Regional Research Manager at Helen Keller International

The name Helen Keller is known around the world as a symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds, yet she was much more than a symbol. She was a woman of luminous intelligence, high ambition and great accomplishment who devoted her life to helping others. Helen Keller, our co-founder, envisioned a world without barriers to human potential. Guided by her fierce optimism, we have been working on the front lines of health and well-being for more than 100 years. Working in 19 countries across Africa and Asia-as well as in the United States-we are dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty.

Functional Relationships

The Research Manager is a member of the multi-country Project Management Team (PMT) for VAS and will work collaboratively the Regional VAS Advisors and the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator. To ensure congruity and consistency of technical approaches and cross-organizational learning, as well as our goal of continuously building research capacity institutionally, the position will report directly to the Regional Monitoring Evaluation & Research Advisor and will also have a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Regional Program Manager for VAS.

Helen Keller’s programs also require close relations with governments, partner NGOs, and donors, including UN agencies. The Research Manager will play a role in nurturing and overseeing some of these cooperative relationships, and representing Helen Keller to donors and the international community, as needed.

Specific responsibilities

Overall Management and Leadership

• As a member of the PMT, participate in strategic planning and direction setting and the development of a growth strategy for the multi-country portfolio of programs, lending your unique perspective and expertise to the process.


• Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator to ensure high-quality research planning, management, execution and analysis, including oversight of country level activities.


• Provide regular updates on the research and learning to the PMT. Make recommendations to the PMT based on analysis of progress to date and challenges encountered.


• Participate in international work groups, as assigned, to develop global policies and/or optimize systems and procedures.


• Make proposals for best practices in research and learning.

Manage Research on Vitamin A Supplementation

• Collaborate and coordinate with relevant colleagues such as Regional MER Advisor, Regional VAS Coordinators, and the Regional VAS Program Manager, and the Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator to:


• Identify priority countries for conduction of the research (single or multiple country research)
  
  Draft research protocols for identified research questions which include: study justification, objectives, methods (study population, sample size, study procedures, data collection, entry and management, ethical approval), analysis and reporting plan, and budgeting.


• Provide training on research for all relevant country and regional team members.

Post-Event Coverage Surveys

• Ensure PECS and VAS monitoring systems are structured to collect relevant data to build evidence on innovative and cost-effective delivery approaches to VAS delivery.


• Develop decision-making mechanisms and processes to inform the organization of PECS: geographic coverage (national vs. sub-national), frequency, and content.


• Lead in the development of modules for PECS on additional relevant topics (health, nutrition, health system, etc.) and support the M&E Coordinator to ensure their roll out

Documentation of VAS learnings

• Review and contribute to the writing of all VAS reports, internal and external, their quality and timeliness, including all donor reports.


• Conduct regular analyses of the performance of the VAS portfolio: evolution of coverage, performance vs. 80% threshold, processes for preparation of campaigns and routine delivery approaches, administrative performance.


• Lead the development lessons learned reports on VAS.


• Prepare minimum program standards for VAS monitoring, evaluation and research in coordination with relevant colleagues.

Build institutional research and learning capacity

• Provide training on research concepts and methods to country teams.


• Assist in the development of a global learning agenda for the organization.


• Contribute to the development of program minimum standards in research.

Human Resources Management

• Build highly effective research teams to carry out studies, recruiting, supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff.


• Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, colleagues and donors by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect.


• Participate in the recruitment process of other staff as requested by management.

Required Qualifications/Competencies

• At least a Masters degree in public health with a concentration in epidemiology, statistics or other relevant domains; plus


• Minimum of five years’ experience in research design and management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Demonstrated field experience implementing surveys and research protocols, training and supervising survey and/or research teams.


• Experience conducting operational research including both qualitative and quantitative methods.


• Track record in publishing in peer-reviewed journals.


• Proficient in statistical analysis using STATA


• Ability to communicate in French and English


• Highly computer literate including knowledge of Microsoft office suite (Word; PowerPoint; Outlook), and strong Excel skills, including pivot tables.


• Prior experience developing and delivering trainings to field staff strongly preferred, along with demonstrated knowledge of effective adult learning techniques.


• Ability and willingness to travel 25-35% (depending on travel restrictions due to COVID-19) to support roll out of data collection and training.

Ability to:

• perform duties that require a close attention to detail;


• prioritize workload, assume responsibility for work, and follow through to completion.


• maintain balance when under stress.


• work in a decentralized organizational structure with a highly collaborative approach


• work in a team and communicate effectively to produce knowledge with colleagues who do not have a formal reporting line to you.


• Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team in a cross-cultural environment, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.


• Collaborative, flexible and solution-oriented.


• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.


• Commitment to Helen Keller Intl’s work and mission.

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