Regional Research Deputy Director At International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC reaches over a million children annually with education and child protection programs in 25 countries around the world. The IRC’s Airbel Impact Lab designs, tests, and scales life-changing, cost-effective solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. By applying deep technical expertise and field experience with rigorous research and multi-disciplinary problem-solving, we develop breakthrough solutions in humanitarian contexts.

IRC is seeking a Regional Research Deputy Director to lead IRC’s research agenda and studies in Bangladesh and Mayanmar. The position will join the Airbel Impact Lab and work closely with the Education Technical Unit to oversee Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC), an FCDO-funded consortium, across the region. ERICC builds new and higher standard for education research in the humanitarian sector, growing the global body of evidence about what works for education in crisis contexts, as well as how, where, why, for whom and at what cost.

Job Overview

This position will provide strategic and intellectual oversight for the ERICC research portfolio in Bangladesh and Myanmar, deliver high quality research studies in both countries, and lead on dissemination of findings to influence policy and practice. The position will work in close coordination with FCDO in-country education advisors and governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, and with the ERICC Research Directorate leadership (Research Director and Senior Researchers), as well as the country & regional directors. This is an exciting opportunity to generate evidence to improve access, quality and continuity of education and to work in a multi-country team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership and direction to all ERICC research studies in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

• Develop and lead the implementation of country research agendas and workplans to achieve project goals and objectives, in close collaboration with stakeholders.

• Represent the ERICC programme and lead relationships with a range of collaborators to ensure buy-in and co-creation of the research agenda, including consortium partners, government officials, other implementing agencies, and related institutions.

• Undertake strong and robust engagement with FCDO and national government, as well as other national & regional stakeholders.

• Supervise research managers and oversee the work of researchers to ensure that studies are on track and are of high quality.

• Lead implementation of projects & technical support and communicate project achievements and lessons learned.

• Contribute to dissemination of research findings by writing blogs, briefs, and publications in academic journals and practitioner-focused outlets.

• Provide substantive technical inputs into ERICC’s overarching documents, including the ERICC conceptual framework and global research agenda.

• Create a work environment that promotes collaboration, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility through a deliberate process of co-learning and co-production of evidence.

Job Requirements:

The successful candidate will be an expert education researcher with honed experience in working in South and/or South East Asia to co-create research and to bridge evidence, policy and practice.

Degrees and Experience

• PhD or MA degree leading education research, particularly education in emergencies, and 10 years of progressive experience in education research

• Experience leading research in Bangladesh and/or Myanmar.

• Experience working with conflict affected populations.

Skill Requirements

• Experience working collaboratively with national and international stakeholders in ensuring the development and uptake of research evidence.

• Demonstrable practice in working with education stakeholders in Bangladesh and Myanmar to bridge evidence, policy and practice.

• Deep knowledge of, and experience in, South Asia and South East Asia.

• Experience managing multiple multi-disciplinary projects with multi-disciplinary collaborators.

• Proven ability to influence a wide range of diverse stakeholders and create buy-in for the research vision and strategy.

• Strong publication record, professional network and recognized expertise.

Preferred requirements

• Proficiency in Burmese, Rohingya, Chittagonian and / or Bangla

• Experience working on FCDO commercial contract

Working Environment:

• International travel to humanitarian contexts (up to 30% of time). If not currently based in Bangladesh and/or Myanmar, they will travel frequently to provide strong in-country presence.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.