Senior Researcher

Re-advertisement for the below vacancy

• Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).
• VA No. VA26/25
• Office/Unit/Project: KSA/Program/ 01004920
• Position Title: Senior Researcher
• Duty station (City & Country): Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Office- or Home-based: Office-based (on-site UNDP and PSU)
• National or International Consultancy: Saudi Nationals
• Vacancy Readvertisement Date: 5 April 2026
• Vacancy Closure Date: 30 April 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.

To review the full job description, please click on the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17oS23mWp2_Yl36k1vHzXPdXQavESen2t/view?usp=sharing

Project Title:

Establishment of and Support to Public Diplomacy Think Tank, Prince Sultan University (PSU), (Project Number: 01004920)

Project Description:

Through the partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Prince Sultan University (PSU), this project supports the establishment and operationalisation of the Public Diplomacy Think Tank in Saudi Arabia. The initiative represents Phase II of a multi-phase cooperation, building on the successful completion of Phase I, which defined the strategic foundation and institutional design of the Think Tank.

The Think Tank will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s capacity for public diplomacy by advancing research, innovation, and capacity development aligned with Vision 2030. It will serve as a centre of excellence to promote thought leadership, knowledge exchange, and cross-sector partnerships, positioning PSU as a national and regional leader in public diplomacy.

UNDP provides technical and operational support to ensure the Think Tank’s establishment adheres to international standards, integrates sustainable governance systems, and strengthens PSU’s institutional capacity. PSU will lead in developing research, training, and outreach programmes to enhance Saudi Arabia’s influence, promote global dialogue, and develop local expertise in digital diplomacy and soft power strategies.

The project contributes to the UNSDCF Outcome 4: fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies and mobilizing means required for the implementation of Agenda 2030. It aligns with UNDP Strategic Plan Output 3.1 (economic diversification through research, innovation, and digital transformation) and CPD Output 4.3 (strengthening institutional and technical capacities of civil society and academic partners).

Scope of Work

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).

The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Quality assurance & ethics - Apply internal QA processes (fact-checking, citations, version control, approvals). - Ensure ethical handling of sources, interview notes, and sensitive information. 7. 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

• 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.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will report directly 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 and other universities/research centers, policy practitioners, media stakeholders (through Comms), and external experts/peer reviewers.

Duration of the Work

• The expected duration of the work is a full-time for 12 months.
• The role is anticipated to start on \[30-04-26\] and end on \[30-04-27\].

Duty Station

• This assignment will be Office-based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s duty station city is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

Minimum education requirements

• 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).

Minimum years of relevant work experience

• 5–10+ years of relevant research experience in a think tank, government advisory environment, international organization, consultancy, or research center.

Required skills

• Demonstrated publication record (reports/briefs/articles) with policy relevance.
• Proven track record of managing and delivering high-quality research outputs.
• Strong analytical and methodological background in both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Experience leading research teams, coordinating multi-stakeholder studies, and managing external experts.
• Excellent writing and communication skills with a focus on policy relevance and clarity.
• 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.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• 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.

Required Language(s)

• Proficiency in Arabic & English (required).