Research Support (Assistant Manager – Research Support)

Job id : 127995 Apply by: 01 Sep 2019 Relevant Sectors Administration, HR, Management, Accounting/Finance Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research

Background:

Save the Children is a global non-profit organisation which was founded in the year 1919. It is India's leading independent child rights NGO – with offices in 12 states of India. Save the Children believes that every child deserves the best chance for a bright future and that’s why we are committed towards ensuring that children survive, learn and thrive. We run programmes in the remotest corners of India and urban areas in the areas of Health & Nutrition, Education, Child Protection and Humanitarian Response, in order to provide quality education and healthcare, protection from harm and abuse and life-saving aid during emergencies to children. Globally, Save the Children is present in more than 120 countries and works to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children.

Function:

Programme & Policy (Policy and Programme Impact): Programme & Policy covers Programme Implementation (with partners or direct implementation), Thematic Expertise (technical knowledge in areas of specialisation), and Policy & Programme Impact (advocacy, research, monitoring & evaluation, and quality). The function links grass-roots work with policy changes at the highest level, and manages an ecosystem of partnerships including, but not limited to, community organisations, donors, peer organisations, academic institutions, media, and the state. Policy and Programme Impact is a constituent of Programme & Policy function that comprises elements of MEAL (Monitoring Evaluation and Learning), Research, Quality and Learning and Policy & Advocacy at the National level.

Role Purpose:

He/She would guide the process of research that would help Save the Children to strengthen and improve its programme design and delivery and help create the evidence base for advocacy. Research Support would contribute in: Expanding the research portfolio at Save the Children across the thematic areas of health, nutrition and WASH, elementary education, child protection and disaster preparedness; publishing annual flagship reports; contributing regularly to the global publications of Save the Children; competently support and facilitate all the upcoming research work as well as the publication of the flagship reports.

Role & responsibilities:

Research planning, execution and dissemination: Facilitate the development and designing of key research (including flagship reports) in the organisation. These would include research undertaken for finalisation of program designs. Support thematic leads in developing common frameworks and methods for research, ensuring this feeds into programme planning and learning. Independently develop research proposals for bidding. Coordinate with external agencies and consultants on specific research. Provide technical inputs on studies conducted internally or externally. Contribute in ensuring quality of the research reports meet the Research Quality report benchmark and shared internally. Facilitate and contribute in widespread dissemination of research findings especially with the teams that design and manage the programs so that these results feed into programme planning and learning. Facilitate and contribute in widest circulation and visibility of the research reports (specially the flagship reports) through aggressive networking and interactions with the media and civil society partners. Support M&E staff on research methodologies and sampling framework. Support in management of research grants won by the organization. Program Planning: Support in the development of Annual Programme Plan for each hub and project office and thematic area in which Save the Children works, so as to ensure that research forms an integral part of these plans. Support and actively participate in cross-organisational initiatives such as the formulation of country strategy, etc. Update the thematic portfolio narratives, State Face sheets and research study tracker. External Engagement: Support external engagement with external research institutions and think tanks.

Measures of Performance:

% of the new research studies at Programme Hub and project office level meet the Research Quality report benchmark and shared internally.

Approval Authority:

NA

Reporting:

Direct (solid-line) to (administrative): Research Lead Matrix (dotted-line) to (functional): Nil Direct reports (line management responsibility if any): Nil

Key relationships: (Internal & External stakeholders)

Internal Stakeholders (collaborates with): National Office PI team (Research, MEAL, Quality and Learning Leads), cross-functional Programme Leads (Thematic Leads, Advocacy Lead, C&C Lead, Proc. & Admin Lead, Finance Lead and HR Lead; Programme Hub Leads and Programme Hub teams; Project Office Leads and project office teams External Stakeholders: External Consultants, Research Institutions, Academia, Think Tanks, people working in related areas in other international and national NGOs, donor organizations and UN agencies

	Essential (Required)	Desirable (Asset)
Experience	Min. 5 years of work experience in the development sector, of which at least 5 years should be in Research and M&E projects in a large organizational setup
Qualifications	Post graduate degree in Social Work / Social Sciences / Statistics / Demography / Population studies / Anthropology / Development studies or equivalent from a reputed globally recognized institute
Skills & Knowledge	Skills & Knowledge: Knowledge of research methodologies and sampling frameworks is essential Experience of commissioning research to third parties and managing them effectively Experience of conducting randomized control trials and other contemporary research designs Very strong analytical and research skills involving both quantitative and qualitative data and ability to draw useful insights from a complex set of information In-depth understanding of a range of methods for monitoring and evaluation Consciousness of the importance of data quality and good knowledge of quality assurance mechanisms required for ensuring consistently high standard of quality Highly developed writing skills and strong record of producing articles and research reports of publication standard Excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Access and Power Point Child rights/social development programming National and international development issues, particularly in relation to children Behavioural: Problem Solving and Decision-making Innovating and Adapting Applying Technical & Professional Expertise Communicating with Impact (Interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills) Working Effectively with Others Developing Self and Others Delivering Results Leading and Inspiring Others	Knowledge of statistical packages such as SPSS, STATA/ SAS/ EPI Info and software for qualitative research such as NVivo, Anthro, Atlas Ti Skills in Networking Excellent understanding of how public policy formulation takes place at national and state level and of the current policy environment of India, viz. the role played by government in the social sector, mega trends in Indian economy, demography, polity, technology and society, importance of International NGOs/ Local NGOs and corporate sector, various sectoral reform programs supported by the international aid agencies, etc.

• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values, and principles is essential along with the willingness to abide by Save the Children’s India’s Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy
• Save the Children aims to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. Women candidates are encouraged to apply. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.
• Recruitment and selection procedures, which include rigorous background checks, reflect our commitment to the protection of children from abuse
• Child Safeguarding level required/ appropriate for the role:

Job level	Statement
Level 1	The role holder will not have contact with children and/or young people, or access to personal data about children or young people, as part of their work; therefore a police check will not be mandatory unless the content or location of the role changes, in which case the Child Safeguarding level will be reviewed.
Level 2	Either the role holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or they will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore a police check will be required.
Level 3	The role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.