• Experience with digital data collection tools such as KoboToolbox or ODK.
• Published research or a track record of presenting findings to external audiences.
• Experience with research dissemination, communication, and partnerships.

6. Work Samples Are Required

Applications without work samples will not be considered. Please include at least two of the following:

• A published research report or policy brief you led or authored
• Research tools you developed (questionnaires, interview guides, sampling plans)
• A research plan, proposal, or methodology you designed
• Evidence of how you shared your findings with the wider sector

If your work is confidential, share a redacted version or describe your role.

7. What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months

• A research strategy, policies, and ethics standards approved and in place.
• A functioning research team with trained data collectors.
• A complete set of reusable research tools.
• A flagship study completed and published.
• A dissemination plan carried out, with the findings presented to the education sector.

8. Contract and Benefits

Full-time position based in Kabul. Salary according to the TAO salary scale. One-year contract with a probation period, renewable based on performance and organizational need.

9. How to Apply

Send the following to recruitment@teachforafghanistan.orgby 1st of December, 2026 with the subject line Research Manager Application:

1. CV
2. Cover letter explaining how you would build TAO's research function (maximum 1 page)
3. Two or more work samples (see section 6)
4. Three references

Teach For Afghanistan is an equal opportunity employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.