Qatar University

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) at Qatar University invites applications for a full-time Senior Policy Analyst based in Doha, Qatar. The position is attached to SESRI’s recently-formed Policy Unit, which utilizes new and existing SESRI data to engage in empirically-backed analysis and debate of policy questions of relevance to Qatar and the Gulf region.

Senior Policy Analysts will stay current on policy issues and best practices in their assigned substantive areas, oversee the successful completion of policy research projects, design and interpret analyses, and coordinate the work of Policy Analysts assigned to their projects, as well as develop and write reports and other communications for a wide variety of audiences, set agendas for convening with policy audiences, and make presentations as required.

Applicants should possess expert-level knowledge and understanding of one or more substantive areas of local and regional policy relevance, including but not limited to education, health, migration, marriage and family, performance evaluation, political attitudes, and economics. Five or more years of relevant work experience is required, as well as knowledge of pertinent research and analytical methods and the ability to apply such techniques to policy issues. Applicants should possess strong research and analytical skills and demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and verbal forms to a wide variety of specialist and non-specialist audiences. Successful candidates will be able to show evidence of an active research agenda and demonstrated record of engagement with policy and policymaking communities. Quantitative analytical skills, experience using survey data, and experience working on Gulf policy issues all will be considered favorably. A master’s degree in public policy, public administration, or relevant social science field is required, with a Ph.D. preferred. Priority will be given to candidates who are bilingual (Arabic and English)

These full-time positions carry an initial three-year term, with a start date that is negotiable, and the possibility of a renewal upon mutual agreement.

Applications will be reviewed beginning on December 16, 2016. The positions will remain open until filled.
Compensation includes a competitive salary, which is tax-free in Qatar (but persons will still be responsible for any applicable taxes from their country of origin), along with a generous fringe benefits package that includes health insurance. Furnished housing is also provided at no additional cost outside of expenses such as utilities, cable, and Internet access. Applicants will have their flight and moving expenses paid for at the beginning and end of their appointment, as well as one round-trip flight home annually. Educational allowances for up to three accompanying children are also available.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, recent curriculum vita, concise statement of research interests, writing sample or representative publication, confidential letter of reference from someone familiar with the candidate’s work, and the names and contact information of two additional referees to spasearch@qu.edu.qa

About SESRI: SESRI is an academic survey research institute established in 2008 at Qatar University in close association with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. It undertakes original and groundbreaking surveys of citizens and residents of Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council states via telephone and face-to-face interviews, amassing a diverse collection of data unparalleled in the region. Previous areas of study include, among others, education, gender, labor, politics, regional integration, and survey methodology. SESRI has partnered with the World Values Survey, the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey, and other international survey efforts, and since 2010 has secured more than $5.3 million in external project funding through the Qatar National Research Fund. Increasingly recognized for their quality and variety, SESRI data have appeared in such forums as Foreign Policy, Middle East Policy, and the Middle East Research and Information Project. Established in June 2015, SESRI’s Policy Unit aims to utilize new and existing SESRI data to engage in empirical-backed analysis and debate of policy questions of relevance to Qatar and the Gulf.