Research Manager for Moldova based in Chisinau

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis, GIS and remote sensing. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO with headquarters based in Paris and presence in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, which allows IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support in its fields of intervention.

We are currently looking for a Research Manager to lead our Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit in Moldova.

Department:                 REACH

Position:                      Research Manager

Contract duration:  12 months

Starting Date:               March 2025

Location:                         Chisinau, Moldova

Deadline to apply: 27th January 2025

IMPACT has been active in Moldova since late February 2022, following the escalation of conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. IMPACT’s work has primarily been to facilitate the emergency response efforts in support of the more than 700,000 refugees that entered Moldova in the months following. Today, according to UNHCR and the Moldovan Government, approximately 120,000 refugees remain in the country. Alongside the pressures felt due to the Ukraine conflict, Moldovan society continues to grapple with several other interconnected challenges. These include economic uncertainty, energy insecurity, government reform and climate change. The humanitarian response is therefore shifting towards a medium to long term outlook that addresses the vulnerabilities of refugee population alongside those of the Moldovan host population in a holistic manner, through increased support to government entities to provide social assistance that promotes inclusion. IMPACT Moldova’s scope has likewise expanded to conduct research that covers the spectrum of humanitarian and development needs in the country, to provide timely data and analysis to a variety of partners and other relevant stakeholders.

With the recent adoption of the Country Strategy 2025-2027, the Moldova mission will focus on three strategic objectives to drive programmatic activities: 1. Ukraine Refugee Response, focused on supporting the regional refugee response plan; 2. Resilient Local Capacities, focused on fostering partnerships with local entities at national and local levels to respond to vulnerable community needs; and 3. Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Action, focused on building communities that are more resilient to natural, anthropogenic and climate-related hazards.

The Research Manager will be responsible for overseeing the development and strategy of the Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit, under the supervision of the IMPACT Country Coordinator, and IMPACT HQ in Geneva. The candidate should be comfortable representing IMPACT with donors and be able to coordinate and liaise with a range of senior external partners. This position requires a profile that can be both analytical and managerial, as the Research Manager’s job can range from coordinating with external partners (whether data actor, humanitarian cluster, or donor) to analytical oversight of research products to logistics.

The Research Manager’s responsibilities will include:

• Direct management of international and senior national team members, including recruitment and staff career management. The Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit currently consists of 4 contracted staff;

• Development and implementation of capacity training plans for team members;

• Day-to-day management of team members, including the development of work plans and performance indicators.

• Ensure all assessments and analysis are planned and implemented in a structured and coherent manner, in line with relevant project and strategic objectives, and with global REACH guidelines;

• Oversee all research cycles, including reviewing ToRs, methodology notes, tools, products and dissemination strategies.

• Ensure the writing and production of timely, accurate and analytically rigorous reports, assessments, and factsheets;

• Ensure relevant stakeholders and partners are engaged in assessment design and planning;

• Monitor output achievement, project expenditure and ensure timely completion of the project.

• Actively advocate for the improving of analysis within REACH products, and using common methodologies, tools and analysis frameworks across units where relevant

• Under the guidance of the Country Coordinator, manage grants in Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit, including initial discussions with donors, conceptualisation of new projects, drafting proposals, regular reporting, and M&E;

• Under the guidance of the Country Coordinator, oversee the financial management of all grants covering Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit projects, including oversight of budget and expenditure;

• Ensure that contractual obligations are met in terms of programs deliverables.

• In coordination with the Country Coordinator, represent REACH with donors, partners, and  the wider development community in Moldova.

• Under the guidance of the Country Coordinator, develop the Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit strategy, engagement and involvement with various technical and coordination forums;

• Work with key clusters and partner organizations and working groups to understand the various relevant information gaps within Moldova and identify how the Vulnerability & Inclusion Unit and fill these gaps;

• Contribute to the implementation of the REACH Moldova country strategy;

• Develop and implement dissemination strategies to strengthen the impact of research programmes in Moldova;

• Engagement with HQ on research and/or coordination and provide support to relevant IMPACT Global Community of Practices (CoPs).

The Research Manager will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. They will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

• Years of work experience At least 4 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting, such as program management, evaluation and assessments;

• Research skills Excellent quantitative and qualitative research design, data collection, and data analysis experience required;

• Familiarity with aid system Good understanding of the aid system and the research community. Prior experience with humanitarian coordination forums preferred;

• Management experience Demonstrated team management skills, including remote management;

• Thematic experience Prior experience with humanitarian needs-based and HDP Nexus oriented assessments;

• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region/supporting is desirable;

• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting and reviewing;

• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility and work independently;

• Academic qualifications Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree in a relevant discipline;

• Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset

• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

• Language skills Fluency in English required, competency in Romanian, Russian or Ukrainian is an asset.

• For this position, salary between 3’200 CHF and 3’320 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD
  NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.

• Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse. Depending on the country situation, a contribution to a housing allowance of up to 75% of country-specific benchmark can be considered instead. NB – IMPACT is hosted by ACTED in this country.

• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance

• On a case-by-case basis, accompanied status and relevant benefits can apply (health insurance and flight tickets for dependents, education allowance for children)

• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)

• Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)

• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.

• Predeparture induction - 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;

• Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.

• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees