BACKGROUND

International Sustainability and Development Yönetim Danışmanlık Hizmetleri ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi (hereinafter “ISD”) is seeking a Senior Research Manager to join our team. ISD is an international development company that promotes meaningful change around the world to help people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• The Senior Research Manager will be responsible for leading the research front in the Syria Education Project  by developing research and learning agenda, assuring that all activities in this agenda are aligned with ISD and the client (FCDO) objectives. S/he will work with technical staff (education and child protection) to develop research methodologies and tools.
• S/he will assist the MERL Director with the implementation of the designing and the implementation of this agenda and make sure that is communicated to different stakeholders. S/he will work with technical programme staff to oversee how learning from these outputs are integrated in the workplan.
• The Researcher will adhere to and act in accordance with ISD’s professional code of ethics, “Living Our Values,” and will make the principles of the code a part of the program’s culture and operating procedures. S/he will uphold ISD's safeguarding standards at all times and will promote a safeguarding culture among partners, beneficiaries, and staff. S/he will also foster and maintain good relationships with potential and actual grantees, will disclose any affiliations that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, and will maintain confidentiality regarding program activities.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

• Developing and overseeing implementation of Syria Education Programmes research and learning agenda.
• Link the research and learning agenda with the wider ISD MERL framework and with international literature on research methodologies.
• Ensuring that the research products reflect the voices of and ISD’s accountability to stakeholders. For example, ensuring the research agenda reflects the information that ISD’s client needs; ensuring the research we are undertaking isn’t extractive but is valued by the communities we work with.
• Draft research questions and methodology for suggested research topics and finalize it by working closely with the programme, and MERL teams and the Education Adviser.
• Finalize research methodology and select appropriates data collection tools, sample and locations.
• Work with the programme team to assure that selected topics, research question will answer the programme need and to make sure that the methodology is appropriate and conflict sensitive.
• Work with the programme team to turn evidence into action, adapting our programming based on research findings.
• Analyze qualitative data as needed per the research agenda, designs KIIs and FGDs methodologies for field staff to collect qualitative data when needed
• After data and findings analysis, finalize the findings and suggest recommendations and next steps based on these findings.
• Draft the final research outputs to be ready for submission to ISD’s client (FCDO).
• Draft presentations on findings and present to the team, FCDO, and Education Directorates
• Presenting findings to experts in education, child wellbeing and research, both in Syrian forums (e.g. to networks of education NGOs) and internationally (e.g. CIES, UKFIET, Chemonics-led webinars).
• Presenting findings to non-specialists, including sharing and validating findings with the communities who provided research data and evidence.
• Make sure that all of the above is also aligned with ISD communication strategy.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The assignment is long-term through the life of the programme

LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The assignment will be conducted remotely, and work locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 4 years of experience in designing and utilizing research, and reporting of donor-funded projects.
• Experience in conducting both quantitative and qualitative social research
• Experience in data analysis and reporting
• Bachelors’ degree in social sciences or related field
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent communication, and writing/reporting skills. 
• Team player with the ability to also work independently with minimum supervision.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate complicated ideas (including research methods) in a clear way to non-specialist audiences within the team
• Understanding of how to communicate findings widely to specialist and non-specialist audience, to influence uptake of findings/recommendations.
• Experience writing concise research briefings and working with implementation teams to adapt programmes based on those findings
• Strong speaking and writing skills in English is required.
• Knowledge and understanding of Syria context, conflict and security situation in Syria, previous experience in Syria desired.
• Experience of working on education projects, particularly in fragile or conflict settings is desired.
• Fluency in Arabic is strongly preferred but not a must.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research software is desirable

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

The Senior Research Manager will report to the MERL Director

Applications

Interested candidates will need to apply by sending their resume, cover letter, and an example of a research work to this email address recruitment@manahel.org with this title in the email subject Senior Research Manager by July 9, 2021.

Ideally the example of work would be mixed-methods, but you will not be penalised it if is purely quantitative or qualitative. Ideally it would deal with education or child protection issues, but again, that is not essential: we will use it to get an understanding of your research skills, not your understanding of education/child wellbeing issues. If the research was authored/edited by multiple people, please briefly outline your contribution in your submission. The research example should be written in English. It does not need to have been published.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

As INTER SUSTA. AND DEVYÖN.DAHİZ.VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ. (“Company”), we pay utmost care and importance to ensuring security of your personal data. Accordingly, we take necessary measures for the sake of providing appropriate security level in order to prevent illegal processing of and access to your personal data and ensuring protection of such data in the processes of processing your personal data and transmitting them to third persons pursuant to the Personal Data Protection Law (“KVK Law”) No 6698.