Research and Evaluation Unit Manager

Save the Children International has an exciting opportunity for a Research and Evaluation Unit Manager to join our global team.

 

Team and Job Purpose

• Co-own delivery of the Digital, Data & Evidence enabler

• Ensure E&L standards, tools, and capability are in place and embedded across countries to generate, communicate and use evidence

• Support the Movement to produce insights and learning to inform and elevate programme quality, influencing and thought leadership

• Lead on global standards and research/evaluation agenda in line with global strategy

• Accountable for shared leadership of I&I strategy

• Co-own delivery of the Digital, Data & Evidence enabler

• Ensure E&L standards, tools, and capability are in place and embedded across countries to generate, communicate and use evidence

• Support the Movement to produce insights and learning to inform and elevate programme quality, influencing and thought leadership

• Lead on global standards and research/evaluation agenda in line with global strategy

• Accountable for shared leadership of I&I strategy

 

Role purpose

The role of the R&E Manager is to:

• Manage the R&E Unit staff and project portfolio/pipeline,

• Provide a quality and timely service in communicating R&E Unit services, responding to and delivering R&E Unit requests

• Pitch for and project manage large multi-country studies

• Conduct R&E Unit management and Key Performance Indicator monitoring and reporting

• The role of the R&E Manager is to:

• Manage the R&E Unit staff and project portfolio/pipeline,

• Provide a quality and timely service in communicating R&E Unit services, responding to and delivering R&E Unit requests

• Pitch for and project manage large multi-country studies

• Conduct R&E Unit management and Key Performance Indicator monitoring and reporting

 

Job Title: Research and Evaluation Unit Manager

Reports To: Head of Research and Evaluation

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote with flexible working options available 

Contract Length: Permanent

Grade: M2

Location: Any approved Save the Children International office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: Hiring Locations

Time Zone (that the role holder must be available to work in): Any

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their current or preferred location for the duration of employment. 

International Travel Requirements: Yes, up to 20%

Budget Responsibility: Yes

People Management Responsibility: 

Number of people managed in total: 18

Manager of a team: Yes

Team Manager (manager of multiple teams): No

 

Principle Accountabilities

R&E Unit Management

• Manage a team of R&E Specialists and Officers responsible for the delivery of research, assessments and evaluation studies at the country, multi-country, regional and at times global level.

• Manage the R&E Unit project portfolio and pipeline, documenting and reporting on project information and status

• Prioritise requests for R&E unit support in line with R&E project prioritisation criteria, as well as humanitarian response, country and regional needs

• Monitor, schedule and agree upon R&E Unit projects, project-based teams and individual staff availability, considering capability, areas of learning, and time already scheduled for future projects, leave and non-project ‘down-time’

• Conduct pre-deployment matching discussions, briefings and contracting with requesting offices and R&E unit staff 

• Be the key point of contact for the provision of administrative and logistical support to requesting offices and R&E Unit staff during, before, during and after project implementation.

• Ensure client satisfaction surveys and After Action Reviews are conducted, recorded and communicated to deployed staff, the R&E Director and other stakeholders as necessary to drive high standards of service

• Monitor the R&E Unit budget, reconciliation, and forecasts against income targets and to inform R&E Unit deployment decisions (i.e. allowable periods of ‘downtime’ between deployments, and mix of grades deployed on particular assignments etc) 

• Work with GEHSP finance staff to ensure deployment invoicing and recharging are completed in a timely manner

• Work with the R&E Unit staff to document and report on Unit Key Performance Indicators (i.e. number, type, length and cost of deployments, projects etc) 

• Alert the R&E Director of any performance, deployment, financial or other risks in a timely manner

• Work with GEHSP HR to recruit and induct new R&E Unit staff as required

• Ensure the deployment database maintains accurate and up to date information and that the R&E Unit deployment information is up to date and accurately recorded in the GEHSP, providing timely analysis to inform decision-making

• Monitor and interpret GEHSP reports and provide insights to the R&E Director to inform strategic decision-making and ongoing evaluation of the R&E Unit

• Manage a pool and alumni of R&E associates

• R&E Unit communications

• Monitor the R&E pipeline of opportunities and liaise with Save the Children offices across the world to secure upcoming research, assessments and evaluations to be conducted by the R&E Unit.

