Research Advisor

About the role

The Research Advisor will provide technical leadership and oversight for the Australia‑Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ) research portfolio, ensuring studies are methodologically sound, contextually relevant and translate into actionable insights.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate the design, commissioning, implementation, quality assurance and dissemination of research, political economy analyses and thematic studies across the program.
• Ensure research outputs meet APLJ’s strategic priorities, are methodologically robust and inform program implementation, decision‑making and adaptive management.
• Collaborate with technical teams, the Australian High Commission, PNG government counterparts and external consultants to align research activities with program timelines.

Required profile

• Postgraduate qualification in international development, political science, public policy, law, governance or a related field.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in applied research, program management or governance within international development.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research assignments, supervising consultants and coordinating multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, report‑writing and stakeholder‑engagement skills, with a commitment to GEDSI, safeguarding and ethical research practices.

Required skills

• Expertise in qualitative and mixed‑methods research approaches.
• Proficiency in political economy analysis and applied policy research.
• Ability to critically assess research quality and translate findings into practical program or policy recommendations.