Research Manager – Intersectoral Unit for the DRC, based in Goma At IMPACT Initiatives

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We are currently looking for a research manager to oversee our Intersectoral Unit in the DRC.

Department : Intersectoral Unit

Title: Research Manager

Contract duration : 1 year (after confirmation of financing)

Work location : Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

Contract start date: October 2025

COUNTRY PROFILE AND PROJECTS

Since 2016, IMPACT, currently present in Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu and Kalemie, has been providing rapid and in-depth assessments, information management and mapping services to inform humanitarian planning and action in the DRC through its three initiatives REACH, AGORA and PANDA. All publicly available information products produced by the mission in the DRC are accessible on the REACH resource center .

The intersectoral unit, which works on the Humanitarian Programming Cycle (HPC), has the main objective of informing the strategic and programmatic prioritization of humanitarian assistance in a complex context, and supporting the harmonization and strengthening of intersectoral capacities of aid actors. Since 2020, the unit has implemented several activities: monitoring of the humanitarian situation; profiling and mapping of sites; training in MRA assessments. Since 2021, REACH, in collaboration with OCHA, has implemented an annual Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA) to inform the humanitarian planning cycle. Also, REACH and OCHA jointly created in 2023 a Working Group on Crisis Analysis and Response Quality (GTACQ) whose objective is to inform key actors of the response on operational and strategic levels.

JOB PROFILE

Under the supervision of the Deputy Country Coordinator, the research manager of the intersectoral unit will be responsible for the implementation of the unit’s programs, as well as the HR management of the unit members under his or her responsibility.

In addition, the research manager will participate in the development of the research unit’s strategy, and will therefore be fully involved in the Senior Management Team (SMT) of the IMPACT DRC mission. The ideal candidate will be eager to work in a dynamic organization, with the opportunity to develop skills in research design and implementation and external coordination. Strategic and technical support will be provided by the IMPACT DRC senior management and the IMPACT team at headquarters in Geneva.

PROFILE

  • Academic Qualifications: Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (international relations, political science, social research, sociology, economics, development studies, or similar)
  • HR Management Experience: Previous experience in a management role in an INGO in the field. Proven experience in managing international and national teams in humanitarian contexts;
  • Years of professional experience: At least 3 years of professional experience in the humanitarian or development sector in research, information management or monitoring and evaluation or proven progression within IMPACT;
  • Organizational and Planning Skills: Required coordination, organizational and planning skills, including an ability to manage a large workload, supervise teams in other regions;
  • External Representation Experience: Experience working on multi-stakeholder projects, with a high external engagement component;
  • Experience in crisis situations: Experience in managing assessments in crisis contexts and field experience in countries affected by crises;
  • Language skills : Perfect command of French, English a strong asset, knowledge of a local language in the DRC, particularly Swahili, will also be an asset;
  • Technical skills : Mastery of statistical analysis tools such as R or STATA, or GIS and graphics software such as InDesign will be a strong asset;
  • Time Management Skills: Ability to work on multiple tasks with tight deadlines and meet deadlines effectively, with excellent multi-tasking and prioritization skills;
  • Team spirit: Ability to take ownership of assigned tasks and demonstrate dynamic team spirit;
  • Adaptability : Flexibility regarding the role and nature of the work which can evolve according to the context;
  • Intercultural work environment : Ability to function in an intercultural environment requiring flexibility;
  • Attitude: Positive attitude and ability to contribute to a positive image and overall credibility of the organization.

CONDITIONS

  • For this position, the salary is between CHF 3,420 and CHF 3,480 per month (before income tax), etc. plus a monthly living allowance of USD 300.
  • NB – IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary scale based on the position’s grade and staff education level. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied to account for the fact that some staff members are required to work in challenging locations where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.
  • Travel 40% of the time, the position is based in Goma but the RM will be required to travel regularly to Bukavu or other parts of the country to monitor teams and interact with the various forums.
  • Salary defined according to the IMPACT Initiatives salary scale including: level of education, expertise, security level and performance;
  • Accommodation and food provided in the organization’s guesthouse / or in the form of compensation (depending on the conditions, the duration of the contract and the country of work);
  • Airfare every 6 months and visa fees covered (in-country travel and business expenses are fully covered)
  • R&R after 3 months in the country (airfare up to $500 + $200 living allowance)
  • Pre-departure induction – 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives headquarters in Geneva + one week of pre-departure training at ACTED headquarters in Paris, including a 4-day on-site security training;
  • Enrollment in the IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Program within the first 3 months of contract start.
  • Provision of medical, life and repatriation insurance + retirement package.
  • IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among other things, up to €1,000 per year in counseling costs.

How to apply

Please apply here: Research Manager (Intersectoral Unit) based in DRC, Goma (Link for External Applicants) | Impact