• Support the R&E Director to manage and implement internal marketing and communications that raise the unit’s internal reputation and brand. 

• Proactively communicate available R&E capacity to all relevant stakeholders, providing advice and guidance to COs and ROs on potential deployment opportunities, co-ordinating with the R&E Director. 

• Work with the Head of R&E to develop research proposals, presentations and pitches.

• Work with the Head of R&E to attract and win new business through competitive tendering and networking with internal Save the Children stakeholders, pre-positioning and repeat business.

• Research and Evaluation Management and quality assurance

• Monitor and quality assure R&E projects conducted by the team – including large multi-country studies - to ensure they are delivered on time, to budget and to a high standard. 

• Provide technical advice to R&E team members with the design and implementation of complex and multi-country research, assessment and evaluation studies.

• Work with the R&E specialists ensure both quality delivery during deployment, as well as to identify needs for continuous learning and development.

• Ensure R&E team members are adhering to and applying best practice in research ethics, safeguarding and data protection/responsible data management policies, procedures and practices. 

• Promote a culture of ethical, inclusive and participatory research.

• Perform such other tasks and responsibilities as they arise.

 

Experience and Skills

Essential

1. Significant experience in effectively managing research, assessments and evaluations, including research proposals, pitches and partnerships.

2. Significant experience in project management, with attention to detail, and a flexible and initiative-taking attitude and ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload

3. High-level management and interpersonal communication skills.

4. Demonstrated experience in team management and giving professional support and direction to others.

5. Knowledge of research funding mechanisms and processes such as academic research funders, industry-funders, or large trusts and foundations

6. Experience coordinating, writing and securing research-related grants

7. Experience with procurement, contracting and budget management, including working to cost recovery and income targets

8. Experience of developing and maintaining partnerships, especially with academic partners

9. Demonstrated ability to use project management-related tools and MS-Office (in particular Excel)

10. Experience working effectively with diverse colleagues and managing teams in a remote-working environment.

Desirable

• Strong thematic background knowledge in at least one of health and nutrition; education; child protection; child poverty; and/or child rights governance 

• Experience working in a large NGO preferred

• Experience and knowledge of Save the Children

• Strong track record of delivering client/ customer satisfaction

 

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences or relevant field or equivalent experience.

Desirable

N/A

 

Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world's leading organisation for children, employing ~25,000 staff. We save children's lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Through our work in 116 countries, we put the most deprived and marginalised children first.

We know that great people make a great organisation, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

The work here is challenging but is also immensely rewarding. At Save the Children, you will be in good company, working with talented, like-minded individuals who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected. Your contribution will help ensure children's voices are heard at the highest levels, and that we achieve our global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and reach every last child.

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

DEI is core to our vision, values and global strategy. Save the Children is committed to creating a truly diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation, and one which will support us in our vision to ensure every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. We are committed to diversifying our staff to better represent the communities we serve and actively welcome underrepresented groups to apply.

Reasonable adjustments will be made should any candidate invited to interview require this.

 

Application Information

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application. A full copy of the role profile can be found here via the job listing. It is recommended that you save a copy of the role profile as it will no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the job advert may be closed earlier than advertised subject to the volume of suitable applicants. Please submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

 

Our recruitment process:

1. Application review by our recruiting team based on your CV and cover letter
2. Two-stage competency-based interviews with the hiring team
3. Some recruitment may include an additional assessment or case study stage, or a third stage interview
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, followed by your contract subject to passing background checks

We need to keep children and adults safe so our selection process includes rigorous background checks and reflects our commitment to the protection of children and adults from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our Code of Conduct and all policies and procedures relating to Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, and DEI and Equal Opportunities.

 

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.