Precision Development (PxD) is seeking a motivated Research Associate to support rigorous research and impact evaluations in Kenya. The Research Associate will work closely with the research and field teams on quantitative research activities, focusing on data management, quality assurance, survey programming, and statistical analysis. The role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage data workflows independently, proactively resolve challenges, and contribute to high-quality research outputs.

PxD is a rapidly scaling global nonprofit working with governments across Africa and Asia to close the last-mile gap in smallholder farming. We deliver evidence-based information and tools - from timely farming and weather guidance to climate-resilient inputs - that millions of farmers use to improve their lives. In the last 12 months alone, we reached over 60 million farmers at a cost of just $0.47 per farmer per year, with our flagship program in India delivering a benefit-cost ratio of 12:1–19:1. Operating in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond, the majority of our team is based in our program countries, working directly alongside government partners and farming communities toward our goal of improving the lives of 100 million farmers by 2030.

Responsibilities:

These will evolve as the role develops; key initial areas are outlined below.

• Support the design, programming, testing, and deployment of electronic surveys using SurveyCTO or similar platforms.
• Contribute to survey piloting, enumerator training, and research planning.
• Monitor data collection progress and enumerator performance, working with field teams to address issues as they arise.
• Develop and implement data quality assurance procedures, including automated high-frequency checks that flag inconsistencies and ensure timely resolution.
• Manage, clean, merge, and process quantitative datasets using reproducible, well-documented code.
• Develop and maintain data management systems and protocols that ensure data integrity, consistency, and security.
• Conduct quantitative analysis and produce summary statistics, tables, graphs, and other research outputs.
• Support the preparation of research reports, presentations, and other analytical deliverables.
• Collaborate with researchers and project teams to improve data collection and management processes.

What you’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Agricultural Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• At least two years of relevant experience in quantitative research, data management, or impact evaluation, ideally including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or other rigorous evaluations.
• Advanced proficiency in Stata, including independently writing, debugging, and maintaining code for data cleaning, management, and analysis.
• Strong experience with SurveyCTO, including XLSForm programming, testing, deployment, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience building automated high-frequency data quality checks to identify inconsistencies, outliers, and missing data.
• Experience managing, cleaning, merging, and validating large, complex datasets using reproducible workflows.
• Solid understanding of quantitative research methods and statistical analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with close attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate with research and field teams.

Nice to Have:

• Proficiency in R or Python for data processing, analysis, or automation.
• Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Familiarity with Git/GitHub and version control.
• Experience developing automated dashboards and data visualization tools.
• Experience conducting quantitative research in low- and middle-income countries, particularly on agricultural or development economics projects in Kenya or similar contexts.
• Familiarity with research ethics, data protection, and secure handling of personally identifiable information.

• Support the design, programming, testing, and deployment of electronic surveys using SurveyCTO or similar platforms.
• Contribute to survey piloting, enumerator training, and research planning.
• Monitor data collection progress and enumerator performance, working with field teams to address issues as they arise.
• Develop and implement data quality assurance procedures, including automated high-frequency checks that flag inconsistencies and ensure timely resolution.
• Manage, clean, merge, and process quantitative datasets using reproducible, well-documented code.
• Develop and maintain data management systems and protocols that ensure data integrity, consistency, and security.
• Conduct quantitative analysis and produce summary statistics, tables, graphs, and other research outputs.
• Support the preparation of research reports, presentations, and other analytical deliverables.
• Collaborate with researchers and project teams to improve data collection and management processes.

• Advanced proficiency in Stata, including independently writing, debugging, and maintaining code for data cleaning, management, and analysis.
• Strong experience with SurveyCTO, including XLSForm programming, testing, deployment, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience building automated high-frequency data quality checks to identify inconsistencies, outliers, and missing data.
• Experience managing, cleaning, merging, and validating large, complex datasets using reproducible workflows.
• Solid understanding of quantitative research methods and statistical analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with close attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate with research and field teams.
• Proficiency in R or Python for data processing, analysis, or automation.
• Familiarity with Git/GitHub and version control.
• Experience developing automated dashboards and data visualization tools.
• Familiarity with research ethics, data protection, and secure handling of personally identifiable information.

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Agricultural Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• At least two years of relevant experience in quantitative research, data management, or impact evaluation, ideally including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or other rigorous evaluations.
• Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related quantitative discipline.