Humanitarian Research Manager

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Global Humanitarian Director and Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) in a matrix management arrangement, this role is part of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Department and is expected to work effectively with a wide network of DRM and MER specialists, both internal and external and lead and manage humanitarian research work as directed by the Global Humanitarian Director and Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research. In addition, the Humanitarian Research lead is expected to work with the Head of Research and other MERL team members in implementing the MERL Policy and Standards.

The Humanitarian Research Manager will lead and deliver high quality research on Plan’s International’s humanitarian focus area within the Global Strategy and in collaboration with MERL and DRM team members, MER and DRM specialists from the 75+ Programme Countries, Regional Offices and National Offices and external consultants who may be appointed from time to time.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

With the Global Humanitarian Director, Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning and Head of Research uphold the MERL Policy and Standards and deliver a humanitarian research for external positioning Plan International to further the Global Strategy objectives at international, country and regional level:

• Identify and develop expertise on Plan’s priority policy issues through research and analysis, key informant interviews and literature reviews leading to well-researched recommendations for internal and external audiences.
• Enable Plan to respond locally on policy issues in our portfolio - through analysis, updates and recommendations aligned to our key advocacy messages and policy positions.
• Drawing on Plan’s footprint and expertise in the field, develop proposals, conduct or commission research and produce products to communicate Plan’s policy and advocacy positions on humanitarian emergencies, DRR and related thematic issues. Products will include formal reports and policy papers, talking points, briefs and case studies.
• Establish and convene internal reference groups of experts across relevant Plan offices to formulate organisation-wide recommendations based on evidence for external positioning aligned to Plan International key advocacy messages and policy positions, ensuring a coherent and informed analysis of Plan’s ongoing work in addressing children’s rights and girls rights in humanitarian contexts.
• Collaborate with the GTPP policy and advocacy specialists to strengthen Plan’s influence through evidence by conceptualising evidence products and recommendations to target international governments, national host governments, major donors, UN Specialised Agencies, NGO Consortia, and other Nongovernmental Organisations on specific DRM issues..
• Develop, analyse and produce recommendations for policy changes based on learning from evaluation and good practices.
• Manage contracts and consultants, develop TORs and job descriptions.
• Develop, co-ordinate and launch publications.
• Gender issues in Disaster Risk Management will be a specific area of focus of this post holder.
• Represent Plan in relevant networks and improve Plan’s profile and influence. The result will be that Plan contributes to the sector’s knowledge of how to address the needs and vulnerabilities of adolescent girls and so develops a reputation for this work.
• Represent disaster risk management in Plan’s global gender equality network and share information on gender equality with DRM networks. The result will be that DRM networks are informed about the requirements to implement Plan’s gender equality policy, and that gender equality guidance is suitable for use in disasters

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Masters level or equivalent, preferably with research methods, in humanitarian or development studies or a related subject.
• Good knowledge of disaster risk management issues, ability to analyse and prioritise. Good understanding of positions taken by other actors on key DRM issues
• Experience working in advocacy and policy positions dealing with complex humanitarian and/or emergency settings.
• Ability to represent, network and increase the influence and profile of Plan International
• Understanding of networks and their dynamics.
• Emergency preparedness practice
• The Humanitarian Sector and its key current debates in particular in regard to responding to children’s and girls needs with high quality responses
• Knowledge of key donors for emergency responses
• Knowledge of research operations, principles, practices and processes.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management