Land Tenure and Property Rights Specialist

The Rural Development Institute (RDI) and international non-profit based in Seattle seeks an experienced professional to lead and support project implementation, research, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities related to rural land tenure and agricultural livelihood projects in India and other countries.    The travel requirement for this position is up to 110 days of primarily international travel.

Core Duties:

• Fully understand and support RDI's mission and RDI strategic objectives.
• Work closely with developing country - particularly Indian - staff, research partners, and NGOs to design and oversee implementation of land tenure activities that fulfill program objectives.
• Design and conduct rapid and participatory rural appraisal field research for purposes of developing larger-scale surveys, assessing work of NGO partners and possible partners, and understanding the nature, extent, and impact of laws and government policies, government programs, and pilot projects implemented by RDI and government.
• Design, supervise and participate in quantitative and qualitative research activities, including designing baseline and follow-up surveys to monitor impacts and processes of land-related programs, field-test questionnaires, train enumerators, conduct and oversee data collection, and analyze qualitative and quantitative information.
• Prepare research reports that include careful analysis of research findings as well as clear, concise, and practical recommendations (grounded in those findings) for government and civil society actors that will further the ability of poor rural families and women to obtain secure rights to land and effectively use it.
• Present research findings and related recommendations to key target audiences, including government policy makers, rural communities, NGOs, and donors.
• Work with India Country Director, Program Technical Director, and other RDI staff to develop and execute research and related communications work plans to further India program objectives.
• Contribute to the preparation of program progress and final reports in compliance with contract/agreement deliverables.
• Contribute to the development of funding proposals and communications and outreach material.

Required Qualifications

Education: Graduate degree in Economics, Sociology, Natural Resources Economics, Agricultural Economics or closely related field, with a strong foundation in statistical methods.

Experience: At least five years progressively responsible experience working on international land tenure and rural development projects that includes:

• designing and overseeing implementation of land tenure activities in developing countries;
• managing projects and people in cross-cultural settings;
• designing and implementing research based on quantitative and qualitative methods for impact assessment, including baseline surveys, rural appraisals and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data;
• preparing research and other project reports;
• making presentations on research findings and/or project outcomes to different audiences;
• designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems;
• analyzing and maximizing gender-specific impacts and outcomes;
• working with various stakeholder groups, particularly those in the government, non-profit and civil society sectors; and
• training on land tenure, rural development, gender, and/or research methodology topics.

Skills and Qualities. Passion for work that seeks to alleviate poverty and foster social justice; self-motivated and able to set and meet goals; strong conceptual and analytical skills; ability to work effectively as both a team member and a team leader and move easily between the two roles; rigorous attention to detail; working knowledge of budgets and financials; and flexibility and ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects.

Work Habits: Include but are not limited to accuracy, efficiency, regularity, timeliness, punctuality, and thoroughness.

Interpersonal Skills: Ability to work in support of and collaboratively with a range of people at all levels, including RDI employees both foreign and domestic, RDI and Project management teams, RDI donors, RDI partners including senior government officials, visitors, contractors and subcontractors, outside vendors and services suppliers, and other administrative staff members. RDI works to nourish an organizational culture of collegiality, mutual respect, and gender equality and recruits candidates who uphold these values.

Communications Skills:  Superior ability to communicate well in writing, orally, and non-verbally. Includes an ability to make and use distinctions as to types, frequency, tenor, and levels of communications, depending upon the circumstances, audience, recipient, and content.

Software Skills: Experience working with SPSS, SAS or other common data analysis packages.  Ability to proficiently use Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other software. 

 Salary:  $65,000 to $90,000 DOE.

 Please send your cover letter and resume to the attention fo Human Resources at rdi@rdiland.org