Senior Researcher International Position Long-term contract Senior level

Position Information

• Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).
• VA No. VA26/25
• Position Title: Senior Researcher
• Duty Station: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• National or International Consultancy: International / National
• Vacancy Date of Issue: 3 March 2026
• Vacancy Closure Date: 16 March 2025
• Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible

This vacancy is announced by UNDP Saudi Arabia through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC). SOC is a sub-contractor for UNDP Saudi Arabia, assisting the programme in implementing their activities through HR and contract management of consultants working in their support.

Role purpose

Lead and deliver high-quality, policy-relevant research that strengthens the think tank’s credibility in Saudi Arabia and internationally. The Senior Researcher drives research design and execution, produces publishable outputs in Arabic and English, and supports stakeholder engagement to ensure research is useful to decision-makers (not academic for academia’s sake).

Reporting line

Reports to the Director of Research; works closely with the Director of Operations/Project Manager and Director of Communications.

Key interfaces (Saudi ecosystem)

Relevant ministries/authorities and government-linked entities, PSU [IA1] and other universities/research centers, policy practitioners, media stakeholders (through Comms), and external experts/peer reviewers.

Key responsibilities

Research leadership & delivery

• Lead assigned workstreams from concept note to final publication (scope, research questions, method, timeline, quality control).
• Produce policy-oriented outputs: reports, briefs, backgrounders, talking points, and event-ready insights.

Evidence gathering & analysis

• Conduct high-quality desk research, interviews, and data analysis appropriate to the topic.
• Ensure methodological clarity, triangulation, and defensible conclusions—without overclaiming.

Writing & publication (Arabic/English)

• Draft and edit outputs to a publishable standard in Arabic and English (or draft one language and manage high-quality translation with review).
• Maintain consistent tone and structure aligned with the think tank’s editorial standards.

Stakeholder engagement & research usefulness

• Support stakeholder mapping and engagement for research (especially in KSA), including expert interviews and validation discussions.
• Translate findings into actionable implications for Saudi stakeholders and international audiences.

Project management for research

• Manage research plans, milestones, and dependencies; coordinate inputs from juniors, interns, and external experts.
• Work with Ops to keep delivery on schedule and documented.

Quality assurance & ethics

• Apply internal QA processes (fact-checking, citations, version control, approvals).
• Ensure ethical handling of sources, interview notes, and sensitive information.

Team contribution & capability building

• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to improving templates, toolkits, and research SOPs.
• Support research-related events (roundtables, workshops) with briefing notes and facilitation support as needed.

Performance indicators (examples)

• On-time delivery of agreed research outputs to quality standards (as per DoR review).
• Stakeholder usefulness: evidence of uptake (briefings, invitations, citations, partner feedback, event participation).
• Quality signals: clarity of argument, robust sourcing, low revision cycles, consistent editorial compliance.
• Contribution to team capability: mentoring, improved templates/SOPs, smoother research workflows.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in political science, international relations, public policy, economics, media studies, data/social science, or a closely relevant discipline (PhD is an asset, not required).
• 5–10+ years of relevant research experience in a think tank, government advisory environment, international organization, consultancy, or research center.
• Demonstrated publication record (reports/briefs/articles) with policy relevance.
• Strong professional writing and presentation skills in Arabic and English.
• Proven ability to manage research projects end-to-end and work with senior stakeholders in Saudi Arabia.

Technical skills (preferred)

• Strong desk research, interview design, and qualitative synthesis; quantitative skills are an asset (Excel/Sheets required; SPSS/Stata/R/Python is a plus).
• Ability to turn complex material into clear visuals/briefs in coordination with Comms/design.

1.CV must be submitted online in PDF either through

a. SOC’s portal via the following link: https://jobs.my-soc.org/apply/20260303100455/PrE2u0QpemVhMt98swjDocF7y

b. Or submit your CV to jobs@starsorbit.org (Please write UNDP Saudi Arabia / Senior Researcher)

2.During submission, please use the English language only.

3.Indicate clear years of experience with each job (Month/Year)

4. If the candidate is currently employed by a government institution, he/she must be able to provide an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the consultancy.

5. Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.

6. By submitting your application, you have read the Terms of Reference for this position and agree that any false, wrong, or incomplete information might lead to your disqualification in this recruitment process.

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