POSITION PROFILE

IMPACT Uganda is recruiting a Senior Assessment Officer open to international candidates. The experience and capacity of selected candidates will determine whether staff are brought on board as Assessment Officer or Senior Assessment Officer.

Under the line management of the IMPACT Country Coordinator or his/her delegates in Uganda, the Senior Assessment Officer is responsible for the implementation of IMPACT research cycles in Uganda, including the preparation, data collection, analysis, drafting, dissemination and evaluation stages. Throughout research cycles, the Senior Assessment Officer engages with partners to promote their participation and maximize their impact. He/she also ensures an efficient and transparent use of resources required for project implementation. This can include the direct or functional supervision of assessment or data team members.

The research envisaged (unconfirmed, and tasks may include other research/GIS activities/cycles) for this position focuses on a Service Capability Assessment of WASH and Education services and service points in three settlements in the Southwest. The research will include mapping of service points, service capability assessment of randomized service points, quantitative data collection on service-seeking behavior of refugee and host communities, and qualitative data collection with local government and community leaders on transition of services. This assessment will require leading on engagement with external stakeholders to best understand information needs, validate findings, and create actionable recommendations for Nexus actors.

This position requires analytical thinking, creativity, independence, and an interest in the Ugandan context. Candidates should have strong writing and presentation skills and be able to clearly think through and articulate implications of research findings. The position will regularly require looking at data, pulling out relevant findings, writing engaging briefs and factsheets, presenting findings to external audiences with varying amounts of data literacy, and guiding colleagues in how to think more analytically about their own research.

In his/her mission, the Senior Assessment Officer will be hosted by IMPACT’s global partner ACTED and will fall under the direct responsibility and management of ACTED’s Country Director and his/her delegates for all Administrative, Security, and relevant Logistics and Finance issues. S/he will therefore fully abide to ACTED’s Security, Administration, and relevant HR, Logistics and Finance rules and regulations. Nationally recruited staff will additionally be directly contracted by ACTED.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Assessment Officer is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation and follow-up of research cycles to which s/he is assigned, in close coordination with other team members and with relevant external partners. In doing so, the Senior Assessment Officer will ensure effective management of related projects and resources, including (when relevant) line-management of national and international assessment staff.

RESEARCH CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Understanding key research cycles and how this research contributes to strategic response objectives.
• Managing relevant research cycle, including oversight of research design, data collection, or analysis.

CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING

• Keeping up to date with the shifting Ugandan context.

RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Overseeing development and implementation of analytical workstreams, including use of existing REACH data in thematic briefs, reports, presentations, etc.
• Leading the research cycle including research design, tool development, and data collection.

STAFF MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING

• Promoting capacity building across the IMPACT Uganda mission related to deepening analytical capacities using existing research (capacity building portfolio will depend on level of experience).
• Providing day-to-day direct and indirect management of the research team within their unit/workstream.

COORDINATION

Internal Coordination

• Interacting autonomously with HQ departments and may serve as mission focal point for particular themes or technical areas;
• Coordinating with research units and teams to move forward or improve aspects of the research cycle;
• Supporting senior management with designing, planning, and implementing strategies, and objectives.

External Coordination

• Leading on external engagement related to analytical research findings as necessary.

The Senior Assessment Officer will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. They will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

REQUIREMENTS

• Years of work experience 3 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting, such as assessments, monitoring and evaluation, research design and analysis, etc.
• Research skills Excellent quantitative and qualitative research data analysis experience required;
• Familiarity with aid system Good understanding of the aid system and the research community. Prior experience with humanitarian coordination forums preferred.
• Thematic experience Prior experience with multi-sectoral or evaluation assessments is an asset;
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent verbal and written communication and drafting skills for effective reporting required.
• Academic qualifications Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. international studies, development, humanitarian response, data science, political science, etc.).
• Software skills Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, statistical analysis, or GIS or remote-sensing software and practices is an asset.
• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region is desirable.
• Language skills Fluency in English required. Knowledge of Ugandan languages is an asset.

• Understanding key research cycles and how this research contributes to strategic response objectives.
• Managing relevant research cycle, including oversight of research design, data collection, or analysis.
• Keeping up to date with the shifting Ugandan context.
• Overseeing development and implementation of analytical workstreams, including use of existing REACH data in thematic briefs, reports, presentations, etc.
• Leading the research cycle including research design, tool development, and data collection.
• Promoting capacity building across the IMPACT Uganda mission related to deepening analytical capacities using existing research (capacity building portfolio will depend on level of experience).
• Providing day-to-day direct and indirect management of the research team within their unit/workstream.
• Interacting autonomously with HQ departments and may serve as mission focal point for particular themes or technical areas;
• Coordinating with research units and teams to move forward or improve aspects of the research cycle;
• Supporting senior management with designing, planning, and implementing strategies, and objectives.
• Leading on external engagement related to analytical research findings as necessary.

• Excellent quantitative and qualitative research data analysis experience required;
• Good understanding of the aid system and the research community.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and drafting skills for effective reporting required.
• Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.
• Fluency in English required.

• Excellent academic qualifications, including a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. international studies, development, humanitarian response, data science, political science, etc.).