Research Specialist-Global Programmes

Overview

Lead cutting edge and seminal research and knowledge generation on VSO’s core approach areas of social inclusion and gender, social accountability, resilience and youth engagement in VSO’s global programmes in health, education, livelihoods and fragile space, in order to support scaling of VSO’s programmes and influence related policies; build capacity of programme/project teams for consistent application of research designs in line with VSO’s values and people first principles.

Responsibilities

Research Quality and Capability:

• Develop and design research projects including guidelines, qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methodologies for applied research in and about VSO programmes.
• Proposing research techniques and building capacity of project/grant/programme teams to plan, carry out, disseminate and use high quality applied research in grants in order to create robust organisational capacity in country programmes.
• Work with Head of Knowledge, Evidence, and Learning in building and managing strategic research partnerships with reputed academic and non-academic institutions.

Knowledge Products and Leadership:

• Carry out and disseminate annual learning in VSO’s programme research capability related to core approaches and youth engagement in global programmes.
• Produce periodic Policy Briefs and approach papers related to core approaches and youth engagement in global programmes out of primary and secondary research to inform programme and policy engagement debates and plans in VSO.
• Organise policy debates within VSO on research evidence with an aim to support programming and policy strategy in the organisation.
• Work with others in wider programmes to develop, publish, disseminate high quality research papers in relevant journals, conferences, and reference sources.

Business Pursuit:

• Work with business pursuit, core approaches, and practice area leads to ensure that research and learning plans are developed, followed up and delivered with an aim to support new programmes and/or business pursuit.
• In partnership with reputed academia or research institutions, bid for research grants related to VSO’s core approaches and youth engagement in programme areas.
• Represent VSO as requested in relevant research platforms, engage in evidence-based topical debates, and sharing of research evidence with donors and partners to enhance VSO’s programme scaling.

Team Building

• Work positively with others in the ‘knowledge, evidence, and learning’ function for shared knowledge and planning, collaborative action, and coherent representation of the function.
• Work positively with other programme functions and practice areas for wider organisational knowledge sharing, planning, learning and action as required.
• Undertake reasonable additional assignments as requested and important for the organisation

Education

• Masters Degree

Additional education

Master’s degree in a related field (or equivalent experience).

Sound knowledge of research principles, concepts, innovations, practices, and methods with strong mathematical/statistical skills for quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

A Ph.D. Degree in a related subject.

Experience

Additional experience

Experience of leading/conducting large-scale research projects including in partnership with academic and non-academic institutions.

Evidence of publications in relevant subject matters in reputed journals/periodicals/other reference sources.

Experience of working in development programmes in global south.

Experience of volunteering in development programmes in global south.

Skills

• IT Skills

Additional skills

Ability to develop, lead and deliver large scale research projects on time.

Ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders within and outside VSO and initiative for cross-function collaboration for quality evidence and knowledge building, sharing, and utilisation.

Ability to manage and prioritise own workload.

Ability to work outside usual working hours from time to time.

Self-motivated, ability to use own initiative and adaptability under pressure to influence quality planning and implementation.

Commitment to volunteering for development (VfD) as VSO’s core development methodology.

Contemporary, relevant IT skills; ability and experience in preparation and presentation of complex data in simple, user-friendly forms that are effective for learning and adaptation.

Terms and conditions

Equal Opportunities

VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.

Unfortunately we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position, so please ensure you have the right to work in one of the VSO locations.

VSO reserves the right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

If you’re interested in applying for this role, please click on the link //www.vsointernational.org/about/careers/research-specialist-global-programmes-a0m3z00000d7qffaab?source=myJobsinKenya for more information on the postion.

To submit your application, click on ‘Make an application’ and complete all relevant fields on the online application form before 30th July 2020