University of Bath KTP Programme

Oxford Policy Management

The Organisation

Oxford Policy Management (OPM) is a research based consultancy, providing high quality research, analysis, advice and support in the design, implementation and evaluation of economic and social development policies primarily in low and middle income countries. Most of their projects involve relationships with both a funder (typically an international development agency) and a recipient (typically a government institution in Africa, Asia or Latin America). OPM’s major clients include multilateral agencies (including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, EC, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO) and bilateral development agencies (including DFID, Irish Aid, Danida, SIDA, FINNIDA, Norad, GTZ, SECO).

Partnership rationale
This two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Oxford Policy Management and the University of Bath is to develop and implement protocols and procedures for conducting methodologically diverse, integrated, robust and policy-relevant research and evaluation in developing countries.

Partnership objectives

OPM’s clients demand research and evaluation of the development policy interventions they fund for three purposes:

To establish whether they cause desired outcomes as causality is difficult to establish in public policy because so many other factors affect the outcome. Nonetheless it is vital to demonstrate value for money;
To suggest how they can be improved to maximise outcomes.
To influence debate over whether they should be mainstreamed or scaled up to deliver wider impact.

OPM is a market leader in development policy research and evaluation but maintaining this position requires responding to:

increasing client demands for innovative and robust evaluation approaches including:
high quality qualitative work and
mixing quantitative and qualitative methods while delivering on time (for policy deadlines) and
on budget
opportunities created by new technologies in research, (e.g. computer assisted data collection);
the need to engage recipientcommunities and policy-makers in research.

Partnership with the University of Bath will allow OPM to invest in the development of cutting edge research and evaluation approaches. The partnership seeks to address the challenges of developing and embedding of academically rigorous and robust approaches to these problems within the context of a consultancy business model.

It is expected that the advances in research and evaluation made through the partnerships will take place primarily within OPM’s education portfolio. The education team currently conducts complex mixed methods evaluation in Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania but the Associate will not be limited to these countries.

Partnership management

The KTP Project is delivered by an Associate and is managed through the Local Management Committee (LMC). This is chaired by the senior organisation executive and comprises the Company and Academic leaders/supervisors and a KTP Advisor (Technology Strategy Board representative). The LMC meets every four months and is responsible for programme direction, ensuring that all parties gain maximum benefit and authorising expenditure.

Associates are expected to prepare an executive summary, to report on progress for the LMC meeting and this must be circulated in advance to LMC members. They are also expected to make a formal presentation on some aspects of their work at this meeting.

A monthly progress meeting is held with the Company and Academic Supervisors. The Associate is expected to arrange and document these meetings. The Associate is required to maintain a log of the tangible benefits of the project and to provide internal seminars for other members of University and organisation staff, based on knowledge acquired through attendance at courses and conferences.

Associate profile

A PhD in social science, development studies, development economics or a related subject with strong quantitative and qualitative research methods components is essential. Research experience, either PhD or through applied research, is also essential; as is experience of working in a developing country or countries. Work experience beyond pure research would be advantageous. Experience in research in international education would be valuable.

Additionally we would expect you to demonstrate, through examples:

excellent written and oral communication skills
strong team working skills and cross-cultural sensitivity
strong skills in analysing complex problems using both qualitative and quantitative methods
expertise in using software for qualitative (e.g. NVivo?) and quantitative (e.g. Stata) analysis
self motivation, persistence and the personal drive to achieve ambitious project goals
imagination, flexibility and adaptability in approaching new tasks.

Finally, the Associate must be willing and able to undertake extensive overseas travel that the role demands.

Associate’s expectation

The Associate will have the opportunity to pursue a higher degree as a member of staff of the University. Bath provides an MPhil in Knowledge Transfer specifically for KTP Associates, or another higher degree offered by the DepartmentSocial and Policy Sciences may be appropriate.

The Associate may have the opportunity to gain undergraduate level teaching experience by co-supervising undergraduate dissertation students and giving the occasional seminar to students of the Departments of Social and Policy Sciences and Economics to deliver papers at international conferences and to co-author articles. They will be encouraged and supported to apply for membership of a relevant professional body.

The Associate is likely to have the opportunity to engage in research and evaluation processes on educational interventions, spanning research design, primary qualitative and quantitative fieldwork, analysis and reporting.

On successful completion of the project it is highly likely that the Associate will be offered a permanent position with the company. However, if due to unforeseen circumstances this is not possible, the Associate will still have gained;

skills in research, social policy development and implementation of new services to the international development sector.
an understanding of the complex problems facing bilateral and multilateral development agencies and the governments with whom they work.
experience on the development and introduction of a new research protocol at an exciting and challenging time for the international development sector as it seeks to meet the challenge of delivering high quality research and evaluation services to emerging focus areas.
invaluable general business and management experience through close involvement with the senior managers of the organisation.

Salary and conditions of employment

The salary is competitive and will be dependent on qualifications and experience and the reward package includes a pension contribution and separate £4,000 personal training and development budget.

The Associate will be appointed by the University as a member of staff in the Departmentof Social and Policy Sciences, responsible to the appointed academic supervisor. The contract of employment is for 24 months. There is a probationary period of six months, during which time the contract may be terminated by either side with one month’s notice. Thereafter, the required notice period to be given by either side is three months. The University requires a mid- probationary report after three months and a full probationary report at six months.

In other respects the Associate will be treated as a company employee. Work will be split between the University and the Company as appropriate for the specific activities. The conditions of work, including work hours and holiday entitlement, will be those applying to Company employees. An appraisal is carried out at six months with the Academic and Company Supervisors. This is used to identify the Associate’s training requirements in relation to programme tasks and their personal development plan. There will be further appraisals at eighteen months.

Whilst there is no commitment on the company to retain the Associate at the end of the programme, it is expected that the Associate will be made aware of future prospects at their 18 month appraisal. KTP appointments cannot normally be extended beyond the end of the project.

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