Research Manager, ERICC – Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis

Requisition ID: req51839

Job Title: Research Manager, ERICC – Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

ERICC Research Manager

Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) Summary:

Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) is a three-year Education in Emergencies (EiE) research programme funded by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and comprised of four main components:

1. Research on the most effective approaches to education in conflict and protracted crisis,
2. In-Country Operational Support,
3. Promoting research uptake across FCDO and the international community, and
4. Knowledge Systems Strengthening

The IRC leads the ERICC Research Programme Consortium (RPC), comprised of IRC and eight of the world’s leading research organizations focused on education in crisis and conflict settings, including Centre for Lebanese Studies (CLS), Common Heritage Foundation (CHF), Forcier Consulting, ODI, Oxford Policy Management (OPM) Nigeria, Osman Consulting University College of London (UCL), and Queen Rania Foundation (QRF). The IRC is responsible for delivering Components 1 & 2 of the programme, and collaborating closely with the leads for Components 3 & 4.

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC is seeking a Research Manager to support coordination and management of the Education Research portfolio.This includes overseeing coordination amongst partners and teams, reporting, data analysis, and report writing.This position is 6 months in duration (ends Dec 1, 2024), with the opportunity for extension, dependent on funding and performance.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide coordination and substantive inputs to the development and implementation of ERICC Nigeria partner scopes of work, detailed workplans, ethics submissions and approvals, ways of working, data management plans, monitoring, reporting, and learning plans.
• Support the ERICC Regional Research Director in coordinating collaboration between the Nigeria Country Research Team, the ERICC Programme Management Team, and the ERICC Research Directorate.
• Support Principal Investigators in reviewing and finalizing research agendas, concept notes, policy briefs, power points and peer reviewed publications, including layouts and submissions.
• As needed, support the design and management of fieldwork operations in coordination with the ERICC Regional Research Director, with a particular focus on work planning, and deliverables.
• Support country-level dissemination and uptake through communications and relationship building with external stakeholders.
• Participate in all Nigeria Country Research team meetings, and manage scheduling, invites, and meeting note.
• Manage ERICC’s Nigeria folders in the shared drives, including ERICC’s internal box drive for Nigeria, and the Nigeria folder of the ERICC google drive.
• Track the Nigeria Country Research Team’s timely completion of deliverables and reporting.
• Support administrative and logistic related tasks within the education research team.
• Carry out any other ERICC related activities at the direction of the ERICC Regional Research Director.

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

The position reports directly to the ERICC Regional Research Director for Nigeria and South Sudan.

Key Working Relationships: ERICC Research Directors, ERICC Programme Management Team

Position Reports to: Regional Research Director Nigeria and South Sudan

Position directly supervises: N/A

Indirect Reporting: ERICC Research Programme Coordinator

Other Internal and/or external contacts: Common Heritage Foundation and OPM Nigeria

External: Humanitarian & Development Agencies in Nigeria, Ministry focal points, FCDO Education Adviser in Nigeria, INEE, British Academy

Qualifications

• Education: University (preferably Master’s) degree in education, humanitarian or development affairs, social sciences, or other related field to humanitarian research
• Work Experience: 3-5 years of work experience in coordination and research on topics related to the education or humanitarian sector
• Ability/Willingness to travel: Up to 20%, to Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, and Yobe, or other states as needed.

• Basic research analysis skills including descriptive data analyses, data cleaning, and qualitative coding approaches
• Outstanding communication and coordination capabilities and capability to operate independently and as a team member. Excellent writing skills required.
• Partnership and collaboration building and strengthening

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Advanced skills using various office programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Google Drive
• Deep attention to detail
• Knowledge of research ethics principles
• Strong organizational skills, the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure, dealing with competing priorities, in a fast-paced team environment
• Experience coordinating and working collaboratively with multiple partners on shared objectives
• Experience organizing and implementing data collection trainings and quality assurance processes for studies
• Ability to develop and communicate clear instructions and strategic plans to accomplish specific goals within set timelines and achieve programmes’ broader visions
• Basic research analysis skills including descriptive data analyses, data cleaning, and qualitative coding approaches
• Outstanding communication and coordination capabilities and capability to operate independently and as a team member. Excellent writing skills required.
• Ability to creatively and proactively problem-solve when coordination or delivery issues arise
• Demonstrable experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and Humanitarian/Development Reporting preferred

Language Skills: English required; Nigerian languages preferred

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
• Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.
• Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
• Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate’s potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.
• Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.