Research Manager (national)
About Acted
For the past 30 years, Acted has been working at the forefront of humanitarian action to save lives. Acted supports more than 27 million people in 43 countries, meeting their needs in hard-to-reach areas, while pursuing a triple mandate as a humanitarian, environmental, and development actor.
About IMPACT Initiatives
IMPACT Initiatives (IMPACT) is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, with the aim to improve the impact of humanitarian, stabilization and development action through data, partnerships and capacity building programs. The organization manages several initiatives, which includes i) the REACH Initiative aimed at facilitating the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, ii) the PANDA Initiative aimed at directly supporting key aid actors in improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and efficacy of their programs, and iii) the AGORA Initiative aimed at promoting localized and multi-sectoral aid action in support of the recovery and stabilization of crisis- affected communities.
With over 400 staff members, including assessment, data analysis, GIS experts and field professionals, IMPACT currently has projects in over 25 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. IMPACT is a sister organization of ACTED, a French NGO with headquarters in Paris. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support in its fields of intervention.
CONTEXT:
Join REACH Initiative in Ukraine as Research Manager for the Humanitarian Needs Monitoring Unit.
You will lead a 15-person team delivering some of the country’s most important humanitarian analysis, including the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment, Humanitarian Situation Monitoring, Joint Market Monitoring Initiative and frontline assessments.
The role combines strategic leadership, team management, research oversight, external engagement, and grant management in one of the world’s most complex humanitarian responses.
We are looking for an experienced humanitarian research manager who can lead teams, oversee high-quality assessments, engage confidently with senior stakeholders, and ensure evidence directly informs humanitarian decision-making.
Apply now to join IMPACT and support evidence-based humanitarian action in Ukraine.
DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
1. STAFF MANAGEMENT:
The RM is responsible for managing the HNMU, ensuring that all staff have the required support and resources to enable them to complete their jobs. This will include the management of three to four (Senior) Assessment Officers, Database Officers, or GIS Officers, and the provision of guidance and leadership to team members on research processes, guidelines, and methodological approaches. Management responsibilities will include line-management of the team leads for the MSNA, HSM, JMMI, and GIS/cross-cutting teams.
Objective 1.1: Provide line management, oversight, and capacity building to senior members of the HNMU
2. EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT:
The RM is the primary focal point for external stakeholders of the HNMU, including UN agencies, local and national government, and NGOs. The RM is responsible for developing Unit engagement and dissemination plans. Representation responsibilities may be delegated to (Senior) Assessment Officers, although the RM has primary responsibility for developing key messaging for the unit across research cycles, with input from the CR / DCR.
Objective 2.1: Represent the HNMU and its work internally and externally, with the support of the CR / DCR
Objective 2.2: Disseminate research findings to ensure that information products are understood and integrated into key planning and decision-making processes
3. MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH CYCLES:
The RM is responsible for ensuring the HNMU team has the knowledge, resources and skills required to complete its research cycles, flagging where additional resources may be needed or adjustments made, and monitoring the quality and timeliness of the research process.
Objective 3.1: Ensure that research cycles in the HNMU are implemented to a high standard and in line with the required processes and procedures
Objective 3.2: Oversee knowledge management processes to ensure lessons are documented and implemented
Objective 3.3: Facilitate conditions for producing high-quality outputs within the HNMU
4. STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION:
The RM is responsible for developing and monitoring the HNMU strategy. As part of this, the RM will maintain an understanding of the Country Strategy Plan, the Ukraine context, key discussions within the humanitarian response in Ukraine, and other ongoing research initiatives, internal and external, related to inter-sectoral needs. As a member of the SMT, the RM will further contribute to the strategic development of IMPACT/REACH in Ukraine.
Objective 4.1: Provide strategic leadership for the HNMU, with the support of the DCR
5. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT:
The RM is responsible for providing input into calls for proposals and grant-related documents. This includes identifying information gaps, discussing methods and feasibility for addressing these gaps with relevant stakeholders, and assessing the cost of proposed plans. The RM will also be responsible for drafting narrative descriptions and activity budgets.
Objective 5.1: Provide inputs for grant writing and management for the HNMU
6. ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNITIES AND BENEFICIARIES:
The RM is responsible for ensuring that all interactions with Ukrainian communities are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about IMPACT programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.
7. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION:
The RM will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. The RM will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners or collected during the assignment with IMPACT.
REQUIREMENTS
• Academic: Excellent academic qualifications, including a master's degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar).
• Management experience :Previous experience in a management role in a humanitarian context. Excellent management, coordination, organisational and planning skills required, including an ability to manage large workloads, oversee multiple teams and effectively meet deadlines through multi-tasking and prioritisation.
• Years of work experience: Three years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting, such as programme management, evaluation, and assessments.
• Familiarity with the aid system: Familiarity with the aid system and the research community.
• Communication and reporting skills: Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high-level presentations and briefings.
• Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills. Experience in assessments, M&E, field research, or evaluations.
• Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software is an asset.
• Multi-tasking skills: Ability to multitask with tight deadlines across numerous research cycles in a complex environment.
• Level of independence: A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently.
• Cross-cultural work environment: Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility.
• Experience in geographical region: Experience in the Ukraine response is desirable.
• Language skills: Fluency in English is required.
• Security environment: Proven ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment is required.
How to apply:
Please submit a CV in English to apply for this position:
• Kyiv — https://robota.ua/company0/vacancy11304061
Please make sure your CV clearly shows why you would be a good fit for this position with REACH. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. ACTED is an equal opportunity employer.
Attention! Per current legislation, individuals subject to military service duty must provide updated military registration documents while being employed.
“ACTED has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH). Please note that any candidate offered a job will sign the Code of Conduct, and related policies, as part of their work contract. Misconduct can lead to dismissal.”