Online Researcher

About Onja

Onja is a social enterprise training underprivileged youth into world-class software developers.

We find the brightest students in Madagascar who can’t afford to continue their education and train them in English language and software development. After just two-and-a-half years they are ready to work as remote front-end software developers in international tech teams.

Once in a job, our developers earn a good salary that helps them support their families and pay forward the opportunity to a new wave of students. They unlock exciting careers that fulfil their potential, and accelerate the development of their nation (see ‘How Onja Works’ below).

Our first cohort, ‘Wave 1’, consists of nineteen talented and committed graduates who are now working remotely for our partner companies in Europe and the US. With this immensely successful first cohort, and a proven social model, our goal is now to scale our impact: we aim to take on 360 new students over the next four years. 
Our fast-growing team is very united, committed to the mission, and hardworking, but we also maintain a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere that you’ll find everywhere in Madagascar. 

Onja is located in Toamasina, a lively city with beautiful beaches, nice restaurants, and plenty to do and see. Toamasina is Madagascar’s second-largest city (population 300,000) yet is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty and even has a national park nearby. 
 
About the Role

The Online Researcher will play an important role in our client acquisition efforts. They will be responsible for sourcing high-quality leads from platforms like Crunchbase which will be key for our partner outreach. They will be responsible for ensuring that lead quality adheres to the CAT department’s standards.

They will work closely with the CAT Lead and will take ownership of the lead collection process. Beyond being able to thrive in routine-driven tasks, They will also have a problem-solving/proactive mindset and will be working on optimising the lead collection methodology and overall efficiency of data management.

We believe in hiring based on skills, attitude and cultural fit rather than specific qualifications.

Your responsibilities will include:  

• Identify and collect high-quality email leads that align with the company’s standards. 
• Ensure leads meet quality criteria by verifying accuracy and relevance. 
• Collaborate with the CAT Lead to assess and refine the lead collection process, proposing innovative ways to enhance efficiency and data quality. 
• Excel in a role centred on repetitive tasks by maintaining consistency, focus, accuracy, and productivity over long periods. Requires the ability to manage and thrive in structured, routine-driven work. 
• Ensure all collected data is accurately entered and maintained in tracking spreadsheets. 
• Provide regular updates to the CAT Lead, flagging any issues or trends that may require adjustments in strategy. 
• Work closely with the CAT Lead to identify additional opportunities for lead generation through alternative platforms and methods. 
• Contribute to team discussions on improving the overall client acquisition strategy.

Candidates can anticipate that reference checks will be conducted as part of our thorough evaluation process. 

Why work with us (same for every role)

• Do impactful work:  Working with Onja gives you the ability to make a real tangible difference with your work, and have a deep sense of purpose in your everyday.  Our mission is to nurture talented, underprivileged youth to lead impactful careers in tech, unlock opportunities for others and accelerate Madagascar's development.
• Grow your skills fast: As a young fast-growing startup we are all in “over our heads” and this is a great place to grow.  You will be challenged but you’ll also be part of a very supportive team and caring environment. Our social model is innovative with exciting potential to scale, so there is a great opportunity for you to grow your career along with us.
• Work with very talented individuals who are very socially inclined:  At Onja you’ll join a community of talented and passionate people from around Madagascar and the world. 

How Onja Works

Onja is a social enterprise with a sustainable model:

• Search for brilliant minds who would otherwise be limited to low-paid, unfulfilling careers. 
• Students receive two years of English and software development instruction. Meet a developer here: https://onja.org/blog
• Graduates earn (and continue learning) at our outsourcing enterprise. 
• All profits are used to train the next wave of students and the cycle begins again.  

We want our recruitment process to be fair and inclusive, so please do let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make. For example, if you identify as neurodivergent, we can accommodate and discuss modifications to our hiring process with you.