ACTED REACH Research Manager Jobs in Kenya
Under the management of the Country Coordinator, the Research Manager oversees the programs and staff within the Kenya mission (Cash & Markets, and intersectoral work stream). The Research Manager leads the team to achieve program excellence and ensure the highest level of impact and accountability while ensuring compliance to IMPACT’s guidelines and standards.
As part of the country’s Senior Management Team, s/he contributes to the development and implementation of IMPACT’s country strategy and promotes organizational vision and core values across the mission.
The Research Manager is responsible for the management and coordination of all REACH research cycles in Kenya including implementation, resource mobilisation and management, partnership framework, dissemination, and evaluation. S/he directly supervises all senior assessment and field staff in Kenya.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
The Research Manager’s responsibilities include the following:
Strategy development & implementation
Context analysis: With specific attention to his/her Unit’s technical, programmatic, and institutional focus, and in coordination with the country coordinator, the Research Manager ensures that IMPACT has an up to date understanding of:
The country’s socio-economic situation, the impact of a crisis, and the aid/humanitarian situation;
The aid/humanitarian planning, coordination, and response mechanisms, as well as key aid/humanitarian stakeholders.
Develop and oversee the implementation of a Unit Strategy in alignment with country and global priorities, and fully integrated into country strategy; take a lead role in identifying strategic opportunities for strengthening IMPACT’s work in the country within the scope of his/her unit; in particular:
Ensure the Unit’s activities are relevant and have a measurable impact on the aid/humanitarian response;
Identify new programs and approaches in which the Unit can add value to the aid/humanitarian response;
In coordination with the country coordinator, identify funding opportunities to consolidate, strengthen and/or expand the Unit’s programs;
Research Planning
Ensure that all research is planned in line with relevant project and program objectives and with the Unit/Country strategy
Ensure that all research complies with IMPACT’s HQ Research Department and other relevant guidelines;
Ensure that required secondary data analysis has been conducted in preparation of an assessment;
Ensure that Research TORs are validated by HQ before any data collection begins;
Ensure that TORs are understood and used by assessment staff and stakeholders, and updated as required;
Keep track of progress and delays of all assigned assessment throughout the research cycle. Ensure that delays or identified challenges for specific assessments are reported to the Country Coordinator and HQ research department in a timely manner.
Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are engaged in assessment design and planning.
Research Implementation
Ensure that data collectors are identified and trained for primary data collection;
Ensure logistics, financial, administration, security, and HR processes directly related to the Unit’s work and ongoing assessment have been appropriately implemented and coordinated with the relevant ACTED departments;
Ensure regular situation updates on data collection have been produced and circulated to relevant IMPACT, ACTED, and external counterparts. Provide support and follow up on identified challenges during the data collection process;
Ensure that all collected data is stored in line with IMPACT’s Data Management Guidelines, and with the ToRs;
Knowledge Sharing and Learning Process
Ensure the development and application of an M&E system/plan for each program within the Unit, in line with IMPACT’s M&E guidelines.
Share and consolidate knowledge at the unit level, with country senior management team and (as relevant) with Global Units and Communities of Practice.
Deliver and participates in inter-agency, multi-stakeholders’ knowledge sharing/lessons learned exercise.
Project Cycle Management
Project and Grants Management:
Management of relevant all Project / Grant cycles within his/her Unit (in coordination with the Country Coordinator).
ollow up on internal project cycle management processes (Kick-off/end meetings, Project Factsheets, etc), as well as external reporting requirements to donors.
Monitor output achievement, cash burn rates and ensure timely completion of projects through review of BFUs, Project factsheet, and project reports.
Ensure adequate contribution to project and proposal follow-up tools through the timely submission of the monthly updated Reporting Follow Up (RFU) tool.
Finance Management:
Anticipate financial risks and gaps in funding;
Monitor project budgets within Units to avoid under/over spending, in link with the senior finance officer, Country Coordinator and (as relevant) IMPACT and ACTED finance;
Asset and IT Management:
Ensure proper asset management;
Ensure proper IT systems, data backup and protection from malware;
Ensure sufficient and reliable means of communication;
Regularly link with and report to IMPACT HQ hub and (as relevant) ACTED logistics and IT departments;
Ensure use of the country server for secure storage and sharing of internal documentation.
Team Management and Leadership
Leadership
Provide leadership within their unit as well as within the country Senior Management Team
Transmit IMPACT’s values and vision, and their declination within his/her unit.
Staff Management
Ensure that staff within his/her unit understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities;
Ensure that all staff within Unit have clear and regularly updated TORs, workplans and Key performance Indicators against which their performance will be appraised;
Promote team building, productivity and staff welfare;
Mentor and support the Unit team to build capacities, and improve efficiency and performance;
Management of interpersonal conflicts within Unit;
Ensure regular update with Country Coordinator about staff potential, career management, training opportunities, contractual issues, difficulties faced with or expressed by field-based staff;
Administration and HR management
In support of the Country Coordinator, contribute to transparent and timely identification and recruitment of staff working in the Unit;
In coordination with the Country Coordinator and (for national staff, when relevant) ACTED country HR, proactively adapt the staffing structure for the Unit to needs and funding;
Develop and update country Unit organogram and staff recruitment plan, in line with the needs of unit strategy and existing budgetary and programme requirements;
Required Qualifications and Technical Expertise
Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, or similar)
Management experience Previous experience in a management role in a INGO at field level. Proven track record in successful management of international and national teams in humanitarian contexts
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.
Years of work experience At least 3 years of relevant working experience or proven progression within IMPACT
Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills an asset. Experience in assessments. M&E, field research, evaluations 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 the Horn of Africa or Eastern Africa is desirable;
Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Somali or Swahili an asset;
Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment
How to Apply
Qualified national persons with the required skills are invited to submit their applications accompanied by detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter as a single document i.e. with the cover letter being on the first page and the CV starting on the second page, detailing three work related referees and contacts to [email protected] with the subject line “Research Manager, Nairobi”
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