Research Assistant

Join Us at Plan International Bangladesh: Make a Lasting Impact!

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected and mostly during crisis. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

Over the 30 years journey in Bangladesh, we envision a 2030 where children and youth, particularly girls and young women, are recognized as leaders of change in gender norms and can make decisions about their lives.

Since 24 September 2017, Plan International has been responding to the Rohingya refugee influx in Cox’s Bazar with special focus on protecting girls and boys from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation; improving hygiene and sanitation; and restoring access to safe, quality, and inclusive education for refugee children and adolescents. Guided by our core values, we remain unwavering in our commitment to advancing children’s rights and equality for girls so that children, especially girls, and their communities can learn, lead, decide, and thrive.

For the past three decades, our work in Bangladesh has made a significant impact, and we are now looking for a Research Assistant.

The Role

The Social Norms Specialized Agency (SNSA) is a key component of the Economic Acceleration and Resilience for NEET (EARN) Project, implemented by the Department of Youth Development (DYD) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) with support from the World Bank.

The Research Assistant under a Young Professional contract will provide field-level and operational support for research, assessment, monitoring, learning, and evidence-generation activities under the Social Norms Specialized Agency (SNSA) component of the EARN Project. The position will support field planning and coordination, conduct and supervise data collection activities, perform field-level data quality checks and verification, ensure adherence to research protocols and ethical standards, assist in data cleaning and documentation, and contribute to monitoring visits, stakeholder consultations, and learning activities. The role will support the collection of high-quality evidence related to social norms transformation, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), safeguarding, SEA/SH prevention and response, youth development, and childcare interventions to strengthen programme quality, accountability, and learning.

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor's in a relevant field, such as Social Sciences, Anthropology, Development Studies, International Relations, Arts or related disciplines.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience, where one (1) year in qualitative research methodologies and experience in conducting qualitative data collection. The experience can be demonstrated through previous academic research or work experiences (i.e., thesis/dissertation, term papers, teaching assistant, survey, internship, volunteer, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to present complex information clearly and concisely in both English and Bangla.
• Familiarity with data analysis software for qualitative data (e.g. SPSS, SenseMaker, NVivo, or similar platforms) is preferred.
• Willingness to travel to project sites throughout Bangladesh for data collection and other tasks, as required.

Why Join Us?

Joining Plan International means engaging in impactful work that transforms lives and promotes equality. As part of our global network, you will have opportunities for international collaboration and continuous professional development. We value diversity and inclusivity, offering a supportive environment where every team member is empowered to thrive. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we know that to achieve lasting impact, we must invest in those who make it possible. We are guided by a values-based leadership framework rooted in feminist leadership principles.

If you are a committed and values-driven professional with a passion for making a difference, we invite you to join our journey and help shape a better future for children in Bangladesh.

Please click on Role Profile - Research Assistant for details of the job.

Last date to apply online is 9 August 2027 ( Sunday )

The selected candidate will receive an initial one-year contract for this position, with a high possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funds. Only Bangladeshi citizens are eligible to apply.

A monthly allowance of BDT 30,000.00, annual medical check-up, leave entitlements etc.

Plan follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all, especially women and people living with disability, and gender diverse communities. We promote a competitive salary, a female-friendly workplace, outstanding co-workers (who are respectful, professional, unbiased, and easy to work with) and equal opportunity, which means equal access to career progression, leadership roles or upskilling programs.

A range of pre-employment checks and anti-terrorism screening will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Global Safeguarding Policy and Preventing Sexual Harassment and Exploitation and Abuse (PSHEA) policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of the recruitment procedures. Plan International is committed to an inclusive recruitment process and will provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request.

Please note that Plan International will never ask for any fees through mobile banking or send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.

Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted. Any prior communication or persuasion may lead to the disqualification of the candidacy.

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