James Maina Kariuki

Summary of Experience

Market and Social Science Research Professional

1. Over ten years’ hands on experience in both Market and Social research.
2. Passionate about brands and what they stand for vis-à-vis customer perceptions, attitudes etc
3. Keen in understanding and resolving societal challenges through scientific research solutions.
4. Experienced in various research approaches e.g.secondary research, qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
5. Extensive experience across various research studies e.g. Social, Political, Economic and Consumer (SPEC) surveys, Baseline studies, EndLine studies, Particpatory research, User experience (UX-Testing), Market understanding and strategy, Segmentation studies, Product and concept evaluation, Communication testing, Usage and attitude studies, Brand health audits among others.
6. Familiar with various data collection methods e.g. secondary data reviews, face to face interviews, focus group discussions, ethnographies/immersions, and in-depth interviews/key Informant interviews.
7. Holistic engagements in different sectors i.e. International Non Governmental Organizations, International Government Organizations,Mulitilateral Institutions, Foundations, Government of Kenya, Corporates and Small and Medium Enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Project Management Professional

1. Great in client service cultivation and etiquette. Achieved through regular communication and engagements with clients.
2. In depth understanding of the client’s business or thematic areas of operations. This includes intrinsic knowledge of client’s brands and social development issues whilst providing valuable strategic insights through scientific data.
3. Fluid in project set up in line with the study objectives, best scientific data collection approach, management of the project within agreed timelines and resources.
4. Excellent trainer of field supervisors, interviewers and data collectors. I currently supervise research assistants and between 5 – 10 supervisors/interviewers depending on the project scope.
5. Experienced data collector through Mobile, familiar at scripting, data entry, cleaning and coding  
6. Fluid at monitoring and evaluating projects and instituting quality control measures.
7. Knowledgeable in analysis of secondary and primary data. Furthermore, I am proficient in data analysis software’s i.e. SPSS and NVivo.
8. Seasoned report writer in Word and PowerPoint with actionable recommendations to clients and key stakeholders.

Key clients handled include World Bank, Heineken, USAID, Coca Cola, Ford Foundation, Safaricom PLC, Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA), Barclays Bank PLC, Brookings Institute, KCB Group, Lego Foundation, Save the Children, British Broadcasting Corporation, Mkopa, International Republican Institute, Brookings Institute, and Total, Diageo among many others.