Research Specialist (Physical Fields)

CV; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

CV (Christian Vision) is seeking a Research Manager to lead applied research supporting evangelism and discipleship by pioneers in physical mission fields. The role involves gathering insights, understanding cultural dynamics, and developing data-driven strategies to enhance seeker faith journeys.

You will collaborate with global teams, train field staff in research techniques, and present findings through reports and dashboards to drive field impact.

Qualifications

• Must be spirit-led with a heart for evangelism and reaching unreached communities.
• Experience in field research or missions studies is required.
• Strong analytical, qualitative, quantitative, and applied research skills are essential.
• Excellent cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural understanding.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and oversee applied research in targeted unreached physical mission fields.
• Analyse sociocultural, linguistic, and spiritual landscapes to inform deployment and strategy.
• Develop methodologies for qualitative and quantitative research with actionable insights.
• Present findings through detailed reports, dashboards, and strategic briefs to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with pioneering teams to align research with field needs and organisational goals.
• Train and mentor field staff and partners in basic research techniques and data collection methods.
• Collaborate across time zones and be available for occasional out-of-hours work.

Skills

Analytical skills

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Applied research

Cross-cultural sensitivity

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent (2–3 years)

Job description

Who We Are
CV (Christian Vision) is a global organisation that exists to introduce people to Jesus and encourage them to become his true followers. Evangelism is at the heart of all we do at CV, bringing the gospel to people around the world in both physical and digital realms.

If you are passionate about sharing the gospel and motivated by a desire to create meaningful change at scale, CV offers a unique mission‑driven opportunity to join a team harnessing innovation and navigating new frontiers within evangelism.

Job Overview

The Research Manager plays a critical role within CV’s Pioneering strategy, responsible for leading applied research efforts that supports effective evangelism and discipleship by pioneers in physical mission fields. This role involves gathering insights, understanding cultural dynamics, and developing data‑driven strategies to enhance the quality of seeker faith journeys.

Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct and oversee applied research in targeted unreached physical mission fields.
• Analyse sociocultural, linguistic, and spiritual landscapes to inform pioneer deployment and strategy development.
• Develop methodologies for qualitative and quantitative research, generating actionable insights for field teams.
• Present findings through detailed reports, dashboards, and strategic briefs to key stakeholders.
• Work closely with pioneering teams to align research with field needs and organisational goals.
• Train and mentor field staff and partners in basic research techniques and data collection methods.
• Collaborate within a global organisation across time zones, including occasional out‑of‑hours availability where required.

General Responsibilities

• Actively pursue personal, professional, and spiritual growth.
• Contribute positively to our team culture by upholding CV’s values in attitude and action.
• Comply with all CV policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate integrity in all matters.
• Engage fully in staff and team meetings, collaboration, and communication.
• Commit to continuous learning and development as needed for the role.
• Foster respectful, clear, and constructive communication across all interactions.
• A practising Christian in full agreement with the CV Statement of Faith.
• Actively involved in a local church or Christian faith community.
• Committed to living according to biblical values.

Skills, Experience and Education

• Must be spirit‑led with a heart for evangelism and reaching unreached communities.
• Proven experience in field research, contextual analysis, or missions‑related studies is required.
• Strong analytical, qualitative, quantitative, and applied research skills are essential.
• Must have excellent cultural sensitivity and an understanding of cross‑cultural mission contexts.
• A degree or equivalent experience of two to three years is required.