Research Manager

About us

Jigsaw exists to build rigorous evidence for lasting change in education. We engage in applied research, evaluation, strategy and technical assistance. 

Our work focuses on high-impact areas which can strengthen quality education in low- and middle-income countries. This includes specific technical focus on: education technology; education in emergencies and protracted crises; education, climate and environment; and education for girls.

Our values

We focus on the end game - this means you can expect us to focus on things like contextualisation, sustainability and scalability.

We play to our strengths - this means we only say yes to a few things, invest in building our technical expertise, and aim to be exceptional at what we do. 

We ask important questions - life is too short to go with the flow, so we challenge ourselves and those we work with to think critically and constructively about big problems. 

We treat people with dignity - power dynamics are real, respect is important, and our values are lived out through every interaction we have with each other and our research participants. 

We are committed to learning - we do this collaboratively and rigorously, we believe in understanding complex systems, validating our assumptions and applying lean and adaptive principles to all our work.

We prioritise local contexts - and believe that our work is most effective when communities are centrally involved in decision-making. 

We listen deeply - everyone has a story and this matters, so we prioritise participatory and child-friendly methods and build strong relationships with local research organisations. 

We believe change is possible - but making it happen is complex and takes a long time, so we focus our energy on ensuring our work gets read, listened to, and has a positive impact on decision-making.

Our work

Our work is about building evidence that both strengthens and disrupts the education sector. We focus on areas of the sector which we believe to have the highest potential to improve education for those most in need. 

The majority of our current engagements focus on the following four areas: education technology; education in emergencies and protracted crises; education, climate and environment; and education for girls – although these are often overlapping and interconnected with a range of other critical issues. We embrace the complexity of education by wrestling with these intersections. This is where our work has the greatest impact.

On our website you can read more about why we focus on these things, our case studies, and the organisations we work with.

Why this role

There is a crisis in education quality in low-income countries. All of Jigsaw’s work is focused on helping to tackle this through applied research, evaluation, strategy and technical assistance. We exist to build rigorous evidence for education. Our mission is clear and our team is growing. 

We want a Research Manager to join us. Jigsaw is a place where you can do career-defining work and have a real impact on education. The successful candidates will contribute to the delivery of high-quality research, evaluation, strategy and technical assistance work within Jigsaw’s core sector focus areas. They will manage the quantitative elements of Jigsaw’s research, evaluation and strategy work, leading the quantitative design and analysis across the company. They will produce fluent and well-structured contributions to written reports and will confidently handle client interactions. They will be a valuable member of a passionate and vibrant team that loves to interact with different communities across the world.

We know that people are complex and experience does not always fit into precise lists. If you don’t meet all the requirements but have a hunch that you might be the right person for our team then please still go ahead, submit an application, and convince us by providing compelling answers to the four questions within the application.

Role description

As a Research Manager at Jigsaw you will:

• Manage research, evaluation and strategy studies throughout the project cycle - writing proposals, designing mixed-methods methodologies, collecting data, analysing data, writing reports and presenting findings 
• Lead on Jigsaw’s approach to quantitative research design and analysis
• Liaise with and manage relationships with clients and donors to deliver projects on time and within budget that have a positive impact on the sector
• Provide technical input across Jigsaw’s work in your areas of expertise
• Train Jigsaw staff and partners, both face-to-face and remotely
• Line manage one or more team members
• Contribute to Jigsaw’s internal work by helping to set the working life culture of the team and taking responsibility for an area of Jigsaw’s internal work

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who possess the following essential skills, experiences and knowledge:

Technical skills and experience

• Strong proficiency in statistical methods (descriptive & inferential statistics)
• Strong experience in survey design and sampling techniques 
• Proficiency in the use of various statistical software (e.g., ‘R’, STATA, SPSS, Python).
• Proven experience with  experimental and quasi-experimental research designs (RCTs, difference-in-difference, etc.)
• Ability to manage large datasets, conduct data cleaning, and ensure data integrity for accurate analysis.
• Ability to interpret complex data, generate clear insights, and present findings effectively.
• Experience with qualitative tool design and analysis and specific qualitative analysis tools (eg, MaxQDA, Nvivo).
• Experience in managing research projects from inception to completion 
• Experience publishing in peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and research and/or technical reports. 

Education sector experience and knowledge

• Experience working in international education research, evaluation and strategy, and a track record of delivering high-quality outputs (you probably have at least 5 years of relevant experience working in the education sector). 
• Experience in collaborating with education stakeholders such as schools, NGOs, UN agencies, government departments, and donors.
• A detailed understanding of the global learning crisis and the role of evidence-building in helping to address it.
• Familiarity with the landscape of education in low-income countries (donor community, leading-edge implementers, INGOs, community-based organisations). 

Leadership and interpersonal skills  

• Ability to manage complex projects under pressure and with competing deadlines.
• A commitment to ongoing learning with the ability to coach others and be coached.
• Ability to line manage others, setting objectives and supporting professional development.
• Able to work in a manner that reflects and strengthens Jigsaw’s values. 
• Ability to solve problems, working collaboratively to identify solutions.
• Experience in delivering training, both face-to-face and online.
• Experience presenting outputs at high-level events.

In addition, the following skills, experiences and knowledge are desirable:

Technical skills and experience 

• Experience applying econometric techniques for causal inference 
• Familiarity with psychometric methods for assessing educational outcomes (e.g., item response theory (IRT), test validation)
• Understanding of AI-driven approaches in assessment, adaptive learning, and student performance prediction.
• Experience applying machine learning techniques to analyse educational data and improve educational strategies or outcomes

Education sector experience and knowledge  

• Recognised thought leadership in one or more of the following fields: EdTech, Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises, Climate Change, Environment and Education, and Girls' Education, demonstrated through published research, leadership in flagship projects, or contributions to sector-shaping minimum standards, guidance, and tools.

Leadership and interpersonal skills  

• Practical experience in managing remote teams.
• French or Arabic or  language proficiency.
• Experience working in a low-income country.

What we offer

The role is full-time (37.5 hours per week). The role will be based in London and the successful candidate will be required to come into the Jigsaw office at least three days per week, plus occasional international travel. The salary is £40-50K pro rata (starting salary depending on the competencies and experience). 

The package also includes: 

• 25 days holiday (pro-rata) 
• Flexible working arrangements
• 5% matched pension contribution
• Cycle to work scheme
• Personal development leave 
• Mental health days
• Parental leave 
• Discretionary bonus

How to apply

All applicants will be required to answer 4 questions within their application and upload a CV (maximum of two pages). Application deadline - 31 March, 2025.

Candidates who meet the criteria set will be invited to take part in a remote-based test and the highest performing candidates will be called for an interview with members of the Jigsaw team.

Whilst we appreciate the time and effort that has gone into your application we can only correspond with short-listed candidates. If you have not heard from us by 08 April, 2025 then your application was unsuccessful. We are looking forward to hearing from you.