Senior Research Advisor

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS has launched a dedicated research initiative, Research and Evidence-Based Practice to Inform Advocacy and Influence Policy (REAP Initiative), to govern HIAS’ overall research practice and advance HIAS’ goal of becoming an evidence-driven organization and thought leader in key programmatic and policy areas. This is a cross-departmental effort jointly led by HIAS’ Programs division, the Global Public Affairs division and the Strategy & Measurement (SAM) department. SAM leads the strengthening of HIAS’ research capacity, governance and practice to provide the methodological and ethical foundation needed to ensure HIAS’ research practice produces high-quality, consistent, useful evidence for all internal and external stakeholders.

SAM seeks a Senior Research Advisor with demonstrated experience leading research governance, capacity-building and standard operating processes to contribute to the launch of the REAP Initiative and engage in the strengthening of overall research capacity, governance and practice as described above. The Senior Research Advisor will be responsible for implementing research capacity development activities, ensuring the operation of research processes and protocols for implementation, and maintaining governance processes and related bodies, policies and standards. These responsibilities are at a global level, supporting SAM’s high-level contributions to the REAP Initiative across all HIAS locations and departments. The Senior Research Advisor reports to the Director, Results & Impact and coordinates closely with counterparts representing Programs and Global Public Affairs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

RESEARCH STRATEGY, PLANNING & SUPPORT

• Supports the setting of research priorities to ensure that research aligns with HIAS’ strategic goals and is an effective use of HIAS’ resources.
• Coordinates with programs and policy staff on the development of HIAS’ multi-year research plan.
• Guided by the Director, Results & Impact, and in coordination with the Regional MEAL Advisors, supports SAM’s overall coordination with REAP Initiative counterparts to provide research-specific framing for learning questions within each HIAS core program.
• Supports the Director, Results & Impact in providing methods of guidance for research projects under the REAP Initiative.
• Contributes quality assurance and methodological support to development of publications, presenting findings from research undertaken by the REAP Initiative, and focusing on support translating technical findings for a non-technical audience.

RESEARCH CAPACITY-STRENGTHENING

• Identifies capacity needs related to research governance, processes and use across all levels of the organization, including headquarters and country team staff, and develops an internal capacity strengthening plan.
• Leads the development and rollout of HIAS trainings on research concepts, quality standards, ethics and ethical standards, and planning and management processes, tailored as appropriate across a variety of HIAS roles that engage in, contribute to, or are end users of research.
• Identifies external trainings, resources and opportunities that build overall staff capacities, as well as address specialized capacity-building needs for staff who closely support or engage in research.
• Builds strong ongoing relationships with key contacts at professional associations and networks (global, regional and national levels) that promote capacity-strengthening and skills-building for organizations engaging in research on humanitarian, development and social issues.
• Provides ongoing support to the REAP Initiative to strengthen HIAS’ existing and new partnerships with relevant academic and research institutions, peer organizations and other public and private institutions.

RESEARCH PROCESSES

• Establishes and maintains a set of agreed processes and guidelines to ensure the alignment of individual research projects with HIAS’ research priorities and learning agendas.
• Supported by consultancy resources and guided by the Director, Results & Impact, develops, improves and maintains key elements of the resources package supporting HIAS’ research framework, including guidance documents and templates for research planning, project management structures and processes, partnerships and implementation.
• Maintains alignment of all REAP initiative projects with these defined research standards, guidelines and processes; serves as go-to expert and “process ambassador” on standards and guidelines for teams engaging in research.

RESEARCH GOVERNANCE

• Leads the establishment and maintenance of research governance standards, structures and processes across REAP, as guided by the Director, Results & Impact.
• Oversees the establishment and maintenance of HIAS’ internal Ethics Review Committee and Content Review Committee to provide governance and decision-making for projects within REAP, in alignment with HIAS’ Data Protection Policy and Policy for Protection of Human Subjects in Research.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree with basic research training in the social sciences required; graduate degree strongly preferred. Applicants without a graduate degree are encouraged to use their application materials to demonstrate equivalent experience and/or training in research methods, standards and practices.
• 5-7 years of experience conducting and/or synthesizing research in a social science field required; experience with research in humanitarian or development settings preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with both primary and secondary source research using quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods approaches.
• Excellent understanding of research quality standards and ethical standards across academic and practitioner research; demonstrated experience applying these standards in practitioner-focused settings.
• Experience building others’ capacity to engage in or understand research processes, including experience leading or facilitating trainings on research concepts, standards or findings.
• Experience establishing, maintaining or at minimum working effectively within research governance structures and processes.
• Demonstrated comfort level networking with external researchers, experts and other practitioners and academic partners across social science disciplines.
• Ability to support the synthesis of technical research deliverables into succinct and clear evidence products that inform continuous improvement of programs and advancement of advocacy priorities.
• Demonstrated interest in and understanding of humanitarian and development topics; experience working with research or programming related to forced displacement is an asset.
• Excellent English writing, editing and communications skills, including experience writing technical guidelines, SOPs and reports; the ability to do this in additional languages, particularly Spanish and French, is not required but is certainly an asset.
• Highly organized with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Self-directed, with experience executing project-level tasks independently.
• Ability to work effectively and collegially in a cross-departmental team setting with colleagues across multiple locations, time zones and cultural backgrounds.

HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.