JUNIOR Research Officer - JRO011 

Organization overview

TheHILLS Myanmar (THM) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing high-quality research, advocacy, and access to education in Chin State and its surrounding areas, including Sagaing Region and the Eastern Himalayan borderlands. Its flagship initiative, the Chin State Academic Research Network (CSARN), is an interdisciplinary platform that supports and connects researchers engaged in work related to the region and promotes the exchange of high-quality, context-relevant knowledge.

THM works across the education continuum, from supporting access to primary and secondary education to strengthening higher education, research, and academic capacity. Its activities include scholarships, fellowships, training, and mentorship programmes, as well as conferences and other opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The organisation is regularly consulted by development partners for its expertise in strategic analysis, contextual research, and policy insight. It contributes to high-level thinking through thematic studies, policy briefs, and ongoing analysis, with particular strengths in gender-sensitive approaches and the integration of Do No Harm principles into programme design and implementation.

THM works through community-rooted partnerships and local languages, combining rigorous methods with practical ethics. Researchers embedded in their communities lead research design, fieldwork, and analysis with supervision and technical guidance from THM’s research manager. This approach builds local capacity while producing evidence that is relevant for policy and education in low-capacity and conflict-affected settings.

Overview of the role

We are seeking a Junior Research Officer to join a research team exploring gendered histories, memory, family life, and social change in Chin communities.  The project examines how social roles, relationships, and everyday life have evolved across generations. It draws on oral histories, local knowledge, interviews, and historical materials to better understand how people remember, interpret, and narrate their lives and communities over time. The project encourages reflective and critical research approaches. This includes paying attention to different perspectives, silences, contradictions, and experiences that are often missing from official histories or public narratives.

The Junior Research Officer will support both qualitative field research and analytical work as part of a collaborative research team. This is a junior research position with opportunities for mentorship, learning, growth, and increased research responsibilities over time. 

Main responsibilities

• Conduct interviews, oral histories, and community-based research activities.

• Support literature reviews, archival research, and documentation processes.

• Assist with transcription, translation, coding, and organisation of qualitative research materials.

• Prepare research summaries, field notes, and internal analytical reflections.

• Support ethical and culturally sensitive engagement with research participants and communities.

• Contribute to team discussions, learning processes, and collective analysis.

Commitment and Benefits 

• Duration: 1 June 2026 – 30 May 2027 (12 months with possible extension)

• Time commitment: Part-time (80%, or 32 hours per week across 5 working days)

• Modality: Candidates should be based locally in Chin State and should be able to reach various Chin communities. Work is conducted remotely. 

• Net pay: USD 450-500 per month depending on experience and other requirements 

Required profile

• Fluency in at least one Chin language is mandatory. Research activities will be conducted solely in Chin languages.

• Fluency in a additional Chin language from Tedim, Mindat, Matupi, Kanpetlet and Paletwa township is an asset

• Intermediate English and Burmese proficiency are an asset

• Must be based in or around Chin State, with ability and willingness to travel within the region for research activities.

• Background or strong interest in gender studies, history, anthropology, philosophy, social research, or related critical and reflective fields.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a diverse research team.

• Experience with qualitative research.

• Strong communication and organisational skills.

Desired qualities

• Curiosity, reflexivity, and willingness to engage critically with research processes.

• Sensitivity to questions of memory, power, gender, and representation.

• Commitment to ethical and respectful research practices.

• Interest in learning and professional growth within the project.
  
  

Safeguarding and ethics: All work must comply with THM’s safeguarding and Do No Harm standards, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the wellbeing of all participants. 

How to apply

Applications are accepted until 25 May 2026, or until the position is filled. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the position may be filled before the deadline.

Please apply by filling out this online form here. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from women and members of the LGBTQI+ community. All qualified applicants regardless of gender or ethnic background are welcome.