Research Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job objective and project background

The IRC conducts nutrition research in several contexts, focusing on the development and testing of solutions to expand the coverage of acute malnutrition screening and treatment.

This type of research is becoming increasingly important at a time when significant cuts to global aid pose a serious threat to an already low treatment coverage for acute malnutrition, particularly for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). According to the 2023 WHO guideline, children with MAM in high-risk settings, as well as high-risk MAM children in low-risk contexts, should receive specially formulated foods (SFFs) alongside counseling, medical, and psychosocial support. These products are typically imported and rely on humanitarian funding, making them vulnerable to funding disruptions.

As a result, there is a growing need for locally driven alternatives to manage MAM when SFFs are unavailable or not recommended. However, evidence on such approaches, whether involving locally produced SFFs, home foods, counseling, or cash, is limited, leaving a critical gap in global guidance. One promising alternative is the Tom Brown approach to supplementary feeding, which uses locally sourced ingredients to produce a nutritious flour distributed through community support groups led by trained “lead mothers.” Programs in Nigeria have reported recovery rates above 90%.

To add to the global evidence base on locally driven, food-based interventions for MAM treatment, support cross-country learning, inform IRCs programs as well as future research, the IRC plans to conduct a feasibility, acceptability, and costing study as well as outcome prioritization on an existing Tom Brown project in Northeast  Nigeria. 

The Research Coordinator will lead the implementation of this research project and contribute to the write-up of evidence.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Nutrition Researcher based at IRC London and the Senior program Coordinator of IRC Nigeria and in close collaboration with the Nutrition coordinator and the Senior MEAL Coordinator IRC Nigeria, the Research Coordinator - Nutrition will be responsible for the timely and high-quality implementation of the study.

The research coordinator will contribute to the development of research protocols, the adaptation of data collection and program implementation tools as well as tools for project monitoring and evaluation. S/he ensures that the interventions are guided by evidence base, cost-effective solutions, through ideation, research, innovation, prototyping and scale

The research coordinator will supervise the study personnel, provide technical assistance to the study personnel and continuously monitor the quality of implementation and data collection.

The research coordinator will coordinate data entry and transcription, assist in the interpretation and write-up of results and ensure the dissemination at national level.

Specific Responsibilities:

Coordinate preparation and implementation of studies (10%):

• Participate in strategic discussions to define key research questions, ensure alignment of research questions with local priorities.
• Contribute to the development of the sub-study protocols.
• Coordinate the engagement of different stakeholders (IRC staff, academics, authorities, Tom Brown working group, etc) at different phases of the research (research question development, study design, implementation, research uptake) and act as the focal point for the project in the country.
• Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures for the research project (SOPs);
• Coordinate submission of study protocol for ethical approval (if not already completed) and ensure ethical considerations are taken into account at every stage of the project (and consent procedures followed);
• Develop and review project implementation plans (including budgets, timelines)
• Coordinate logistics for study implementation (including purchasing materials, equipment, transport);
• Prepare and lead IRC's internal project cycle meetings, monitor and if necessary, adapt the budgetary consumption of the research grants;
• Promote a culture of learning whereby lessons-learned and good practices are documented and shared for institutional memory.
• Collaborate closely with the Nutrition Research team and participate in weekly or bi-weekly calls with the Nutrition Research team to provide project updates as needed.
• Support relationship building with local research institutes.
• Lead in writing progress reports and other internal/external products for monitoring the implementation of the research project as well as any other type of report requested by the various donors (narrative, budget monitoring, and appendices);
• Facilitate dissemination of IRC health and SRH research at national and sub-national.

Oversee quality implementation of studies (40%):

• Plan, recruit, on-board, and supervise the research team in charge of implementing the studies in the field and ensure sufficient training of all research staff before starting any research activities;
• Oversee the implementation of data collection in collaboration with the IRC Nutrition research team and ensure high-quality support
• Ensure regular supervision of the research team and ensure data collection according to research protocols and standard operating procedures.

Produce and disseminate evidence (50%):

• Lead the analysis of the qualitative data, including developing and validating a code book for coding the data, coding the data, and summarizing the findings
• Synthesize research data and findings for internal and external purposes.
• Support the write-up of peer-reviewed manuscripts in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with the communication team on documentation provided as part of external communication activities and be the focal point for field communication activities.
• Represent IRC Nigeria’s nutrition research with the various partners (academics, technicians, authorities);
• Coordinate closely with MoH and national stakeholders on research uptake and dissemination

Qualifications and expériences :

• Professional Diploma (master’s level) in Health / Nutrition/ Social Science
• Minimum 3 years of research experience in the field of health/nutrition / or a related field, preferably on research projects implemented in the field in a low-income context;
• Previous experience in supervising and supporting field research teams.
• Experience in project management, including in budget management and logistics.
• Professional experience in NGOs and management of acute malnutrition is a plus.
• Experience in qualitative research is a plus.
• Demonstrated competence in writing research articles is a plus (add references to CV);
• Ability to write clear and concise reports, while respecting fixed deadlines.
• Good communication skills to engage with local partners.
• Ability to work independently while being an active member of the country team and the global research team.
• Computer skills required: Windows environment, Microsoft Office package, a qualitative research software (Nvivo, Dedoose etc), statistical software (STATA and R) is a plus; knowledge of Commcare is an asset
• Ability to work in and travel to unstable security environments.
• Fluency in English is essential

Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Nutrition Researcher based at IRC London
• Position directly supervises: Data collector and work closely with Snr Nutrition Manager and Nutrition manager.
• Indirect Reporting: Nutrition coordinator, SPC , DDP, Nutrition Lead HQ, other HQ Lead (Project specific)
• Will also work closely with other IRC sector when necessary.
• External: FMOH&SW, SMOH, SPHCDA,  Nutrition cluster, Unicef, WHO, HMB, other INGOs.

Work Environment

• The position will be based in Maiduguri –Borno State, Nigeria, with travels to research sites and stakeholders engagement as necessary. The situation in northeast Nigeria continues to be volatile and the security phase is orange or red depending on location.
• The benefit package for national positions is inclusive.
• Competitive Monthly salary,
• Health Insurance Coverage for Family,
• Annual earned leave days,
• Pension scheme.

Professional standards

IRC staff should adhere to the values and principles set out in IRC Way - Global Standards for Professional Conduct. It is about integrity, service and responsibility. In accordance with these values, the IRC manages and enforces policies for the protection of beneficiaries against exploitation and abuse, the protection of children, the fight against harassment in the workplace, fiscal integrity and the fight against retaliation.

• IRC is an equal opportunity employer.
• IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit regardless of race, sex, color, origin nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
• IRC leading the way from harm to home.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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