Lead Analyst

Position Title: Lead Analyst
Reference No.: 241105
Position Location: Remote (MENA time zone working hours) with frequent travel to the
region;
Position Scope: Full Time
Timeframe: 1 Year
Manager.: Technical Director

Overview
This Scope of Work outlines the Lead Analyst at the Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR). The Lead Analyst will act as focal point for all technical client engagement and oversee project research, while recruiting, training, and supporting analysts and providing quality assurance on thematic research, due diligence, third-party monitoring, and other projects in the MENA region.

About COAR
COAR is an independent organization that supports humanitarian, peacebuilding, and development interventions in complex, fragile, and high-risk environments.

Objectives

• Oversee production of high-quality research (including short-form reporting and longer-form thematic research) on political, economic, social, conflict, and humanitarian dynamics, stakeholders, and systems;
• Act as technical focal point for clients as technical focal point to understand perceived and real research needs and use cases, and ensure client satisfaction;
• Recruit, train, and mentor key experts and analysts; foster autonomy and integrity, and promote technical expertise and competency.
• Maintain up-to-date and in-depth knowledge of political, economic, and social dynamics in relevant regions, relevant to client policy, strategy, and programmatic decision-making.

Deliverables

• Oversee production of high-quality research products, including conflict analysis, area profiles, political economy analyses, scopings, and sectoral research.
• Support analysts to identify and interpret relevant military, political, economic, social, and humanitarian stakeholders and dynamics. Ensure findings are operationally relevant to client.
• Design research plans, methodologies, and timelines for thematic studies; provide quality assurance to ensure deliverables are of high quality.
• Collaborate with Data Visualization, Mapping, and Graphic Design teams to conceptualize design of infographics, layouts, and data visualizations.
• Act as technical focal point Respond to ad-hoc information requests and present updates to clients and stakeholders.

Activities

• Provide technical leadership and oversight of all technical aspects, including collaboration with Analysts and Technical Advisors.
• Mentor, train, and manage analysts, providing technical supervision and structured support in order to develop capacity and professional capability.
• Recruiting additional resources as needed.
• Design, review, and ensure workplans and deliverables meet COAR’s standards.
• Act as technical client focal point on applicable projects
• Engage with external stakeholders to enhance COAR’s profile, identify new approaches and services, and opportunities.
• Design research, draft key expert scopes of work and oversee recruitment, collaborate with Research Team to design surveys, etc.
• Provide quality assurance and ensure timelines, quality, and methodological rigor are met.
• Collaborate with Project Manager to project level of effort of analysts and ensure that research specifications remain within project budget. Revise if necessary.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum eight years of experience in qualitative data analysis, research, and project management, especially within humanitarian or development research fields.
• Demonstrated understanding of the Syrian context and donor compliance requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable

• Publication history and experience with data visualization
• Written and spoken Arabic language capability.
• Prior experience with sensitive subjects or in I/NGOs in humanitarian settings.
• PhD in relevant field