Qualitative Specialist, & Learning Lead

Uganda·KampalaContractmid

OtherLead

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Quick Summary

Key Responsibilities

The Qual Specialist will work closely with Busara Project Leads, research team, and partners to perform a variety of tasks, including, but not limited to: Design evaluations and reviews,

Technical Tools

OtherLead

About Busara

At Busara, we address some of the most pressing challenges facing vulnerable populations across the Global South through a behavioral science lens. Our work spans Health, Financial Inclusion, Agriculture, Climate Change, and related sectors, generating evidence to inform better policy and programmatic decisions.

About the Role

~1 min read

This role is the qualitative methodology and learning focal point across various workstreams for a programme evaluation. The Specialist & Learning Lead ensures that qualitative research is rigorously designed, that field, research teams and partner organisations are well trained to execute it, and that the resulting insights are synthesised into evidence that decision-makers can actually use.

The role holder will lead qualitative evaluation design and analysis directly on priority workstreams, while also acting as the standing technical resource other project teams turn to for qualitative methods support, field team training, and sensemaking facilitation. This requires someone equally comfortable leading their own research and teaching others to do theirs well.

The ideal candidate has extensive knowledge of qualitative research methods and tools and can identify the right tool for the question at hand. They bring technical confidence in MEL practice, are a confident trainer and facilitator, and can translate complex qualitative findings into clear, visual, and decision-ready insights for audiences ranging from field enumerators to project leadership.

Responsibilities

~2 min read

The Qual Specialist will work closely with Busara Project Leads, research team, and partners to perform a variety of tasks, including, but not limited to:

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Design evaluations and reviews, including sampling plans, analytical frameworks, and fit-for-purpose methodologies.
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Lead the design of learning frameworks and measurement strategies and support the MEL Expert in the design and strengthening of partner Theories of Change.
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Design and apply appropriate evaluation designs, such as theory-based, qualitative comparative analysis, or contribution analysis.
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Incorporate qualitative methods, behavioral science, psychology, and economics into projects.
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Lead or support data collection, including designing qualitative tools and protocols.
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Conduct rigorous analysis of primary and secondary datasets to generate actionable insights.
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Ensure all evaluations meet quality, ethical, and learning standards and are tailored to decision-making needs.

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Act as the standing qualitative methods focal point across the project workstreams and stakeholders, including the field staff and partners, come to with qualitative design and execution questions.
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Design and deliver qualitative training for the project field teams, enumerators, and analysts, including training-of-trainers (ToT) approaches for quality data collection.
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Provide ad-hoc technical troubleshooting support to any project workstream conducting qualitative research, including reviewing tools, advising on saturation and sampling approaches, and supporting analysis quality checks.

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Create user-friendly tools such as interview guides, templates, and checklists for use by the project team.
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Strengthen internal data management systems, including data flows, documentation practices, and verification steps.
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Lead the design of data quality assessments (DQAs) for qualitative components and recommend improvements.
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Conduct qualitative analyses using multiple data sources (in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and similar).
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Rapidly analyse qualitative data collected by others using thematic analysis and qualitative comparative analysis (using NVivo or equivalent software).
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Develop clear, engaging visualisations (charts, dashboards, summary visuals) that help teams and partners understand patterns quickly.
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Present findings visually in ways that support rapid learning and decision-making, calibrated to the audience.

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Produce clear, well-structured evidence summaries, and learning briefs across project workstreams.
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Design and facilitate learning sessions, reflection workshops, and structured sensemaking sessions with project stakeholders, translating qualitative findings into implications for programme design and adaptive management.
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Write case studies, short briefs, and presentations tailored to internal and external audiences, including practitioner-facing knowledge products.
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Serve as Busara's qualitative insights focal point in project and cross consortium learning forums (e.g. researcher's workshops, industry learning convenings).

Requirements

~1 min read

Master’s degree in a relevant field such as inclusive finance, public policy, social sciences, or other related fields

Proven experience designing evaluations and selecting methodologies.

Demonstrated experience designing and delivering training or facilitation (for field teams, analysts, or partner organisations), including adapting content for different audiences and skill levels.

Proven experience with MEL capacity strengthening efforts across vast teams.

Experience designing and conducting qualitative research studies in development

Ability to design data collection instruments, sampling approaches, and analysis plans.

Strong qualitative analysis skills (NVivo required).

Demonstrated experience with qualitative coding and synthesis.

Demonstrated experience managing field teams.

Skilled in creating clear, compelling data visualizations.

Strong analytical thinking and structured problem-solving skills.
Excellent writing and facilitation skills; able to simplify complex information for varied audiences, from field enumerators to Foundation leadership.
Confidence working with data and presenting findings visually.
Organised, proactive, and comfortable managing multiple concurrent projects and stakeholders.
Collaborative, patient, and able to support teams and partners with varying levels of MEL and qualitative experience.
Curious, adaptive, and able to work across different project types, countries, and organisational contexts.
Comfortable holding technical authority across organisational lines, advising teams and partners without direct line management over them.

Busara is an equal opportunity employer committed to building diverse, inclusive teams.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience in the communities and contexts we work in.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Data Privacy Statement

As part of Busara’s recruitment process, personal information provided by an applicant through various means will be collected and stored. This includes but is not limited to the information which the candidate provides to Busara in their application and profile, any data from role assessments, interviews information including video interviews and data provided to us by your referees. This data will be used to evaluate the application, communicate with the candidate, and where a candidate has selected this option, for future recruitment opportunities. All this information will be treated as part of each job application record and only retained for the required record retention period.

By choosing to apply for this position at Busara, you are giving Busara your consent to process your personal data as described above. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is secure.