Data and Statistics Associate at Shamiri Institute

Data and Statistics Associate at Shamiri Institute – Shamiri Institute Kenya Job Details

About the Role

Shamiri Institute is recruiting a Data and Statistics Associate to lead statistical analysis and data quality across its research and evaluation portfolio. This is a full-time position based in Nairobi. The Data and Statistics Associate will own the complete lifecycle of analytical work—from data validation and cleaning through statistical modelling, reproducibility standards, and publication-ready outputs. As Shamiri scales its randomized trials, longitudinal studies, implementation evaluations, and operational tracking, the volume and complexity of data demands reliable systems and structured workflows that maintain scientific rigor and enable evidence-based decision-making.

The role sits within the Research and Learning team as an independent contributor with clear ownership of assigned study datasets and analytical infrastructure. You will design and maintain data pipelines, execute pre-registered and exploratory analyses, build reproducible workflows, and produce tables and figures that inform peer-reviewed publications, grant reporting, internal strategy, and program design. This position requires someone who can work with minimal supervision, set analytical standards for the broader team, and translate complex statistical findings for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain reproducible data cleaning pipelines in R for assigned study and operational datasets, including systematic validation protocols for range checks, missing data patterns, duplicates, and cross-source consistency.
• Lead data quality reviews with research management and field teams, identifying root causes of anomalies, documenting findings, and driving resolution with recommendations to prevent recurrence.
• Own codebooks, data dictionaries, and metadata documentation as living assets, updating them with each data collection cycle and ensuring accuracy across all team members.
• Execute descriptive, exploratory, and inferential analyses end-to-end—including regression models, mixed-effects models, structural equation models, and mediation analyses—with complete documentation from specification through interpretation.
• Take ownership of analysis plans for assigned workstreams, execute pre-registered analyses with fidelity, and conduct robustness checks, sensitivity analyses, and assumption testing as standard analytical practice.
• Set and uphold reproducibility standards across the data team, including script organization, version control practices, and peer review of analytical code for clarity, correctness, and auditability.
• Produce publication-quality tables, figures, and summary statistics for donor reports, manuscripts, and internal decision briefs; draft and own methods and results sections for technical reports and peer-reviewed publications.
• Manage structured databases and data repositories with attention to access controls, schema documentation, and version history; design and run systematic quality checks and maintain issue logs until resolution.
• Triage analytics requests from delivery, clinic, technology, and product teams; scope work, set realistic timelines, and deliver outputs that are directly actionable for decision-makers.
• Lead training for junior staff and interns on data quality, coding standards, and analytical methods; design and deliver internal workshops on reproducibility, statistics, and evidence use.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in R with demonstrated ability to write modular, well-documented scripts using tidyverse, ggplot2, lme4, or equivalent packages; capable of independent code review and establishing team standards.
• Proficiency in SQL for querying, transforming, and managing structured datasets; able to write and optimize multi-table queries without support.
• Working knowledge of version control systems (Git or equivalent) and collaborative analytical workflows that maintain code integrity and transparency.
• Deep knowledge of quantitative research methods and study design, including randomized controlled trials, pre-registered analysis plans, power calculations, and inferential statistics.
• Demonstrated ability to independently scope, plan, and deliver multi-month analytical workstreams with minimal supervision, managing timelines and quality standards.
• Rigorous attention to detail in data management, analysis, and documentation; commitment to transparent reporting of methods, assumptions, and limitations.

What to Expect

• You will work independently on high-impact datasets that directly influence research publications and organizational strategy, with clear ownership over assigned analytical projects and the infrastructure supporting them.
• Collaboration is central to the role—you will partner with research managers, field teams, program staff, and leadership to align analytical priorities and communicate findings effectively to diverse audiences.
• The Data and Statistics Associate at Shamiri Institute position in Nairobi offers the opportunity to build data systems and analytical practices from a position of influence, shaping how the organization uses evidence for continuous improvement and program design.