JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Research Coordinator (Data Analyst)
REPORTING TO: Research Manager
DEPARTMENT: Monitoring & Evaluation
CLASSIFICATION LEVEL: Coordinator
LOCATION: Lusaka, Zambia
ABOUT HEALTHY LEARNERS
Healthy Learners is an award-winning non-profit organisation working to improve the health and learning of children across Zambia—and soon, beyond. In partnership with the Government of Zambia, we bring healthcare directly into schools so that children stay healthy, stay in class, and reach their full potential. Our model is government-owned and government-led, fully embedded in national priorities, systems, and structures.
Today, we operate in over 738 public schools across all ten provinces, reaching more than 1.1 million learners through Zambia’s first integrated School Health Program. Our approach combines school-based service delivery with technical assistance to government at every level—strengthening planning, supervision, data use, and local capacity to deliver.
As we complete our national scale-up, we’re focused on deepening programme quality, strengthening delivery systems, and laying the foundation for long-term government leadership. We’re looking for a dynamic operational leader to help drive this next chapter—someone ready to manage complexity at scale and help a proven model achieve lasting impact.
Healthy Learners is the proud recipient of the Skoll Award for Social Innovation, the Duke F.M. Kirby Prize, and the Lipman Family Prize from the University of Pennsylvania. These awards reflect not just our success to date, but the strength of the opportunity ahead. If this mission resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you.
ABOUT YOU
You exemplify the qualities of being Humble, Hungry, and Smart in your leadership:
- Humble (Continuous Learning & Inclusion): You actively seek, encourage, and facilitate feedback sharing, fostering an environment of continuous learning. You adapt and grow continuously, cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging.
- Hungry (Efficiency, Excellence, and Innovation): Your relentless drive for efficiency and excellence is evident in your approach to both everyday tasks and complex challenges. When obstacles arise, you don't merely seek answers; you develop solutions and establish structures to address future obstacles proactively. Your hunger for innovation permeates the organisation, where you eagerly explore new and best practices, ensuring our people's operations remain modern and highly effective.
- Smart (Emotional Intelligence & Psychological Safety): Your exceptional emotional intelligence is your superpower, allowing you to create psychological safety within the organization. Through your ability to build trust, encourage risk-taking, and nurture courageous conversations, you promote an environment where individuals can thrive and collaborate effectively.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Research Coordinator -Data Analysis will lead the quantitative and qualitative analysis across Healthy Learners’ research studies and translate evidence into clear, decision-ready products. Working closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Research, Strategic Information, and program teams, the role will ensure analytic work is rigorous, timely, and aligned with organisational learning priorities and stakeholder needs.
The position will support the production of high-quality research outputs, including peer-reviewed manuscripts, policy briefs and fact sheets, conference abstracts, and other dissemination materials that strengthen evidence-based decision-making and knowledge sharing. The ideal candidate brings strong technical skills in mixed-methods analysis, excellent scientific writing, and a practical orientation to turning data into actionable insights that support programme improvement and scale.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Data Analysis and Interpretation (40%)
- Support the cleaning, management, and analysis of Healthy Learners research datasets, including routine programme data, surveys, and evaluation studies.
- Conduct basic to intermediate statistical analyses using Stata, R, or similar software, under guidance from the Research Manager/ Associate Director.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of analysis plans aligned with study objectives and research questions.
- Assist in interpreting results and summarising findings in relation to programme and policy relevance.
- Maintain clear documentation of analytical steps to support reproducibility and data quality.
- Support qualitative data analysis through coding, organisation, and synthesis of transcripts, contributing to triangulation with quantitative findings.
2. Knowledge Translation and Dissemination (30%)
- Support the drafting and revision of manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
- Incorporate feedback from senior researchers and co-authors to improve clarity and accuracy of written outputs.
- Assist in ensuring research outputs comply with journal guidelines, ethical requirements, and reporting standards.
- Contribute to the development of research summaries, fact sheets, and policy briefs tailored to non-technical audiences.
3. Ethics Compliance and Electronic Data Collection Support (20%)
- Support the setup, testing, and deployment of electronic data collection tools (e.g. Kobo, SurveyCTO), including form building and skip logic.
- Assist in the preparation and refinement of study protocols, data collection tools, and fieldwork guidance notes.
- Support ethical conduct of research activities, including informed consent procedures, confidentiality, and adherence to approved protocols.
- Assist with enumerator training and provide ongoing support related to tool administration and data quality monitoring.
4. Conference Abstracts and Research Visibility (10%)
- Support the drafting and submission of abstracts for conferences under the guidance of senior research staff.
- Assist in preparing presentation materials, including posters and slide decks, based on analysed data.
- Contribute to increasing the visibility of Healthy Learners’ research through timely dissemination activities.
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
- A minimum of Bachelor Degree in Demography, Statistics, Economics, Public Health or any similar field
- Minimum 3–4 years of progressive experience in Research and Monitoring & Evaluation in health, education, or development programs.
- Strong experience in quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis using Stata, R, or similar tools.
- Demonstrated experience in writing and publishing peer-reviewed research manuscripts or willingness to learn
- Ability to synthesize data into clear fact sheets and policy-relevant outputs.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently while meeting deadlines.
- Strong technical expertise in Research and M&E systems and indicator design.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage complex datasets.
- Ability to translate monitoring data into clear findings for diverse stakeholders.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
- Humility, integrity, mission-driven mindset, and ability to work collaboratively.
- Strong organization, planning, and problem-solving abilities
WHAT WE OFFER
- Opportunity for Impact: Play a pivotal role in implementing a program that improves health outcomes for millions of schoolchildren, shaping the future of communities across Africa.
- Competitive Compensation: Receive a competitive salary and benefits package that reflects your expertise and commitment.
- Professional Growth: Access ongoing training, leadership opportunities, and engage in innovative projects that challenge and inspire you.
- Supportive Culture: Join a passionate, dedicated team that values collaboration and mutual support, fostering an environment where all contributions are recognized.
- Networking Opportunities: Collaborate with international organizations and enhance your network and influence in the public health sector.
