Research Lead

The IRC’s Best Use of Resources (BUR) team conducts analysis on the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of key IRC programs. Humanitarian needs are growing while financial resources to meet those needs are limited. Project teams are faced with the complex decision of using limited budgets to bring the most impact to the greatest number of people in need. Providing technical assistance on cost-efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and strategic resource allocation to country teams, technical units, and partner organizations, the BUR team ensures programs have the greatest possible reach and impact per dollar.

This position will lead IRC’s research portfolio, as well as lead research and technical assistance across a given focus area.

Major Responsibilities: 

• Lead IRC’s cost research portfolio, identifying key questions about the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the IRC’s activities and developing research strategies to answer these questions.
• Develop a research agenda, scoping and coordinating new analyses and work plans to answer key stakeholder research questions. Lead ad hoc strategic analyses that feed into organizational decision making.
• Partner with research and technical counterparts to ensure the design of studies is appropriately targeted to our programs, targets, and learning priorities.
• Supervise Best Use of Resources staff, provide oversight of deliverables, conduct quality assurance on all analyses, and ensure projects are on track and following appropriate guidance.
• Develop evidence synthesis and lead strategic projects to inform organizational learning, and apply lessons from cost analysis to decisions about scaling and replicating effective interventions.
• Consult on evidence recommendations and support project leads to decide how cost research should be included in proposals.
• Collaborate on advocacy, identifying and scoping strategic partnerships, reviewing collateral, and building relationships.
• Contribute to fundraising for BUR team, including proposal writing for projects led by other teams.
• Serve as focal point in conversations with external stakeholders on costing methodology and results, and connect IRC teams with external sectoral researchers and technical experts for cross collaboration and learning.
• Create guidance and templates to improve overall research and methodology, including scenario tools, cost-efficiency models, methodology guidance, etc.
• Oversee research project reporting, including writing reports, delivering presentations, supporting communications staff, and contributing to broader BUR/IRC reports.
• Oversee portfolio contracting, budget, and finances, including leading the budgeting and planning for BUR staffing on cost research.
• For given focus area(s), lead research and technical assistance in the same capacity as a BUR advisor.

Job Requirements:  

Work Experience

• Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related field required; PhD strongly preferred;
• 4+ years of similar work experience; preference for 1+ years in LMICs strongly preferred.

 Demonstrated Skills and Competencies 

• One or more years of experience managing individuals and/or teams;
• Experience managing fifteen or more projects and/or projects in excess of $200k;
• Knowledge of evaluation methods, applications, and cost-evidence literature in LMICs;
• Demonstrated proficiency in spreadsheet-based data cleaning and analysis, data visualization, evidence interpretation; and statistical analysis software;
• Strong writing skills including demonstrated ability to write for non-technical audiences with an advocacy focus;
• Excellent speaking and presentation skills;
• Ability to work as part of a remote team across time zones, cultures, and contexts;
• Excellence communication skills, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player;
• Commitment to IRC’s core values.

Source: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req55224/Research-Lead