United States of America: Research Officer (RO)

Organization: Action Against Hunger-USA
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 31 Dec 2014

Research Officer (RO)

Reports to: Associate Director: Research

Location: Action Against Hunger - USA New York Office (with possibility to work remotely), with regular visits to field, network and related meetings (up to 40%)

Action Against Hunger is part of the ACF International network which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. ACF-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 7 countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Cambodia and Uganda. ACF-USA, has over $45 million in programs, approximately 50 permanent staff based in NYC, 100 expatriate employees in the missions, and over 1,200 local staff. Additional growth is anticipated.

Summary of position and essential functions and responsibilities:

As a member of the ACF-International Cost-Effectiveness Research Group and focal point for a portfolio of research projects, the Research Officer (RO) will be responsible for conducting field research to assess the cost-effectiveness of field interventions within the ACF-International network. Specifically, the main responsibilities are to provide research support for planned analyses, through working with the Associate Director: Research to :

• Develop research protocols;
• Create data collection tools;
• Analyze data;
• Draft reports.

The RO will lead research activities during field visits for data collection, including collecting primary data, overseeing study teams, and ensuring timelines are followed.

The RO works closely with ACF International counterparts, including representatives from various ACF HQs for which analyses are conducted. The RO reports directly to the Associate Director: Research.

Essential job functions:

Development of Research Protocols, Tools and Outputs

• Together with supervisor, develops research protocols for planned analyses, including interview protocols, survey tools, assessment of accounting data, and mapping program resource use.
• Forecasts and plans field research activities to fulfill objectives of research projects, develops timeframe for data collection.
• Drafts research reports, works with supervisor to finalize publications.
• Conduct and Manage Field Research Process
• Visits ACF-IN missions to conduct field data collection for planned analyses.
• Conducts one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with program staff, communities, and other local stakeholders.
• Works with country administrative staff to ensure that records of accounting data are complete.
• Works with other partners and relevant staff to ensure all other relevant costs are captured.
• Communicates regularly with supervisor from field to troubleshoot, identify gaps in data collected, and areas requiring further communication and clarification, etc.
• Ensures quality of data collected.

Planning of research project cycle

• Coordinates all field research activities.
• Ensures that research activities progress according to planned timeframe.
• Monitors the project budget.

Team Management

• Provides support to country teams in recruiting enumerators and translators for field data collection visits, including preparation of job descriptions and required budgets.
• Supervises and oversees enumerators and translators during field data collection visits.
• Coordinates, when necessary, with in-country data entry teams to ensure quantitative or qualitative data is entered correctly, in a proper format, and in a timely manner.

External Coordination and Representation

• Represents ACF-International at conferences and other relevant technical events, contributes presentations, panel discussions, abstracts etc.
• Works with other partners as needed, in the field and as part of potential research consortia.

Communication & External Relations

• Regularly contributes to ER/ communication efforts, press releases and other documentation on country and global content.
• Provides requested and necessary information, experiences and case studies to ER/Comms for public communications, website materials etc.
• Contributes to photos taken on field visits to the ER/Comms data base and other resources.
• Be available for interviews, radio and video material development for ER/Comms purposes.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with interruptions.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee has to be fit and able to travel to Action Against Hunger fields of intervention for periods of a minimum of 2 weeks, including long periods of air and land transport.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance in New York as well as field visits, attendance to external meetings and conferences (approx. 40% of the time).
• Must be available to work and travel outside normal office hours or on the weekends as needed or required.
• Must be able to travel coach fare for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the country project sites.
• While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

Qualifications & essential experience

Masters degree in relevant field (Public Health, Nutrition, Economics, Sociology or other related field)

Experience conducting field research in resource-constrained settings with limited supervision.

Requirements

Research and Technical:

• Experience conducting applied research in developing countries, including the development of protocols and tools, data collection, management of local data collection teams, and analysis
• Experience writing scientific reports & articles for peer reviewed & non-peer reviewed publications
• Knowledge of methods of program evaluation and/or implementation research;
• Experience working in cost-effectiveness research desirable
• Experience working in humanitarian contexts desirable
• Knowledge of relevant software packages including statistical analysis & other specialized software (i.e. decision analysis/cost-effectiveness analysis software).

Additional:

• High proficiency working with MS Office Suite (especially Excel); comfortable working with computers and a broad range of software with minimal IT support.
• Experience being proactive and taking initiative to move complex projects forward
• Must be comfortable working from remote locations, managing and prioritizing own workload autonomously & reliably.
• Strong communication & coordination skills a necessity
• Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of Action Against Hunger.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Fluent written and spoken English. Knowledge of French and Spanish preferred.
• Existing eligibility to work in the United States preferred.

All candidates should apply online at www.actionagainsthunger.org/about/employment/job-opportunities

The starting salary for the Research Officer position is $64,000. ACF-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. ACF-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

How to apply:

Apply with resume and cover letter at http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/about/employment/job-opportunities