TITLE: Research and Learning Specialist (Migration and Displacement)
TEAM/PROGRAMME: RPU
LOCATION: Pretoria
GRADE: 3
CONTRACT LENGTH: TBD
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post 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 country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Research and Learning Specialist (Migration and Displacement) leads the research & learning and strategy definition activities in the Migration and Displacement team. He /She will be responsible for strategy visioning, designing, managing and conducting research with the aim of strengthening the RPU’s role in gathering and publishing evidence and contributing to regional and global conversations about protecting migrant children. They will be key in ensuring that research and learning activities produce robust outcomes, especially evidence that can inform strategy, business development, evidence-based programming, by providing technical support throughout the research and strategy process by working closely with programme teams and managing research partnerships and South Africa strategy definition process. They will use their expertise in the area of research and migration towards this goal, engaging with partners and stakeholders, participating in a research community of practice, building upon the gains of monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning, to ensure that both internal lessons and external research are sighted and shared within the organization both with implementing country offices, partners and the RPU – and to bring in external capacity as needed.
They will engage in high level inter-agency liaison as pertains to technical and advocacy collaborations around regional consultative processes, whenever these relate to the specific expertise and knowledge. They will also leverage the research and knowledge expertise on Migration and Displacement to support programme quality and development, especially supporting proposal writing, external knowledge and information dissemination, and MEAL activities.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: [Migration and Displacement Lead]
Staff reporting to this post: none
Budget Responsibilities: as delegated by the managers, especially MD
Role Dimensions: this role requires a strong ability to deliver specific objectives as outlined in the specific awards whilst proactively understanding and addressing the needs of other pillars in order to influence and articulate the research needs, organise learning for the RPU. This means being actively seeking and building relationships and influencing others. Internally, this role requires to be able to operate with direct and indirect management lines.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Conduct, Manage and Support Research in M&D
Manage key M&D research projects throughout the research process (incl. writing Terms of Reference, Recruitment, Support, Review, Evaluation and Dissemination;
Support all other M&D research projects (incl. review of Terms of Reference, Inception Reports, Methods, and Final Reports);
Conduct M&D research where necessary, provide adequate resourcing and support is available;
Ensure alignment of M&D research with the RPU’s strategic priorities and research strategy.
Disseminate research and evidence produced by the RPU M&D Team by collaborating with the Communications Team, the global COM movement, and external partners;
Participate in Validation and Review Processes of relevant research pieces outside of the RPU to strengthen the RPU’s standing as centre of expertise on M&D and research.
Support proposal writing processes, and programme design;
Develop and Manage Research Partnerships in RPU
Manage the research partnership with the Mixed Migration Centre/Danish Refugee Council aiming to conduct large scale quantitative survey data; including sub-award management of the partner and providing technical backstopping to steer and review data collection and analysis, and coordinate capacity building of partner in areas of child friendly data collection and child safeguarding in research;
Maintain and build relationships with research organisations and partners, both internally and externally, including but not limited to M&D research within SCI globally and regionally, with Members, and with think tanks and academic institutions.
Steer the Research, Knowledge Generation and Learning Agenda
Collaborate with pillar leads in developing and tracking RPU-wide research by implementing the RPU Research and Learning Agenda and Research Tracker;
Work with the ESARO PDQ and PQI team to strengthen and align the RPU’s research and evidence and linking it to Global and Regional Priorities.
Lead cross-learning activities in core M&D multi-country projects focused on cross-border coordination of migrant children protection, including by facilitating learning activities, documenting good practice, lessons learnt and key challenges and supporting the M&D Team in identifying focus areas for cross-learning;
Support Advocacy efforts by ensuring the use of current and accurate evidence;
Support MEAL and Reporting
Support the timely, quality submission of reports of projects with research and learning components and provide review support in reporting across the M&D pillar;
Support the development of MEAL Plans in the M&D Pillar in collaboration with the RPU MEAL Coordinator and with support from project focal points;
Support timely and accurate MEAL reporting in collaboration with the RPU MEAL Coordinator and with support from project focal points;
Lead key MEAL project activities, including supporting regional MEAL indicators in core M&D multi-country projects focused on cross-border coordination of migrant children protection
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values;
holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same;
widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale;
able to undertake concurrent, highly demanding tasks, including periods of extensive workload.
Collaboration:
builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters;
values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength;
approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
develops and encourages new and innovative solutions, especially regarding cost-effective evidence generation;
willing to take on new tasks and develop new skills;
willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
honest, encourages openness and transparency and demonstrates highest levels of integrity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Postgraduate qualification in social sciences, social development, or similar field, including post-Masters professional experience or Doctoral training in conducting social research.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
5 years (with a Master’s Degree) or 5 years (with Doctoral degree) of experience in conducting social science research, with a clear track record of research in the areas of migration and displacement;
3 years of experience in designing, managing, conducting research using both quantitative and qualitative research methods and developing recommendation and guidance for programming based on evidence;
Experience in research, evidence and learning in the NGO sector, with regional experience being an advantage;
Proven track record in ability to write to a publishable standard, with publications in development or academic outlets being an advantage;
Strong awareness of child protection issues in the area of migration and displacement;
Strong awareness of child protection issues in research, including the use of participatory methods;
Strong verbal and written English communication skills;
Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in whilst presenting complex information in a succinct manner;
Strong interpersonal and communication skills including communicating, sharing and training in research;
Willingness to travel up to 20% of time to support Country Offices and Partners in the implementation on research and learning activities;
Commitment to Save the Children values, including willingness to abide by and enforce the Child Safeguarding and other relevant policies.
Desirable
Experience developing projects in the development and humanitarian sector;
Experience in working in regional and multi-country settings, including conducting research in multiple countries.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.