Vacancy title:
Research Manager

Jobs at:
Tufts Global Inc

Deadline of this Job:
19/01/2018

Duty Station:
Uganda

Job details:
Post: Research Manager

Expected involvement and mode of engagement: The Research Manager is a full—time position, expected to be based in Moroto. It will commence in late January 2018 with a one-year contract, potentially renewable for an additional 18 months. Travel to and within Karamoja is required, with fieldwork at times covering stretches of 3-4 weeks. ln addition to coordinating the activities in Uganda described below, the Research Manager is expected to attend meetings via Skype or teleconference when needed and to be in regular online communication with the rest of the study team and relevant consortium partners.

Compensation and benefits: Compensation to be commensurate with experience and in line with Mercy Corps national staff position. Tufts Global Inc. provides paid holidays, annual and sick leave, as well as health insurance including tor coverage for eligible dependents.

Reporting structure: The Research Manager will report to the Principal investigator tor the Feinstein international Center as part of the consortium. The Research Manager will also be expected to work closely with the Program Manager for Tufts, and with other members of the Tufts study team. She/he will also work closely and regularly with the Mercy Corps monitoring, evaluation and learning team members in Moroto and Kampala, as well as any other relevant sub-officers. S/he will have a dotted management line to the Mercy Corps M&E/L Adviser. She/he will also coordinate with other Tufts actors and stakeholders working in Karamoja as well as with other consortia members,

Primary Activities

Conducting and Administering Research

• Review and contribute to all research design, implementation, and M&E documents associated with the project, including reviewing research conducted and published to date.
• Serve as the Uganda focal point for obtaining research permits and approvals, including (but not limited to) any permissions from institutional Review Boards to conduct research in the region.
• translation interpretation services to enable the research process.
• Coordinate with consortium partners to facilitate the conduct of research, including but not limited to assisting with arranging accommodation, transit, monitoring security updates that affect the study, and providing any other administrative support, as needed
• Participate in the conduct oil research as discussed with the Principal investigator and study team, including qualitative and quantitative fieldwork in the Karamoja sub-region
• Participate in identifying, hiring and training of local research assistants, enumerators, interpreters/translators, and other study team members.
•  Manage the local research teams in the field, including overseeing data collection, managing personnel issues, and reporting regularly to the other team members
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation activities associated with the research project and required by Mercy Corps, as discussed with the program team.
•  Manage study documents over the course of the project cycle and ensure compliance with university and organizational policies.
• Manage the field research budget, including paying enumerators, translators, drivers, etc, as required, while maintaining excellent and thorough documentation of financial transactions
•  Contribute to data entry, analysis, and drafting of findings
• Review and contribute to drafts of publications that arise from the study, as requested.

Liaising with Consortium Partners and Relevant Stakeholders

• Serve as the Uganda-based focal point for the Feinstein international Center team associated with this project. This involves:
• Attending consortium meetings and relevant events linked to program design, implementation, and research uptake Within Uganda and the region;
• Maintaining regular contact with other consortium members to ensure successful implementation;
•  Participating in relevant USAID workshops and other events, as discussed with the rest ot the program team
•  Participating in meetings with other key stakeholders within Uganda (including NGOs and government) as needed tor the Project

Dissemination & Uptake

• Disseminate research findings among Mercy Corps and partner staff
• Work closely with Mercy Corps and partner staff on update, adjustments to implementation, and strategic thinking around programming
• Present research findings as relevant to other stakeholders, including both national and international: organizations and government officials (at local, sub-county district and national level)
• Lead feedback and dissemination efforts with local communities, setting up feedback sessions, leading these sessions, and soliciting and documenting responses from the communities

Coordination

• Work in close coordination and collaboration with other Tufts teams working in and on Karamoja
• Explore opportunities for additional collaboration, knowledge management and uptake with the various Tufts entities working in and on Karamoja
• Work in close coordination with other research entities working on Karamoja and related issue
•  Ensure coordination oil logistics between Mercy Corps and Feinstein around issues to research and data collection

Other tasks

• Collaborate with the rest of the study team to ensure compliance with reporting requirements associated with the program
• Contribute to other program activities, as requested by the Principal investigator
•  Participate in other activities as requested and determined

qualifications: The successful candidate will be a Ugandan national and be willing to be based in Moroto.

Qualifications for the position include:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Masters’ degree preferred
• Experience and interest in conducting field research on livelihoods, resilience, and household/community power dynamics in conflict affected areas
• Research or program management experience, ideally with both qualitative and quantitative data
• Excellent communication and time management skills, including managing a diverse portfolio of work, coordinating among stakeholders with different agendas, and reliably attending meetings (online and in person)
• Ability to work independently and efficiently
• Demonstrated writing skills
•  Fluency in written and spoken English
• Strong preference for fluency in Ngakarimojong
•  Experience with participating in and/or managing international consortium partnerships not required, but preferred

Job application procedure
Interested candidates should apply by emailing a CV and cover letter to mg; by 19/01/2018. The cover letter should be one-page explaining the reasons for interest in the position and elaborate on qualifications. The cover letter should also provide contact information for two professional and/or academic references. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted tor an interview. Short-listed candidates will be asked to provide an original writing sample in English. interviews will take place in Kampala in the period January 19-24th, with expectation trait the position will commence on February 1st 2018. No phone calls, please. For more information on the Feinstein international Center at Tufts University, please visit http://tufts.edu/