FUNCTIONS

IMPACT is seeking a candidate who has previous experience managing teams and projects, leading quantitative data analysis, and producing analytical outputs to lead the MSNA Team in Ukraine. The MSNA is a high visibility and high impact assessment, which is coordinated with a range of stakeholders across the response to provide a rigorous evidence base for yearly humanitarian prioritisation. Importantly, the MSNA informs the OCHA-led Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, supporting strategic decision-making, funding allocations, and ongoing or planned humanitarian interventions.Under the supervision of the HNMU Research Manager, the Senior Assessment Officer (SAO) will be responsible for implementing all stages of the multi-sectoral research cycle and their analytical outputs, including research design and planning, data collection, analysis, output production, and dissemination. The SAO will also be responsible for related logistics, partner coordination, external engagement, staff management, reporting, and finance requirements and will be required to provide input to the strategic development of REACH Ukraine.

This is an externally facing role and the SAO will be expected to engage with key external actors, including stakeholders in the humanitarian coordination system, technical working groups, NGO fora, and information management groups. The SAO will be the main focal point for the inclusion of MSNA data into the humanitarian planning cycle and will engage deeply with these stakeholders to ensure the data collected is relevant and fills identified information gaps. The SAO will lead on producing analytical outputs to inform the response and will also regularly present findings and engage externally with senior staff from the UN and I/N-NGOs to ensure findings are received and understood by key stakeholders.

The position is based in Dnipro, with occasional travel across Ukraine, conducted in close coordination with the ACTED Country Security Manager and Ukraine Country Security Team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The SAO’s responsibilities include the following:

1) ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

Objective 1.1: Management of assessment process

• Ensure that the MSNA is planned in line with the country strategy, relevant research, and project objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines

• Design the methodology and assessment tools associated with the assessment, according to IMPACT

• requirements and principles

• Develop the Research Terms of Reference, Data Analysis Plan, questionnaire, and assessment tools under the supervision of the HNMU RM and in collaboration with external actors to ensure the data will meet their needs and fill information gaps

• Oversee the operational planning and coordination for the assessment, including the development of sampling strategies, identifying appropriate locations for data collection, etc.

• Work closely with the REACH Operations Manager to ensure all FLATS preparations are finalized prior to data collection

Objective 1.2: Implementation

• Responsible for implementing the research design and methodology of the MSNA in close collaboration with Field Officers

• Developing and overseeing training of the assessment and data collection teams, ensuring that enumerators are well-trained on the questionnaire

• In close liaison with Field Officers and Data Officers, monitor MSNA data collection progress and overall research quality, reviewing and correcting outliers, ensuring its correct implementation in line with agreed ToRs and adapting the workplan as necessary

• Ensure regular situation updates on data collection are produced and circulated to line manager, relevant colleagues and external counterparts. Provide support and follow up on identified challenges during the data collection process

• In close liaison with the Data Officer(s), ensure that data is revised and cleaned, and that all revisions are recorded

• Ensure that all data and analysis are validated by IMPACT HQ before the product drafting stage

• Conduct data analysis and lead on report production, following IMPACT guidelines

2) DRAFTING OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS

• The SAO is responsible for consolidating and providing oversight for all analyses and conclusions from each assessment into REACH products, in line with agreed timelines, partner requirements, and IMPACT quality standards and guidelines

• Lead and coordinate the dissemination of sectoral and multi-sectoral presentations during the humanitarian planning preparation period. Deliver tailored presentations of MSNA findings to clusters, working groups, donors, and inter-agency forums, adapting key messages to different technical and strategic audiences

• Lead on the drafting of timely and accurate outputs that consolidate the analyses from the MSNA into outputs, including factsheets, reports

• Ensure that products accurately reflect the information collected and that information is conveyed in a way that maximizes the ability to influence the humanitarian response

• Maintain regular communication with Country Coordination and IMPACT HQ on progress and deadlines for written products

• Ensure that all written products are validated by the HNMU RM or IMPACT HQ before external release

• Responsible for following the designated timeline of reports to be submitted to project partners and donors

• Review outputs drafted by more junior staff

3) EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Regular representation of REACH/IMPACT in cluster and multi-sector meetings/technical working groups and follow up on technical issues identified in cluster meetings

• Liaise with external partners to provide technical guidance and to identify potential for findings to be integrated into existing data sources used by the humanitarian community

• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organisation, notably through the application of IMPACT’s mandate, ethics, values and stand-point with regard to other actors

• Ensure that all relevant partners are consulted and involved at all stages of research cycle, specifically OCHA, Humanitarian Clusters, technical working groups, and other partners

• After validation by the line manager, represent IMPACT in relevant meetings/working groups, such as Cluster meetings, Humanitarian Operational Coordination Groups (HOCGs), General Coordination Meetings (GCMs), NGO Platform meetings, and Data Coordination Group

• Follow up on relevant issues identified by partners or during meetings/working groups

• After validation by line manager, present research findings to relevant third parties in order to enhance their use and impact

4) STAFF MANAGEMENT & HR

• The SAO is responsible for day-to-day management of project staff (2-3 members) both directly and remotely, including the review and monitoring of work plans when appropriate

• Responsible for conducting weekly check-ins with direct line reports, ensuring they have the information and training they need to complete assigned

• Lead in the recruitment of IMPACT assessment staff within the MSNA team under the guidance of the HNMU RM and in coordination with HR, e.g., screening CVs, assessment tests, interviews, and performance evaluations

• Ensure that the team is comprehensively briefed on the objective, expected outputs and that the overall implementation strategy of any given activity is clearly understood. The SAO will ensure that project/field staff are given training and complete all the necessary documentation in line with program requirements set by IMPACT

• The SAO will flag any issues to the HNMU RM and will work to create performance management plans to address such challenges if they arise

5) ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNITIES AND BENEFICIARIES

The SAO is responsible for ensuring that all interactions with Ukrainian communities are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about IMPACT programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic background: Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar)

• Familiarity aid system: Familiarity with the aid system is an asset

• Communication/reporting skills: Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to analytical reports

• Years of work experience: At least 3 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian or development settings, including in research, program management, evaluations, assessments, etc.

• Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills. Experience in assessments, M&E, field research, or evaluations

• Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software is an asset

• Multi-tasking skills: Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment

• Level of independence: A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently

• Cross-cultural work environment: Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility

• Experience in geographical region: Past experience in Ukraine or the region is an asset

• Language skills: Fluency in English is required, competency in Ukrainian or Russian is an asset

• Security environment: Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• For this position, salary between 2’820 CHF and 2’880 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD. NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere.

• Accommodation and food provided in a guesthouse. Depending on the country situation, a contribution to a housing allowance of up to 75% of country-specific benchmark can be considered instead. NB – IMPACT is hosted by ACTED in this country

• Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance

• This base is not a family duty station

• Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered)

• R&R after 3 months (flight ticket up to 500$ + 200$ of living allowance) if duty station allows

• Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance)

• Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable.

• Predeparture induction - 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training;

• Enrolment in IMPACT Initiatives Research Foundational Learning Programme within the first 3 months from the start of contract.

• IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees