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

COUNTRY PROFILE

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.

POSITION PROFILE

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.

REQUIREMENTS

• 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.

CONDITIONS

• 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

Submit your application using the form below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

In case you encounter challenges using the application form, please contact us via [email protected]