Research Manager – Disaster and Climate Resiliance for Ukraine

  • Contractor
  • Ukraine
  • TBD USD / Year
  • IMPACT Initiatives profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


IMPACT Initiatives

BACKGROUND ON IMPACT AND REACH

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

We are currently looking for a Research Manager to lead our Disaster and Climate Resilience (DCR) Unit in Ukraine.

Department:REACH

Position: Research Manager

Contract duration:12 months

Location: Ukraine, base TBD

Starting Date: ASAP

COUNTRY PROFILE

Following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine on February 24th, 2022, military hostilities have caused widespread damage to infrastructure and houses, hundreds of civilian deaths, disrupted markets and essential services, and precipitated massive displacement within Ukraine and into neighbouring countries. Present in Ukraine since 2014, IMPACT is working across the country to provide humanitarian actors with rigorous data and in-depth analysis to ensure aid interventions are timely, appropriate, and relevant. The DCR Unit uses primary research, GIS, remote sensing, and secondary data review, to support disaster preparedness, risk mitigation and ongoing humanitarian planning, enabling effective prioritization of aid efforts.

POSITION PROFILE

IMPACT is seeking a candidate with a strong background in research or advocacy on environment or disaster risk, who has previously managed teams in a complex humanitarian setting. The candidate should be comfortable representing IMPACT with donors and be able to coordinate and liaise with a range of senior external partners. The Research Manager (RM) will be responsible for overseeing the development and strategy of DCR Unit, under the supervision of the IMPACT Deputy Country Coordinator and IMPACT HQ in Geneva. The position is based in Ukraine, with the specific base to be discussed with the candidate.

The overall goal of the RM will be to ensure the smooth running of activities, and he/she will be responsible for the satisfactory implementation and completion of the various work streams within the unit. This will include operational and programmatic oversight of all DCR activities, including line-management of the 3 Senior Assessment Officers who lead the Agriculture Analysis, Hazards and Environmental Risk, and Damage Assessments workstreams, each of which consists up to 6 HR contracted staff. In coordination with the Disaster and Climate Analysis Senior Specialist, the RM is required to support assessment planning in line with project and program objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines. In addition, the RM is responsible for the oversight of project implementation, supporting the Operations Manager in terms of logistics, administration, HR, logistics, partner coordination, reporting, grants management, and finance, and providing input to the strategic development of REACH in Ukraine.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. STAFF MANAGEMENT
  • Direct management of senior international and national assessment team members, including recruitment, appraisals, and career management;
  • Day-to-day management of the DCR Unit including the development of work plans and performance indicators, and development and implementation of capacity training plans to improve efficiency and performance;
  • Conduct regular check-ins with staff within the unit, and promote team building, productivity and staff welfare as the main pastoral focal point for DCR staff;
  • Be available to provide regular support and technical backstopping;
  • Take on additional work streams and management responsibilities as well as advise in strategic mission decision-making as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), in coordination with the other research managers.
  1. MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH CYCLES
    1. Assessment preparation and planning
  • Ensure that all assessments are planned in-line with relevant project and programme objectives and with REACH research cycle and other relevant guidelines;
  • Ensure that all Senior Assessment Officers and GIS Officers are comprehensively briefed on objectives and expected outputs of research cycles, and that the overall implementation strategy of any given activity is clearly understood;
  • Ensure that required secondary data analysis has been conducted in preparation for an assessment;
  • For each assessment, review ToRs before they are sent to Geneva for validation and ensure that TORs are validated by HQ before data collection begins;
  • Compose and construct, in close coordination with GIS and data management officers, qualitative and quantitative data collection tools
  • Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are engaged in assessment design and planning, data collection, and management.
    1. Product drafting
  • Maintain regular communication with IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for written products;
  • Ensure the drafting of timely and accurate assessment outputs (i.e. reports, factsheets, etc.) which comply with IMPACT’s guidelines and quality standards;
  • Review all DCR products (maps, and analytical outputs) before they are sent to IMPACT HQ for validation and ensure that all written products are validated by IMPACT HQ before external release.
    1. Product dissemination and evaluation
  • Under supervision of IMPACT HQ, ensure that research products are uploaded in relevant data portals, as specified in Research ToRs;
  • Ensure that lessons learned are gathered and documented at the end of each research cycle;
  • Under the direction of the Country Coordinator, engage in the dissemination of research products, including through articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, coordination body presentations, and bilateral meetings, in line with IMPACT Dissemination and External Communication Guidelines and Research ToRs;
  • Support the Country Coordinator to conduct monitoring and evaluation as specified in the research ToRs and in line with IMPACT Guidelines.
  1. STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
  • Lead on identifying information gaps in line with humanitarian priorities, and identify advocacy and dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of our work;
  • Lead on formalising synergies with other assessment and knowledge management actors, as well as strategic partnerships with key humanitarian stakeholders and decision makers;
  • As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contribute to the development and implementation of the REACH Ukraine country strategy;
  • Review dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of DCR outputs.
  1. EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
  • Represent REACH/IMPACT in cluster and multi-sector meetings/technical working groups in country, and follow up on technical issues identified in cluster meetings;
  • In coordination with the Country Coordinator, present research findings to relevant partners, to enhance their use and impact;
  • In coordination with the Country Coordinator, ensure that relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of research cycle: the preparation of the assessment; data collection; data analysis; review of research products; product dissemination; and lessons learnt;
  • Ensure that external communications with partners and key stakeholders, including UN agencies, local and national government, and NGOs has been conducted and documented as appropriate
  • Support the IMPACT Country Coordinator in external engagement on REACH/IMPACT strategy or (when requested and with focal point) for fundraising and grants management.
  1. ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNITIES AND BENEFICIARIES

The RM is responsible for ensuring that all interactions Ukrainian communities are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about IMPACT programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.

  1. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

The Research Manager will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline;
  • Management experience Previous experience in a management role in a humanitarian context. Excellent management, coordination, organisational and planning skills required, including an ability to manage large workloads, oversee multiple teams and effectively meet deadlines, through multi-tasking and prioritisation;
  • Years of work experience at least 3 years of working experience on DRR, climate change, environment or agriculture in a humanitarian setting;
  • Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community;
  • Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.
  • Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills. Experience in assessments, M&E, field research, or evaluations. Experience with GIS or Remote Sensing an asset;
  • Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset;
  • Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment;
  • Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently;
  • Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
  • Experience in geographical region Past experience in Ukraine or the region is desirable;
  • Language skills Fluency in English is required, competency in Ukrainian or Russian is an asset;
  • Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

CONDITIONS

  • Salary defined by the IMPACT salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
  • Additional monthly living allowance provided in country by IMPACT’s partner ACTED
  • Food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)
  • Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
  • Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

How to apply

Please apply at the following link: Research Manager – Disaster and Climate Resiliance | Impact (impact-initiatives.org)


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