Senior Assessment Officer - Research Project Focal Point for Somalia

Overview\nIMPACT Initiatives is a think-and-do-tank based in Geneva that aims to shape practices and influence policies in humanitarian and development settings. This role serves as the overall research project focal point for a four-year Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Randomized Control Trial (RCT) programme, providing strategic direction and ensuring all research activities are implemented across Somalia and South Sudan in line with project objectives and donor requirements.\n\n### Key Responsibilities\n#### Research Planning and Design\n* Serve as the strategic lead for the four-year SRH RCT programme, ensuring alignment with study protocols and IMPACT research cycle guidelines.\n* Design and refine annual data collection rounds, covering both quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups or interviews.\n* Oversee the contextualization and translation of data collection tools for deployment in Somalia and South Sudan.\n* Coordinate research validation with IMPACT HQ and relevant ethics bodies.\n\n#### Research Implementation\n* Provide technical guidance to in-country teams on enumerator recruitment, training, and field supervision.\n* Develop quality assurance frameworks, including back-check protocols and data audit procedures.\n* Monitor data collection progress and resolve methodological challenges or deviations across both countries.\n* Ensure all data management complies with ethical requirements and data protection policies.\n\n#### Data Analysis and Partner Engagement\n* Review analysis and outputs drafted by research partners.\n* Support ad hoc regional analysis for the South Sudan and Somalia missions.\n* Act as the primary interlocutor with donors, providing progress updates and reports.\n* Facilitate project review meetings and prepare briefing materials for strategic dialogue.\n* Build relationships with implementing partners to ensure effective dissemination of research findings.\n\n#### Project Cycle Management\n* Document lessons learned from RCT implementation in fragile contexts.\n* Ensure compliance with project planning, monitoring, and reporting timelines.\n* Track deliverables and manage project risks.\n\n### Compensation & Benefits\n* Salary: Between 2,580 CHF and 2,640 CHF monthly (before income tax).\n* Allowances: Monthly living allowance of 300 USD; housing allowance or guesthouse accommodation provided.\n* Benefits: Swiss private pension fund, health insurance, life insurance, and repatriation assistance.\n* Travel: Flight tickets every 6 months and covered visa fees.\n* Leave: 36 days of annual leave per year.\n* Professional Development: Predeparture induction in Geneva/Paris and enrollment in the Research Foundational Learning Programme.\n\n### Requirements\n* Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Science, Development Studies, or a relevant discipline.\n* Minimum of 4 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian or development research or programming.\n* Demonstrable knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in fragile contexts.\n* Proven experience designing and managing mixed-methods research cycles.\n* Experience with Randomized Control Trial (RCT) design and implementation (Preferred).\n* Proficiency in designing data collection tools in KoboCollect, ODK, or similar platforms.\n* Excellent written and spoken English with the ability to produce high-quality donor reports.\n* Ability to operate in cross-cultural and complex security environments.\n\n### How to Apply\nInterested and qualified candidates should apply online through the IMPACT Initiatives website at www.impact-initiatives.org. Alternatively, applications can be submitted via the portal at https://www.myjobmag.co.ke/apply-now/1223980.