Haiti Research Specialist At Ark Group

Location: Global/remote

Reporting to: Project Manager

Role type: Part-time, 1-year fixed-term consultancy contract with the potential for renewal.

Closing date: 13 August 2024

ABOUT ARK:

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity, and hope for the future.

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.

Learn more about our impact here: https://www.ark.international/impact

Purpose of the Department:

ARK Group is a leading provider of research and consultancy services. The research department enables the company’s research-informed and evidence-based approach, which is validated by a track record of programmes and projects for governmental donors and international/multinational organisations across a range of thematic areas. Utilising innovative mix-methods methodologies and working closely with local partners, communities and subject matter experts, the research department generates relevant data and insights as part of standalone research projects and/or to inform and drive conflict- and gender-sensitive programme ideation, design, implementation, and learning.

Purpose of the Role:

ARK Group is looking to hire a researcher specialized on Haiti. The successful candidate will function as ARK Group’s subject matter expert on Haiti, conduct mixed-methods research on human security at the community level, security provision, and security sector reform and enhance ARK Group’s knowledge and expertise on Haiti and in these thematic areas. The candidate will play a key role on a new longitudinal research project focused on the study of perceptions of safety and security within Haitian communities across the country, to inform relevant policy initiatives in this space. Reporting to the Project Manager and working closely with the Head of Research, the Deputy Head of Research, and members of the Haiti-based team, the selected candidate will play a key role in research design, analysis, production of research outputs and presentation and socialization of findings to the donor and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will also contribute to business development activities related to ARK Group’s Haiti portfolio and build a public profile as subject matter expert through publications and the participation in relevant fora.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

• Develop ARK Group’s knowledge and expertise on Haitian community perceptions of safety and security, including perceptions of police, state and non-state security actors;
• Lead, under the supervision of the Project Manager, and in coordination with the Head of Research and the Deputy Head of Research, the design of research plans, deliverables and data collection tools, such as semi-structured Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, field surveys, online questionnaires, participatory and observational research methods;
• Analyse primary and secondary data and draft thematic and analytical reports;
• Contribute to data visualisation products such as maps, dashboards, infographics, and graphs;
• Assist with supervision of field researchers and associated protocols and quality control mechanisms;
• Review and synthesize relevant scholarly and specialist material from academic journals, policy institutes/think tanks and international organisations;
• Contribute to the preparation of project-related presentations and attend meetings and calls with donors and/or other relevant stakeholders;
• Contribute to ARK Group’s Haiti-related business development activities, including bid writing, project ideation and donor engagement, in close coordination with Head of Research and business development colleagues;
• Build a profile as a subject matter expert through the development of papers and publications, as well as participation in relevant fora, conferences and events.

Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Masters degree in relevant subject (development studies, sociology, political science, international relations, anthropology).
• At least 10 years of experience conducting research in/on Haiti in the area of human security, security sector reform, policing and/or peacekeeping;
• Close familiarity with design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methodologies;
• Full professional proficiency in English and Creole;
• Experience writing, editing and producing reports and other types of outputs for a variety of target audiences;
• Proficiency with MS Suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a fast-moving team, willingness to contribute at different levels required to achieve success, self-motivated and ability to work independently;
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
• Commitment and passion to study the myriad security challenges facing Haitian communities, as well as those facing policing and peacekeeping missions, and how relevant policy initiatives can sustainably contribute to address those challenges;
• Commitment to the conduct of ethical research with human subjects and knowledge of gender mainstreaming, conflict sensitivity and Do-No-Harm principles.

Desirable

• Experience conducting research in the development sector;
• A PhD in a relevant subject;
• Advanced knowledge of quantitative research methods;
• Intermediate-to-advanced training in statistics, familiarity with SPSS and/or the R environment for statistical computing.
• Familiarity with relevant software such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data visualisation tools.
• Professional proficiency in French.

Why join ARK?

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.

Our People

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organisations, journalism and the private sector.

An ARK Person Is:

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognise out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions and we want to hear those of others too.

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilisation work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.