Research Project Manager

About the Job
Research Project Manager – Multi-Country Research Study (Gender-Based Violence)
Position Title: Research Project Manager
Research Areas: Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health
Location: Remote virtual position (based in Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe, or South Africa)
Type: Consultant (1-year engagement)
Availability: Immediate

Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Research Project Manager to support the delivery of a large-scale, multi-national research study on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) spanning 31 countries.

The Project Manager will play a critical role in ensuring the timely, transparent, and coordinated execution of all data collection and report development activities across diverse country contexts. As our team is distributed across multiple countries, this is a fully remote contract position for the duration of the project.

This role requires strong research operations experience, proven ability to manage remote and multi-country teams, and fluency in Agile project management methodologies. The Project Manager will work closely with in-country teams, research leads, and central operations, and will report directly to the Head of Operations.

Given the sensitive nature of GBV research, this role demands a high level of professionalism, discretion, cultural awareness, and adherence to ethical and safeguarding standards.

Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Delivery
Coordinate and manage day-to-day project activities across 31 countries in line with approved workplans, timelines, and study protocols
Track progress of ethics applications and amendment submissions
Monitor and coordinate data collection activities, including deployment of field teams and progress toward data collection targets
Track progress toward country-level report development goals
Organize and facilitate recurring project meetings (global, regional, and country-level), including agenda setting, documentation, and follow-up on action items
Support in-country teams in planning and completing data collection activities while ensuring adherence to timelines, protocols, and quality standards
Maintain up-to-date project documentation, including workplans, trackers, risk logs, and decision registers
Leverage SharePoint to communicate and monitor project-related information
Monitoring, Reporting & Transparency
Track project progress against milestones and deliverables, providing regular updates to the Head of Operations and relevant stakeholders
Maintain dashboards or reporting tools that provide visibility into country-level progress, risks, and dependencies
Ensure consistent communication and information flow between central teams and in-country staff
Risk Management & Escalation
Proactively identify delays, bottlenecks, risks, and implementation challenges across countries
Escalate issues in a timely and structured manner, proposing mitigation strategies and alternative solutions
Flag ethical, safeguarding, operational, or capacity concerns that could impact project delivery or data quality
Stakeholder & Team Support
Serve as a central coordination point between in-country teams, technical experts, operations, and leadership
Support alignment between research objectives, operational realities, and donor or stakeholder expectations
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and solution-oriented project culture across geographically dispersed teams
Agile Project Management
Apply Agile project management principles (e.g., sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives, backlog tracking) to research operations where appropriate
Continuously improve workflows, communication, and delivery processes based on lessons learned

Reporting Line
Reports directly to the Head of Operations.

Required Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., public health, social sciences, international development, project management); Master’s degree preferred
Minimum 5 years’ experience managing research or implementation projects, preferably in global health, social research, or international development
Demonstrated experience managing multi-country or multinational projects, ideally in low- and middle-income countries
Strong understanding of research project lifecycles, including field operations and data collection coordination
Proven experience using Agile project management methodologies in complex environments
Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
High level of professionalism, discretion, and sensitivity when working on GBV or other sensitive research topics

Preferred Skills & Attributes
Prior experience working on GBV, VAWG, or safeguarding-related research or programs
Active project management certification required, with strong preference for Agile-focused credentials (e.g., PMP®, PMI-ACP®, CSM®, SAFe®, or equivalent)
Familiarity with donor-funded research projects and reporting requirements
Experience coordinating remote, multilingual, and culturally diverse teams
Strong problem-solving skills and comfort operating in ambiguity
Ability to balance attention to detail with big-picture oversight
Proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly SharePoint and Planner
Experience with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, Monday.com, MS Teams, Google Workspace)

Why Join This Project
Contribute to a high-impact global research study addressing Gender-Based Violence
Work with a diverse, international team across 31 countries
Play a central role in strengthening large-scale research operations and delivery
Help generate evidence that informs policy, programming, and real-world change

Benefits
Competitive remuneration, commensurate with experience and the critical nature of the role (all compensation in USD)
Impactful work with the potential to influence global strategies and policies
Diverse working environment across multiple cultural and geographic settings

How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience, suitability for the role, and motivation for applying via the form below.

EBS values diversity and inclusion and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Application Deadline: Ongoing

Become part of EBS’s mission to advance knowledge and drive meaningful impact through rigorous research and data collection in the areas of Gender-Based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Research Project Manager