Researcher

Sahara Centre; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

The Sahara Centre invites applications for the position of Researcher to be filled on a date to be confirmed. This is a fully remote fixed-term appointment of three to six months, and the search will continue until the position is filled.

The role centers on independent and collaborative research, with responsibility for academic and policy publications. The Researcher will deepen the Centre’s intellectual output, design original studies, and contribute to Lantern Lab and other Centre activities

Qualifications

• PhD or near completion with demonstration of defence date.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed outlets.
• Experience designing and executing research projects from question to publication.
• Ability to supervise junior researchers or interns is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Designs and executes original research aligned with the Centre’s frameworks.
• Applies quantitative or qualitative methods appropriate to each research question.
• Manages research timelines and deliverables against milestones.
• Drafts academic articles, policy papers, and public-facing outputs.
• Represents the Centre’s research at conferences and within networks.
• Supervises research interns and graduate assistants on projects.

Skills

Indigenous knowledge

Quantitative methods

Qualitative methods

Academic writing

Independent research

Remote work

Education

PhD in development studies / African studies / political economy

Master's degree near completion with defence date

Job description

The Sahara Centre invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for the position of Researcher, with the appointment to be effective on a date to be confirmed with the successful candidate. This is a fully remote position, for a fixed-term of three or six months, and applications are welcome from anywhere, including outside Lagos or Nigeria.

Grounded in a mission to reframe indigenous knowledge as intelligence for Africa’s development, The Sahara Centre is a Lagos based independent think tank that positions indigenous intelligence as the missing variable in African development thinking; moving indigenous knowledge from its current ‘heritage’ positioning to strategic intelligence to catalyse development on the continent. The Centre’s activities include Lantern Lab, a critical thinking laboratory; INDIGO, a fellowship style intellectual community; white paper salons; and the Mangrove Sessions, comprising film screenings and a book club.

The Sahara Centre is building a small yet deliberate team and welcomes applications from individuals who can hold a high standard, demonstrate judgement and exceptional attention to detail.

The researcher will engage in independent and collaborative research that advances The Sahara Centre’s intellectual agenda, with responsibility for the Centre’s academic and policy publications.

The search will continue until the position is successfully filled.

More information about the role is provided below.

Role Overview

The Researcher role exists to deepen and extend The Sahara Centre’s intellectual output, designing and executing original research that advances the Centre’s frameworks and current priorities, working fully remotely.

Key Responsibilities

Research Design and Execution

• Designs and executes original research aligned with the Centre’s intellectual frameworks and current priorities.
• Applies rigorous quantitative or qualitative methods appropriate to each research question.
• Manages research timelines and deliverables against agreed milestones.

Participation

• Participates virtually in relevant Centre programming, including Lantern Lab sessions, as assigned.
• Attends virtual check ins with the assigned project lead and acts on feedback.

Publication and Dissemination

• Drafts academic journal articles, policy papers, and public facing research outputs to a standard that a senior academic or policy reader would find credible and useful.
• Represents the Centre’s research at conferences, convenings, and in academic and policy networks.
• Contributes to the Centre’s publishing programme.

Institutional Contribution

• Supervises Research Interns and Graduate Assistants on assigned projects.
• Contributes to the Centre’s programming where research expertise adds value.

Required Qualifications

Education

• PhD in a field relevant to the Centre’s research agenda, such as development studies,
• African studies, political economy, or a related discipline.
• Candidates with a strong Master’s degree or those nearing completion of a PhD, with a confirmed defence date, may be considered.

Experience

• A demonstrated publication record in peer reviewed journals or comparable academic and policy outlets.
• Experience designing and executing independent research projects from question to publication.
• Experience supervising junior researchers, interns, or graduate assistants is an advantage.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong grounding in indigenous knowledge frameworks and African development scholarship, or a demonstrated ability to work rigorously within this frame.
• Skill in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, with fluency in at least one.
• Ability to write rigorous, evidence grounded prose for a senior academic or policy audience.
• Ability to work independently while remaining accountable to institutional sign off on publication decisions.
• Comfort working independently in a remote setting, with reliable internet access and the discipline to stay on schedule without in-person oversight.
• Ability to speak and write an African language is an advantage.

Working Environment

This is a fully remote position for the duration of the fixed term placement, typically three to six months, tied to specific projects. There is no requirement to be based in Lagos or in Nigeria.

Candidates should have reliable internet access and be able to join scheduled virtual check-ins during Lagos working hours, West Africa Time.