Research Manager

Vacancy Announcement: Research Manager

Progress Inc. | Kathmandu, Nepal

Application Deadline: 16 November 2026

About Progress Inc.

Progress Inc. is a research consulting company providing services in research, monitoring and evaluation, assessments, capacity building, and data management to public, private, and non-profit organizations working in the social development sector. Our work spans diverse thematic areas, including gender equality, education, livelihoods, disaster risk reduction / climate change, child protection, and other development priorities.

We are seeking a mature, proactive, and results-oriented Research Manager to lead our research operations, ensure technical excellence and timely project delivery, manage and guide our teams, and contribute to the continued growth of the organization.

Position Details

• Position: Research Manager

• Duty Station: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal (On-site)

• Employment Type: Full-time

• Application Deadline: 16 November 2026

Key Responsibilities

1. Research Leadership and Technical Quality Assurance

• Lead the technical planning, design, implementation, and review of research, monitoring and evaluation, assessments, and other consulting assignments.

• Review and provide technical guidance on research methodologies, study designs (both quantitative and qualitative), sampling strategies, data collection tools, analytical frameworks, and research protocols.

• Review quantitative and qualitative data, analysis, interpretation, and findings to ensure accuracy, consistency, and methodological rigor.

• Review research reports, proposals, presentations, and other deliverables to ensure high-quality outputs, clear writing, sound analysis, and compliance with client requirements.

• Guide team members in report writing, data interpretation, and the integration of qualitative and quantitative findings.

• Ensure appropriate research ethics, confidentiality, data protection, safeguarding, and quality assurance standards are followed throughout project implementation.

2. Project and Operations Management

• Oversee the day-to-day management of research projects and consulting assignments, ensuring that deliverables meet agreed timelines, budgets, quality standards, and client expectations.

• Develop work plans, allocate responsibilities, monitor progress, and follow up with team members and consultants to ensure timely completion of tasks.

• Maintain an overview of ongoing projects, upcoming deadlines, resource requirements, and potential implementation challenges.

• Review project progress, identify bottlenecks, and take timely corrective action to keep assignments on track.

• Coordinate client feedback and revisions, ensuring that comments are addressed appropriately and final deliverables meet the required standards.

• Maintain organized project documentation, reporting systems, and internal quality assurance processes.

• Ensure that all outputs reflect Progress Inc.'s professional standards, branding, and organizational values.

3. Team Leadership and Regional Coordination

• Provide day-to-day guidance, supervision, and technical support to research staff and project teams.

• Coordinate work allocation, monitor staff performance, and promote accountability, discipline, professionalism, and a collaborative working environment.

• Conduct regular internal meetings to review project updates, assign tasks, discuss challenges, and communicate organizational priorities.

• Lead regular coordination meetings with team members across the company, ensuring effective communication, consistent work standards, and timely progress.

• Identify training and capacity-building needs and provide mentoring to strengthen the technical and professional capabilities of team members.

• Identify, source, assess, and coordinate external consultants, subject-matter experts, and other technical resources as required for project delivery.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and the effective utilization of staff and consultants.

4. Proposal Development and Business Development

• Proactively identify relevant research, evaluation, assessment, and consulting opportunities.

• Search for, screen, and assess RFPs, EOIs, and other opportunities against the organization's expertise, capacity, and strategic priorities.

• Lead or coordinate the preparation and review of technical proposals, including methodologies, work plans, staffing plans, consultant inputs, and deliverable schedules.

• Coordinate and guide to develop competitive, technically sound, and client-responsive proposals.

• Support the development and maintenance of networks with clients, development organizations, research institutions, like minded organization, consultants, and other relevant stakeholders.

• Contribute to business growth through opportunity tracking, client relationship management, proposal submissions, and achievement of agreed organizational targets and key performance indicators (KPIs).

5. Reporting, Communication, and Organizational Support

• Serve as a key focal point for internal coordination and routine communication with clients, consultants, and project teams.

• Prepare and review progress updates, management summaries, presentations, and other documents required for effective decision-making.

• Present research findings and key messages to clients and relevant stakeholders when required.

• Provide periodic updates to organization committee on project progress, staff performance, proposal pipelines, operational challenges, and emerging opportunities.

• Identify practical improvements in internal workflows, research systems, project management, and quality assurance.

• Undertake other relevant responsibilities necessary for the effective management and growth of the organization's research and consulting operations, as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A Master's degree or higher (PhD) in relevant discipline.

• At least 7-8 years of relevant professional experience in a research consulting firm, development consulting organization, research institution, or a comparable setting.

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple research or consulting projects, reviewing technical deliverables, coordinating teams, and meeting deadlines.

• Strong experience in research methodology, qualitative and quantitative data collection, data analysis, interpretation, and report writing.

• Proven ability to review technical proposals, develop research tools, and provide constructive technical feedback to other researchers.

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, assessments, and research assignments for development organizations, NGOs/INGOs, government agencies, or other institutional clients is highly desirable.

• Experience supervising staff, coordinating consultants, or leading multidisciplinary teams is strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with proposal development, RFP/EOI processes, and business development in the research and development consulting sector is desired.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership and management: Ability to take ownership of day-to-day operations, delegate responsibilities, follow up consistently, and hold team members accountable.

• Excellent analytical skills: Ability to critically assess research designs, datasets, findings, and reports, and identify gaps or inconsistencies.

• Strong writing and editing skills: Excellent command of written English, with the ability to review and improve technical reports, proposals, and presentations. Strong Nepali communication and writing skills are also required.

• Research and data skills: Ability to interpret quantitative tables, graphs, and statistical outputs. Familiarity with SPSS, Stata, R, or comparable analytical tools is desirable.

• Project management: Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously, prioritize competing deadlines, and maintain high standards under pressure.

• Communication and coordination: Ability to work effectively with clients, consultants, and colleagues across different time zones, including through virtual meetings.

• Digital proficiency: Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, online collaboration platforms, and professional document formatting.

• Independence and accountability: Ability to work with minimal supervision, anticipate problems, exercise sound judgment, and take responsibility for outcomes.

• Professional integrity: Commitment to confidentiality, research ethics, safeguarding, inclusion, and the values and professional standards of Progress Inc.

Who Should Apply?

We are looking for someone who is not only technically competent but also dependable, organized, proactive, and comfortable taking ownership of responsibilities. The ideal candidate will be able to move between reviewing a research report, guiding a team member, coordinating a client deliverable, assessing new opportunities, and resolving an operational challenge within the same working day.

Candidates who have worked in research consulting firms and understand the practical demands of managing multiple clients, projects, consultants, and deadlines are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates are requested to email their updated CV to jobs@progressinccompany.com with the subject line:

Application for Research Manager – [Your Name]

Please submit your application by 16 November 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a technical and managerial assessment, followed by an interview.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

No phone calls or inquiries via any other means will be entertained.