Jordan: Research Manager

War Child – Jordan office

Research Manager

Summary

Job title:

Research Manager - Jordan

Contract Type :

Fixed Term contract.[u1] Duration of contract is 12 months. [u2]

Reports to:

Head of Programmes – Jordan

Working with

• Project Managers and project teams in Jordan

• Various functions at Amman level; Finance, HR, Logs + Security plus technical team including Education Advisor

• Different functions from London HQ

Location

Amman, Jordan

Deadline

11 March 2017

1.Background

War Child UK (WCUK) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. We strive to empower children and young people while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict affected children and young people.

In Jordan we are running two large programmes each of which have a large research component. We are therefore recruiting a Research Manager to lead these research pieces and manage the field level research processes in country.

1. Roles and responsibilities

2. The Research Manager will mainly be focusing on two pieces of research in Jordan:

3. Evaluation of DEALS psychosocial support methodology (Linked to the ‘Time to be a Child’ programme)

4. Research on the effectiveness of tablet-based educational gaming (linked to the ‘Can’t wait to Learn’ programme), includes a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT).

5. The Research Manager is essential to the success of these research projects and will lead the implementation;

6. The Research Manager will be responsible for:

7. Recruitment, selection, and hiring of a local research team including independent research assistants, data entry assistants, and if and when needed intervention facilitators. This will involve:

   • assisting in drafting job descriptions

   • assisting in the circulation of advertisements to relevant networks

   • participating in the screening potential applicants and shortlisting several for interview together with HR Department

   • coordinating and participating in an interview panel to conduct interviews

   • taking a critical role in final selection of team together with the Country Director.

8. Assisting in competency and capacity-building of local research team in research methods, research ethics, and interventions, with support of the Research and Development team within Head Office. This competency-building will involve:

   • Basics of data collection for qualitative and quantitative research projects

   • Interviewing methods;

   • Data management processes;

   • Research ethics including participant safety, confidentiality, reporting of adverse events, maintaining integrity of research data;

   • Intervention facilitation (with support from relevant trainers);

   • Child safe-guarding;

9. Supervision and coordination of the tasks of the local research team including:

   • Holding regular supervision meetings and performance appraisals

   • Scheduling and coordination of data collection including managing all logistics such as transport, work schedules, resources required,

   • Data management

   • Monitoring of quality of data collection, adherence to ethical practices, and intervention fidelity

   • Overseeing data entry, and able to be responsible for data set cleaning.

   • Communicating key information from the research in a simple, clear, effective way to stakeholders that are non-researchers

10. Managing and reporting on adverse events and serious adverse events related to implementing the research project according to War Child [u3] data management protocols;

11. Participating in regular research supervision and coordination meetings with Research and Development Head Office team;

12. The Research Manager will conduct several field visits during training and implementation for a better understanding of context and quality monitoring

13. Reporting

They will report to the Head of Programmes in Jordan

1. Person Specification – Essential Criteria

Essential:

• At least Masters level degree in relevant field (e.g. Psychology, Nursing, Education, Public Health, Social Sciences, Education);

• At least 6 years’ experience in leading and coordinating field-based research with human subjects in a relevant field (i.e. psychosocial support, education, and/or child protection);

• Proven track record in implementing research activities and data management for human subjects research projects;

• Experience in supervising research assistants and building competency.

• Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written) and relevant local language/s;[u4]

• Ability to communicate the results of research to others in a simple, clear, effective way;

• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision;

• Ability to work with SPSS or similar data analyses software;

• Available full time, committed to invest at least 1 year in contributing to our research. agenda in Jordan.

  Language:

• Fluency in Arabic and English.

Desirable:

• Extensive experience working within Jordan in a research capacity

• Experience in (basic) analyses of data sets in SPSS of similar software package

• Previous experience in a research coordinator role in a field-based project

• Previous extensive experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods

Key Competencies:

• Understanding of the vision and mission of War Child.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong narrative reporting skills.
• Ability to collaborate and form effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Capacity to juggle multiple stakeholders and keep them engaged.
• Problem solving and can-do approach to work with a key focus on achieving successful results.
• Flexibility to change and create for continuous improvement and to contribute towards a culture of innovation along with knowledge impact.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to make effective decisions.

5.Job Location:** Amman with frequent travel to field locations (Mafraq, Zarqa, Za’atari)

6.Time frame:** The role is expected to start ASAP.

[u1]National or dosent matter the nationality

[u2]Is it extendable subject to funding & performance

[u3]WC Holland or UK !

[u4]Is Fleuncy in Arabic is a requirement !

1. How to apply

2. Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply via email: Recruitment.JOR@warchild.org.uk quoting the title “Research Manager” before 11 March 2017. Make sure to upload your English CV along with a covering letter.

3. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

4. Due to limited resources War Child HR, will contact only the shortlisted candidates.

5. First round interviews will be held on week commencing 11 March 2017.

6. Second round interviews and/ or technical exam for selected candidates will be held on week commencing 18 March 2017.

7. Any offer made post the second interview will be conditional on receipt of 3 favourable written references, (from your most recent employer, any other previous employer and a character reference). War Child reserves the right to call the referees, in case clarification is required post the receipt of complete reference forms.

8. The successful applicant will be expected to undergo a Police check from a country of permanent residence, a medical check, be compliant and sign up to War Child’s Child Protection Policy prior to a final offer being made.

The safety of children is essential to War Child. War Child does not tolerate or accept any form of abuse. This subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures.