Research Manager at Plan International

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Research, this role is situated in the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Department.  ‘Real Choices, Real Lives’ is a unique research project. It follows a cohort of girls living in nine countries around the world from their birth, in 2006, until they turn 18, in 2024. The study provides rich qualitative perspectives and nuanced understanding across a significant period of time and taking account of different social, cultural, economic and institutional contexts. The evidence is important not only for informing how Plan supports girls but also to develop wider recommendations for targeting gender inequality at policy and programme level – and it is the ambition of the study to strengthen evidence uptake.

Taking forward the study will require a proactive and fresh perspective, sector-wide knowledge of current debates, as well as experience navigating organisational priorities and supporting research uptake. Part of this will involve balancing research rigour and requirements with the ability to make evidence digestible/accessible to different audiences/in different formats, as well as being both opportunistic as well as strategic about outputs. As the Research Manager you will lead and deliver high quality research outputs on Plan’s focus areas set in terms of the Global Strategy – All Girls Standing Strong.

You will also work with the Head of M&E and other MERL team members in implementing the Research Policy and Standards, particular around ethics and will sit on Plan International’s Ethics Review Committee.

The Individual

• With a masters level or equivalent, preferably in research methods, development studies or a related subject.
• With experience of strategic direction-setting for long-term projects as well as of developing and delivering research uptake plans in a multi-country context, including identifying research uptake opportunities (communications, policy/advocacy, and programmatic), to support evidence dissemination/impact. You will need to have experience of managing and inputting on qualitative research, preferably with a technical focus on gender/gender dynamics/social norms.
• Experienced in the use and application of qualitative data analysis software i.e., NVivo and reporting tools to develop standard and ad hoc reports.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment and find creative solutions for successful regional and national knowledge management initiatives to promote learning and information sharing across the organisation.