Sr. Research Uptake Advisor at International Rescue Committee

Job Description

This position is open to Washington DC (preferred) / New York / Nairobi.

The IRC’s vision is to lead the humanitarian field by implementing high-impact, cost-effective programs for people affected by crisis and by using our learning and experience to shape policy and practice. To achieve that vision, the IRC’s technical units provides technical assistance to IRC’s country program staff and shares what we learn to influence policy and practice.

The technical units have three central objectives that we work towards:

 Guide program design to achieve outcomes by incorporating the best available evidence
Build technical capacity of country program staff to implement, measure and continuously improve programs
Influence the IRC, peer agencies and donors to use proven interventions and generate new evidence to achieve change in peoples’ lives

The Research and Innovation Department (Airbel Impact Lab) supports the various technical units across the IRC to conduct or backstop research studies and innovation projects, and also leads initiatives that provide resources for country programs to design and implement programs based on existing evidence.

Health Technical Unit

The Health Technical Unit is organized in four sectors; primary health, reproductive health, environmental health and nutrition. The structure emphasizes a clear division of roles between staff focusing on comprehensive technical assistance to countries and staff providing specialized support and thought leadership. In 2017, the Health Technical Unit supported programming in 6 regions and 27 countries.

Health Systems Research Programme Consortia (RPC)

The IRC is expected to receive funding to lead Ensuring Quality Access and Learning (EQUAL) for Mothers and Newborns in Conflict-Affected Contexts Consortium, a research consortium funded through DFID’s ‘Filling the Gaps in Evidence: Building Stronger And More Resilient Health Systems Research Programme Consortia (RPC)’ mechanism. The IRC-led RPC aims to produce high quality evidence that improves the health of the poorest and most vulnerable people in developing countries. The IRC is partnering with Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, Somalia Disaster Resilience Institute, Sudd Institute (South Sudan), and Université Catholique de Bukavu (DRC).

Major Responsibilities

The Sr. Research Uptake Advisor is an essential part of the research team leading this consortium. The purpose of this role is to maximize the impact of the research generated by the program; to develop implementation- and policy-influencing strategies linked to research results that will alter humanitarian practice to better improve maternal and neonatal health.

• Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate a Research Uptake strategy which will enable the research findings to be taken up by decision-makers and used to achieve positive development outcomes.
• Systematically identify and engage potential users of, and those interested in, the research throughout the program period at the sub-national / national / internationallevels.
• Support in-country counterparts to develop and execute context-specific research uptake
• Seek out opportunities for engagement with decision-makers, such as online debates, meetings andconferences
• Assist the consortium management team in identifying decision-maker needs, through working with target audiences to assess the decision-making context and researchpriorities
• Assess and help build the capacity of consortium partners to communicate research findings appropriately
• Coordinate between research projects to ensure effective communication of research findings
• Develop and disseminate a range of products to communicate the research findings and their policy implications;
• Support the researchers in preparing papers forpublication
• Help synthesize research findings into short, relevant briefs for policy makers
• Proactively work with target audiences to find ways of meeting their needs for research evidence and how best to communicate withthem

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Strong skills in communicating scientific / development research to non-research audiences
• Knowledge of the policy and practice environment and current debates within the global health researchdiscipline
• Demonstrable understanding of the broader RU theory of change i.e. the barriers to uptake experienced by decision-makers as well as the challenges of communicating research
• Skills in developing a range of outputs for communicating research – in print, electronic and face-to-faceformats.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including an ability to communicate effectively with staff at all levels and acrossregions/countries
• Skills in developing and delivering research uptakestrategies
• Entrepreneurial ability to find relevant ways of engaging with a variety ofaudiences.
• Strong analytical, writing, presentation and networkingskills
• Skills in providing technical support to southern researchers
• Familiarity with Web technologies and online socialmedia
• Skills in proofreading and copyediting
• Skills in organizing and conveningmeetings
• Strong networking skills and ability to work with a range of stakeholders including donors, government officials, research organizations, non-governmental organizations and the privatesector.
• Degree (minimum BA) or equivalent experience in public health;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage a variety of relationships in a multiculturalenvironment;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate equally effectively with colleagues in ‘remote’ and diverse teams, including as team leader forproposals;
• The ability to work productively and accurately while under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment;
• Flexible work attitude: the ability to work in a team environment and independently and ability to meet unexpecteddemands;
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as on owninitiative.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritizeeffectively

Experience

• Experience of working in development and/or humanitarian contexts, preferably for an INGO or international organization (e.g. UN, major donor)
• 6-8 years of professional experience working in roles relevant to the requirements

Preferred Requirements

• Global health research experience/familiarity strongly preferred
• Masters in Public Health
• Skills in web page design andmaintenance
• Experience of working with themedia
• The ability to work (read and write) inFrench
• Background in maternal and neonatal health

Working Environment

Ability to travel internationally (up to 20% of time)