Job details
Description
Essential Responsibilities
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
- Lead the development and implementation of the population-level panel survey and RMS protocols, including the overall research and sampling design, data collection and management plans, data analysis, quantitative and qualitative instruments, team composition, training plan, and overall timeline.
- Plan, manage and implement logistics for the population-level panel survey and RMS data collection, including leading procurement, planning and managing fieldwork and coordinating with country-level security and operations teams to ensure successful data collection
- Lead the translation, piloting/testing, and revision of survey tools
- Support the development of training and quality control materials for the population-level panel survey and RMS data collection, in close consultation with local data collection firm/thought partner
- identification and recruitment of local/regional data collection management firm and quantitative data enumerators
- Coordinate with qualitative data collection and analysis lead(s) to support mixed-methods research approach
- Support research activities related to humanitarian assistance averted analysis, as necessary
- Draft and manage project budgets in close coordination with the Research Director and Mercy Corps Somalia finance teams
- Provide logistical support for the qualitative research components of the project, including but not limited to the procurement and coordination with local research firms
- Lead the process of setting up a Somalia-based call-center
- Recruit a pool of enumerators to conduct phone surveys for RMS
- Manage the call center independently, including the coordination of phone surveys and other related tasks
RESILIENCE MEASUREMENT AND LEARNING
- Review and provide feedback on any data decision support tools, analytical products and any other products developed by the Human-Centered Design firm
- Participate in facilitated learning events and bilateral sessions to draw insights on and estimate individual contribution to collective resilience outcomes
- Support activities related to building participating stakeholder’s data literacy skills important for interpreting and acting on activity and population-level data
- As assigned by the supervisor, perform other tasks, which are consistent with the expertise needed in this role
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: Research Director, RMEL Specialist, Deputy Chief of Party, Chief of Party, Strategic Communications Learning Manager and other members of the RPM Applied Learning team as well as Short-Term Technical Assistants, Somalia MEL, and Mercy Corps HQ research and technical support team members.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
- BA/S degree in development studies, research methods, statistics, economics, social sciences, public policy, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field required
- Minimum 3-5 years’ experience managing planning and implementation of quantitative surveys for international development/humanitarian programs; experience in resilience-focused programs preferred
- Experience with quantitative methodologies and techniques, including experience in planning and managing surveys (in person and phone) and developing and refining data collection tools; experience in mixed methods research preferred
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ability to use intermediate Excel functions effectively
- Strong written and verbal English communication and interpersonal skills to engage a variety of audiences; Somali language skills are required
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donor-funded projects stakeholders including local organizations, survey firms, partners, etc.
- Experience working in Somalia is required
Desirable Skills
- Master’s degree in development studies, research methods, statistics, economics, social sciences, public policy, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field
- Experience working in the humanitarian sector is an asset but it can be substituted with substantial experience the private, governmental or development sector
- Experience with digital data collection tools (e.g., ODK Collect, CommCare, Kobo Toolbox); experience with SMS, IVR or WhatsApp survey platforms and visualization software (e.g., Tableau or Power BI) strongly preferred
- Previous exposure to working with dashboards (Tableau, Power BI, R shiny, Excel or a similar tool)
Success Factors
- Excellent on-line communication skills and experience using multiple communication platforms.
- Superb organizational skills and show initiative to identify and solve problems
- Capable of multitasking, rapid decision-making, and work under time constraints
- Must be able to work with diverse teams (country, language) and sectors (e.g. natural resources, economics, sociology, digital technology)
- Flexibility to adapt to changing conditions and requirements
- Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision with attention to detail
- Strong team player with demonstrated interpersonal skills
Application Requirements
The application package must include the following components to be considered.
- An updated CV in PDF format no longer than three pages listing the candidate’s relevant work experience and achievements
- A Cover Letter in PDF format no longer than one page (300 words max) addressing the following three questions 1) your interest in working in the humanitarian sector 2) three relevant professional achievements that demonstrate your fit for this role 3) explain your career plans for the five years and how this position aligns with this
- Submission of an independently prepared data collection plan that was specifically produced for the purpose of this recruitment. The instructions go as follows: Select a resilience capacity that you think are largely overlooked but really matters for Somali households facing large-scale shocks. Then pick an intervention (or a combination of them) that you think would most effectively strengthen this capacity? Outline a data collection plan on how you would organize the data collection measuring the link between your selected resilience capacity and intervention? Use no more than 1 page (300 words max). The document should be submitted in PDF format and uploaded in Mercy Corps’ recruitment portal as an attachment.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is split between Mercy Corps offices in Mogadishu and Baidoa, Somalia, and it may require some travel to other field offices if and when required for meetings and other functions. Accommodation is provided in group housing. The Research Coordinator will support activities throughout Somalia. Mobility in Somalia is restricted and must first be cleared with the Security Advisor. The standard Somali workweek is Sunday – Thursday. Provisionally, the selected candidate shall be expected to travel 30-50% of his or her time.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDT to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures and values et all times and in all in-country.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
