Deadline for application: 10 April 2016
Reports to: MMN Regional Coordinator
Job location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Salary and Benefits: Local NGO rate subject to qualifications and experience.
Start Date: 1 June 2016
Contract Duration: One year contract (subject to three month probation at the beginning of contract); renewable up to 2 years and 7 months (until December 2018) depending on work performance.
Overview of the Mekong Migration Network
MMN is a sub-regional network of civil society organizations and research institutes working on migration issues in Mekong countries. MMN’s joint areas of work include advocacy, information monitoring, research, capacity building and networking. Please see www.mekongmigration.org for more information about MMN.
Roles and responsibilities:
MMN in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is carrying out a research and advocacy project focusing on the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Thailand, Cambodia and Burma/Myanmar and their impact on migrant women. The project period is from 2016 to 2018. The primary roles of the Research Officer will be to coordinate the implementation of the project and help ensure the high quality of research, particularly that of field research. Her/his specific roles and responsibilities will consist of the following.
- Field Research Coordination
*Develop concrete field research plans and questionnaires for interviews, following discussion during the research consultation meetings.
*Provide orientation (or training if necessary) to research partners to ensure the field research is done in accordance with the plan and of high quality.
*Actively follow up with research partners and give advice as necessary.
*Ensure that field research is done following the pre-approved budget.
- Management of data gathered through the field research
*Thoroughly review the interview results submitted by the field research partners and clarify when there is inconsistency in date.
*Encode the quantitative data from the field study to SPSS (or an equivalent program)
*Organise the qualitative findings.
*Prepare the summary of the findings and present them to the project partners for further analysis.
- Information monitoring and desk research
*Consistently monitor the policy development and other related news concerning SEZs and related issues (e.g. supply chains, regional economic development policies, investment trends etc), and carry out a thorough desk research to ensure that MMN has most updated information concerning SEZs, and that our research plan is an informed one.
- Preparation of the newsletters/reports
*Regularly prepare highlights of the project including interim findings, related events MMN organises, and/or news concerning SEZs that we would like to draw public’s attention.
*Publish them in forms of newsletters or other formats.
*Circulate the above mentioned news/reports broadly using the MMN webpage, list serves, and social media.
- MMN Webpage
*Develop a section on the MMN webpage specially dedicated to our project on SEZs (Technical assistance will be provided to create the section but the Research Officer will be in charge of developing content).
*Regularly update the site and circulate the news.
- Advocacy
*Work as a team to develop advocacy calls concerning SEZ and migration, identify strategic advocacy targets and means, and actively promote/pursue the recommendations.
- Project reports
*Draft project reports to be submitted to the Regional Coordinator.
8. Other tasks
*Carry out other tasks as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.
S/he will work as a part of the small multi-cultural team and report directly to the Regional Coordinator. As a sub-regional network, the job involves frequent travel.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
*Proven research skills (qualitative and quantitative)
*Relevant degree or equivalent experience
*Strong written skills in English
*Good report writing skills
*Strong commitment to and understanding of migration and labour issues in Mekong countries
*Experience working on issues relating to labour, human rights, migration, gender or development
*Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
*Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines
*Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
*Excellent attention to detail
*Proven computer literacy (Microsoft Word, Excel & PowerPoint)
*Data management skill (using SPSS or an equivalent software)
*Commitment to MMN’s approach and values
*Ability to travel
Desirable
*Some experience on website and/or social media (Twitter, Facebook etc.)
*Experience of national and regional advocacy
*Knowledge of either Thai, Burmese or Khmer will be an advantage.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
For those interested, please email your CV and a cover letter along with a list of two referees’ contact details and a writing sample in English for the attention of MMN Regional Coordinator, Ms. Reiko Harima at reiko@mekongmigration.org by 10 April 2016. We will not be able to notify all applicants unless they are chosen for an interview. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.