Research Officer

Created in 2010, IMPACT Initiatives is a Geneva-based NGO and the largest independent data provider in contexts of crisis. We aim to support a range of stakeholders in making better, more informed decisions in humanitarian, stabilisation, and development settings. We believe that a key pathway to better planning and decision-making is direct engagement with local communities and their leaders. Through our team of assessment, data, geospatial, and thematic specialists, we promote the design of people-centred research and set standards for collecting and analysing rigorous, high-quality data in complex environments. For more information visit: www.impact-initiatives.org

We are currently looking for a Research Officer – Learning & Development to join IMPACT’s global Research Department in Geneva, Switzerland.

Position:          Research Officer - Learning & Development (L&D)

Department:    Research

Supervisor:        Senior Research Manager – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Duration:          Open-ended
Start date:        January 2025  
Location:          Geneva, Switzerland

Deadline to apply: 11th December 2024

The overall objective of IMPACT’s global Research Department is to ensure all IMPACT research cycles are meeting/ exceeding internal standards, wider academic research standards and overall research ethics in the research methods, data processing/ analysis, data interpretation/ visualisation and research reporting practices being used. To help achieve this objective, the Research Officer (L&D), under the supervision of the Sr. MEL Manager, will contribute towards the design and implementation of IMPACT’s research-specific capacity building initiatives, including the maintenance and expansion of the internal Research Foundational Learning Programme, and other future research-related capacity building solutions within IMPACT. Additionally, to contribute towards strengthening research and analysis skills within the wider humanitarian sector, he/she will also support with the roll-out of IMPACT’s first massive open online course (MOOC) for external audiences, as well as the design and development of similar initiatives in the future.

• Lead on the maintenance and expansion of IMPACT’s internal Research Foundational Learning Programme (FLP), including:

  • Incorporating user feedback and improving the content and delivery of existing content

  • Designing new content for guidance / topics not covered in Version 1

  • Conducting regular (quarterly or bi-annual) monitoring of the FLP and summarising key takeaways and action points to continuously improve the effectiveness and overall learning outcomes of the programme

  • Providing any other support needed to ensure timely roll-out, and successful uptake, of the FLP

• Contribute to the development of more advanced research-related learning materials to enable the roll-out of IMPACT’s (forthcoming) Capacity Building strategy and related Competency Framework.

• Support with the roll-out of IMPACT’s first massive open online course (MOOC) for external audiences, aimed at strengthening quantitative research and analysis skills within the humanitarian sector, including:

• Contribute to capitalisation of best practices/ lessons learned for increased research quality within IMPACT

• Contribute to the development of new source materials (guidelines, tools, etc.) for the expansion of IMPACT’s Research Toolkit and support with their roll-out and uptake at the country level

• Support Sr. MEL Manager with the design and development of other relevant external learning activities, with a specific focus on 1) transparency / knowledge sharing around lessons learned from IMPACT’s research cycles and 2) integrating emerging best practices and innovative methods/ techniques within IMPACT’s research approaches

• Provide other support for the implementation of IMPACT projects/ research cycles as directed, including review and validation support for key research outputs from specific regional and/ or thematic areas of support (up to 25% only i.e. 1 day per week)

Qualifications & work Experience

• Good academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree or higher in relevant discipline (e.g. Social Science, International Development, Communications, Education, etc.)

• At least 2-3 years of experience with designing and implementing trainings and other learning solutions for adult professional audiences, preferably within the humanitarian or development sector

• Demonstrable experience of using a blended learning approach to maximise learning outcomes for adult learners in professional settings  

Technical knowledge & skills

• Good understanding of research methods within the field of social sciences, including pros, cons and applicability of different methods

• Good understanding of the existing best practices, tools and technologies in learning and instructional design for adult learning and education

• Intermediate-advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, especially PowerPoint and relevant add-ons  

Language skills

• Fluency in English

Other soft skills

• Commitment to acting professionally, while operating with transparency and taking responsibility for actions

• Commitment towards personal and professional growth through learning, creative thinking and openness to feedback

• Ability to manage time effectively and thrive in a fast paced, results-oriented working environment

• Ability to effectively communicate and build relationships with others, internally and externally

• Attention to detail and commitment to delivering results on time, and to a high standard of quality

Qualifications & work Experience

• At least 2-3 years of experience in a research or analyst role, ideally in humanitarian/ development contexts

• Prior experience in implementing primary research projects in field settings from start to finish (e.g. needs assessments, monitoring and evaluation)

Technical knowledge & skills

• Good working knowledge of and experience with Articulate 360 (or similar e-learning course authoring software)

• Prior experience managing / working with an online learning management platform (e.g. Talent LMS)

• Prior experience with video editing software, including Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe audition

Language skills

• Fluency in French and/ or Spanish

Other soft skills

• Ability to work cooperatively with others from a diversity of backgrounds, engaging effectively internally and externally.

• Ability to work independently, with initiative, while taking a solutions-oriented approach

• Ability to use analytical and critical thinking to form sound judgments and inform evidence-based decisions

• For this position, gross salary between 5’150 CHF and 5’350 CHF monthly (before income tax). NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education and experience of staff. A contribution to medical insurance of 520 CHF per month is already included in the salary figure.

• Insurance covering professional and non-professional accidents throughout the period of employment with IMPACT

• Health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance in case of field visits/temporary deployments

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

• Applicants must hold a valid work permit for Switzerland or be EU/EFTA citizens

• Up to 40% of remote work on a weekly basis