Research Officer - TR0010

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 Research Officer to lead research, data analysis, and coordination of community-based research in Chin State. The researcher will work closely with TheHILLS Myanmar’s central research team and collaborate with local enumerators and partners to ensure that all research is inclusive, ethical, and methodologically sound.

This position contributes to ongoing research on how communities in Chin State experience risk, safety, gender, and social and cultural change in contexts of conflict and recovery.

The Research Officer will lead the full research cycle, from refining tools and conducting interviews to coding, analysis, and report writing. TheHILLS Myanmar’s research team will provide methodological guidance, ethical oversight, and quality assurance throughout the process.

Deliverables

• Participate in a mandatory thematic and organisational training (online) on 24–25 November 2025

• Conduct qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, following established safety and ethics protocols

• Coordinate and supervise local enumerators, ensuring data quality and confidentiality

• Lead data management, coding, and analysis in collaboration with the central research team

• Draft English-language field summaries and analytical notes

• Contribute to project meetings and joint reflection on methodology and emerging findings

• Prepare and submit research reports in English, integrating field data, analysis, and recommendations

• Provide inputs for presentations and policy briefs as needed

Commitment and benefits

Start date: 24 November 2025
Duration: 6 months initially, with possibility of extension
Contract type: Consultant
Time commitment: Full-time
Modality: Candidates should be based in Southeast Asia and be able to travel within the region. No travel is envisaged within Myanmar. Work is conducted remotely, and travel expenses will be covered separately.
Rates: USD 600–800 per month depending on experience and responsibilities
Professional development: Capacity building on context-specific research themes, gender-sensitive and participatory methods, and post-study policy engagement.
Opportunities: Regional collaboration, mentorship, and potential publication or presentation

Profile

• Demonstrated ability to conduct qualitative or mixed-methods research in low-capacity or conflict-affected settings

• Strong personal and professional ties to Chin State, with familiarity in local contexts. Fluency in at least one language of Chin State is required.

• Fluency in English, Chin language(s); Burmese or additional regional languages not required but are an advantage.

• Broad understanding of community wellbeing, gender, protection, and recovery dynamics in areas affected by conflict and residual risks to safety.

• Education in a relevant field (such as social sciences, law, development studies) is desirable; equivalent experience in applied research is essential.

• Proven ability to coordinate field teams or enumerators and ensure ethical, high-quality data collection.

• Strong analytical and writing skills, with the capacity to prepare concise research reports and summaries.

• Collaborative and adaptable, with strong communication and problem-solving skills.

• No travel within Myanmar is envisaged. Travel to nearby countries in the Southeast Asia region for training or stakeholder engagement may be required.
  
  

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. Training will be provided before deployment.

How to apply

Applications are accepted until 18 November 2025, or until the position is filled. 

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.