The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by mo re than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

The Airbel Impact Lab, IRC’s hub for research and innovation, supports the various technical units across the IRC to conduct or backstop research studies and innovation projects, and also leads initiatives that provide resources for country programs to design and implement programs based on evidence. We conduct this research across IRC’s outcome areas of health, economic wellbeing, safety, power, and education.

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

Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) is a three-year (Dec 2021-Dec 2024), £15.8M Education in Conflict and Crisis (EiCC) research programme funded by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The ERICC Research Programme Consortium (RPC), is led by the IRC with seven partners, including Centre for Lebanese Studies (CLS), Common Heritage Foundation (CHF), Forcier Consulting, ODI, Oxford Policy Management Nigeria, Osman Consulting, and Queen Rania Foundation (QRF).

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC is seeking a Research Manager to support the Country Research Director (CRD) for Syria in the coordination and management of ERICC research in Syria. This includes liaising with study partner Osman Consulting (OC) and supporting the CRD with the development of a country research agenda, study protocols are submitted to the appropriate IRB / ethical approvals and research permits as required, data cleaning, data analysis, ensuring partner reports and monitoring data are submitted on time, reviewed, and consolidated into country-level information,

collaborating with the research managers in other ERICC focal countries, and ensuring Syria’s participation in all working group, monitoring, learning, reflection, and other processes.

 

Responsibilities:

Major Responsibilities:

All of the following activities are to be undertaken under the supervision and in support of the Snr MEAL Coordinator, who will set responsibility ownership and support expectations once this position is hired.

• As a member of the ERICC Programme Management Team, the Senior Research Manager will Support the implementation of the ERICC programme in Syria.
• Carry out ERICC programme tasks under the direction of the Country Research Director
• The Research Manager is expected to establish and maintain good working relationships with partners, IRC country staff, stakeholders, and clients.

 

Specific responsibilities

• Provide flexible and responsive support to the CRD to help manage internal and external relationships with partners, to assist in meeting project targets, including supporting communications between IRC Syria and Osman Consulting,

• Support the development and implementation of detailed workplans, ethics submissions and approvals, ways of working, data management plans, and monitoring, reporting, and learning plans, in collaboration with Osman Consulting,

• Support information sharing and development of reports, briefs and other knowledge sharing pieces for government institutions, key organizations, and individuals,

• Manage and participate in all Syria Country Research team meetings scheduling, invites, and note-taking,

• Support the CRD in data and document analysis, drafting research outputs, and reporting on ERICC activities for internal and external audiences, and managing correspondence including letters, memos, and reports for publication,

• Support the monitoring of programme indicators as well as progress, review, consolidation, and drafting of country-level reporting to the Programme Management Team and Research Directorate,

• Support the CRD in coordinating collaboration between the Syria Country Research Team and the Programme Management Team

• Manage IRC and ERICC shared drives, including ERICC’s internal box drive for Syria, and the Syria folder of the ERICC google drive,

• Track the Syria Country Research Team’s timely completion of deliverables and reporting

• Support the operationalization of the ERICC Learning Strategy in Syria,

• Carry out any other ERICC related activities at the direction of the Snr MEAL Coordinator.

 

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.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• Education: University (preferably Master’s) degree in education, humanitarian or development affairs, social sciences, or other related field to humanitarian research.

• Work Experience: 5-7 years of work experience in coordination and research on topics related to the education or humanitarian sector

 

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Advanced skills using various office programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Google Drive

• Strong 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 programme’s broader visions

• Demonstrable experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and Humanitarian/Development Reporting preferred

• 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

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.

 

Language/Travel:

• English and Arabic are required

• Travel: up to 20%

 

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior MEAL Coordinator, IRC Syria Position directly supervises: n/a

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): ERICC Senior Research Programme Coordinator, Syria Research Director Key Internal Contacts: ERICC Programme Management Team (Programme Director, Research Programme Coordinator, Senior Contracts Finance Manager, Communications Officer, Deputy Director, Senior Education Facility Officer); Research Directorate (co-Research Directors, Senior Researchers, Senior Policy Advisor)

Key External Contacts: ERICC partners, notably Osman Consulting in Syria; Humanitarian & Development Agencies in Syria, Ministry focal points, FCDO Education Adviser in Syria, INEE, British Academy

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our

clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.