Field Officer

We are looking for a motivated, reliable, and detail-oriented Field Officer to support research and academic projects through field-based data collection, participant engagement, interviews, surveys, observations, and field coordination.

The Field Officer will work closely with researchers, academic institutions, project coordinators, and other field team members to ensure that research activities are conducted professionally, ethically, and according to approved research procedures.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable working with people from different backgrounds, traveling to different field locations, collecting accurate information, maintaining confidentiality, and working independently while meeting project deadlines.

As a Field Officer, you will support the implementation of research and academic projects across assigned locations in Tanzania.

Your work may involve identifying and contacting research participants, conducting questionnaires and interviews, collecting qualitative and quantitative data, recording observations, supporting community or stakeholder engagement, and submitting accurate field reports.

You will be expected to follow research protocols and instructions provided by the research team, maintain professional relationships with participants and stakeholders, and promptly communicate any challenges encountered during fieldwork.

Depending on the project, you may work in communities, institutions, schools, businesses, healthcare or social settings, or other designated research locations.

The role requires flexibility, good communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in different environments and locations.

Field Research & Data Collection

• Conduct surveys, questionnaires, interviews, observations, and other approved research activities.
• Collect accurate and complete data according to project guidelines.
• Identify, contact, and engage eligible research participants.
• Explain research activities and participation requirements clearly to participants.
• Record responses and observations accurately using approved tools and procedures.
• Use mobile data collection platforms, tablets, smartphones, or paper-based research tools as required.
• Review collected information for completeness and accuracy before submission.
• Follow research protocols, questionnaires, sampling procedures, and fieldwork instructions.

Participant & Community Engagement

• Establish professional and respectful relationships with research participants.
• Communicate with community members, institutions, organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support participant recruitment and scheduling.
• Answer basic participant questions and refer technical or research-related concerns to the appropriate project team.
• Maintain participant confidentiality and handle research information responsibly.
• Respect cultural, social, and institutional practices within assigned field locations.

Field Coordination

• Plan daily field activities according to project schedules.
• Coordinate appointments, interviews, visits, and participant activities.
• Work with supervisors and research teams to meet fieldwork targets.
• Monitor progress against assigned fieldwork schedules and targets.
• Report field challenges, participant concerns, logistical issues, or changes in circumstances promptly.
• Support research teams during field visits, assessments, workshops, or academic studies.
• Travel to assigned locations as required by the project.

Data Quality & Reporting

• Check collected data for completeness, consistency, and accuracy.
• Maintain accurate field records and documentation.
• Submit completed questionnaires, forms, datasets, or other research materials within agreed deadlines.
• Prepare daily or periodic fieldwork reports.
• Report unusual findings, data collection challenges, or protocol deviations to the supervisor.
• Participate in data quality checks and field debriefing sessions.
• Correct or clarify incomplete information when requested by the research team.

Professional & Team Responsibilities

• Attend field training and project briefings before commencing data collection.
• Follow research ethics, safety procedures, and project requirements.
• Work collaboratively with researchers, supervisors, enumerators, and other field officers.
• Maintain professionalism when representing the research organization or academic project.
• Protect confidential research information and participant details.
• Perform other reasonable fieldwork and research-support duties assigned by the project supervisor.

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Research, Social Sciences, Education, Statistics, Development Studies, Public Health, Economics, Business, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, or a related field.
• Previous experience in field research, data collection, surveys, interviews, community engagement, or related work is an advantage.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English and Swahili.
• Ability to communicate professionally with people from different backgrounds.
• Good interpersonal and interviewing skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to follow research protocols and instructions.
• Basic computer literacy and familiarity with smartphones, tablets, or digital data collection tools.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle research information responsibly.
• Good organization and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a research team.
• Willingness to travel and work in different field locations within Tanzania.
• Ability to work under deadlines and complete assigned fieldwork targets.
• Professional, dependable, respectful, and willing to learn.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working as a Field Officer, Research Assistant, Enumerator, Data Collector, Survey Assistant, Community Officer, or similar role.
• Experience with digital data collection platforms such as KoboToolbox, ODK, SurveyCTO, or similar tools.
• Experience conducting structured or semi-structured interviews.
• Experience working on academic, social research, market research, community development, or institutional research projects.
• Familiarity with research ethics and informed-consent procedures.
• Experience working with universities, research organizations, NGOs, or development projects.