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 40 countries and 29 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.
The IRC’s Airbel Impact Lab designs, tests, and scales life-changing, cost-effective solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. By applying the IRC’s deep technical expertise and field experience with a range of skills from the behavioral sciences, human-centered design, rigorous research, and multi-disciplinary problem-solving in humanitarian contexts, we work to develop breakthrough solutions that combine creativity and rigor, openness and expertise, and a desire to think afresh with the experience of a large-scale implementing organization.
Airbel Researchers work with colleagues across the IRC as well as external partners in government, civil society and academia to conduct dozens of studies annually. Our research aims to inform, adapt and scale high-impact and cost effective solutions for our clients in the areas of Education, Economic Well-being, Protection, Climate, Nutrition, Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health, and Communicable Diseases.
The Data Science for Research Lead will bring an entrepreneurial approach to establishing and promoting high quality data collection, management and analysis for all research areas. This will include (i) developing systems, standards and shared resources for research data; and increasingly (ii) supporting research teams to utilize frontier data science approaches to producing evidence for influence and scale.
This role is a part time at 50% for 6 months, with the potential to extend
Major Responsibilities:
Upgrade and Implement IRC’s Data Systems for Research:
• Establish and drive uptake of a set of Standard Operating Procedures for data capture, data management and data analysis within the context of research projects.
• Establish and drive uptake of a set of shared resources for data capture, data management and data analysis including templates for electronic survey modules and dashboards, databases and analytic code.
• Assist in the training of researchers and systems managers to use identified best-practices and follow SOPs
• Develop, implement and disseminate gold standard research practices for data capture, analysis and management
• Design resources for researchers, based on own expertise and their previous projects, such as example reports, advanced analysis walkthroughs, a list of internal and external contacts for advanced topics, coding communities of support, and more
• Advise on the development of ongoing analysis for pre-existing data
Drive the use of cutting-edge data science methods in research:
• Identify and prioritize a set of frontier methods that are highly relevant to IRC research.
o For example, this may include the use of alternative data sources (e.g. satellite data, geospatial data and cell phone data), the data requirements for emerging research methods (e.g. adaptive RCTs of digital innovations, analysis of chatbot data) and/or AI-powered search and synthesis of data across IRC’s internal data libraries.
• Build a portfolio of projects supporting research teams to design and implement studies leveraging these frontier approaches and best available technologies.
• Develop a mentorship plan and community of practice around advanced data analysis
• Introduce innovative data collection and management technologies appropriate to low-resource settings
• Pursue “leap-frog” technology solutions to support teams and encourage their usage when identified.
• Develop relationships with vendors that provide under-utilized technologies our research teams can use
Key Working Relationships:
Position Reports to: Research & Innovation Senior Director of Research
Position directly supervises: NA
Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: Research practice team members, MEAL team members
External: Technology vendors
Qualifications:
• Education: Master’s degree in field related to data management and analysis, with a background in public health preferred.
• Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated experience (5-8 years) collecting, managing and analyzing complex data, ideally in resource limited settings. Excellent problem solving and communication skills. Ability to work independently.
• Technical Expertise: High proficiency with STATA or R, Power BI, CommCare and Excel. Knowledge of frontier methods and applications.
• Field Experience: Familiarity with and willingness to travel to fragile / conflict-affected contexts.
• Team work: Able to work with remote, multi-cultural, and multi-disciplinary teams
• Training Skills: Able to transfer technical knowledge and skills
• Language Skills: English required, French and/or Spanish proficiency is a plus
Working Environment: Travel up to 10% of the time
Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
**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.
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