The Senior Qualitative Research Lead is primarily responsible for implementing the qualitative activities under Objective 1 & 2. This includes leading and contributing to qualitative research design and analysis activities, research management activities and related resilience measurement and learning activities along with the supervision and management of key research staff under RPM.

Essential Responsibilities

RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS ACTIVITIES

•  Serve as technical lead for qualitative research components under the RPM activity from start to finish, with specific responsibilities to include site selection, sampling design, research instrument development, data collection and enumerator training and management, and data analysis.
•  Coordinate input and integration of feedback on qualitative research activities from key actors including other RPM team members, as well as various Mercy Corps country and HQ research and technical staff.
•  Lead the interview transcription and translation process, overseeing the work of the data collection firm and/or qualitative enumerators
•  Lead qualitative data analysis activities, including data coding, writing up key findings in the form of memos for circulation to RPM team members, and supporting the drafting of technical reports and finalization of research deliverables and interim products.

RESEARCH MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

•  Manage logistics for the qualitative research activities, including overseeing procurement, planning and fieldwork, and coordinating with country-level security and operations teams to ensure successful data collection
•  Oversee the translation, piloting/testing, and revision of qualitative interview guides
•  Support the development of training plans and quality control processes for the qualitative research, in close consultation with local data collection firm/thought partner
•  Maintaining project inventory including tablets, laptops, voice recorders, etc. used for qualitative research
•  Support research activities related to humanitarian assistance averted analysis, as necessary
•  Draft and manage project budgets in close coordination with the Research Director and Mercy Corps Somalia finance teams

RESILIENCE MEASUREMENT AND LEARNING

•  Participate in resilience storytelling activities, including facilitate qualitative training, build capacity of journalists and community youth reporters in qualitative methods, provide feedback on the storytelling narratives, and other tasks as needed
•  Participate in facilitated learning events and bilateral sessions to draw insights on and estimate individual contribution to collective resilience outcomes
•  Work with the RMEL Specialist to develop qualitative monitoring indicators to track as part of the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP)
•  As assigned by the supervisor, perform other tasks, which are consistent with the expertise needed in this role

STAFF MANAGEMENT

•  Supervise the work of key research staff, including Research Coordinator, Data Coordinator, and Officers under RPM, with support from the Research Director
•  Co-lead the weekly meetings of the research team and provide management and technical support to keep project deliverables on track

Work closely with Director of Research to provide technical expertise and oversight on qualitative component

Supervisory Responsibility

Research Coordinator, Data Coordinator, Research Officer

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Research

Works Directly With: RMEL Specialist, Deputy Chief of Party, Chief of Party, Strategic Communications Learning Manager and other members of the RPM Applied Learning and RPM Research team as well as Short-Term Technical Assistants (STTA), Somalia MEL, and Mercy Corps HQ research and technical support team members.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

•  BA/S degree in development studies, research methods, statistics, economics, social sciences, public policy, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field required
•  Minimum 5-7 years’ experience managing planning and implementation of qualitative research projects for international development/humanitarian programs; experience in resilience-focused programs preferred
•  Experience with qualitative methodologies and techniques (in-person and remote), including planning and implementation of semi-structured interviewing, focus group discussions, and/or participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods in humanitarian contexts. Substantial expertise in a variety of qualitative methods, including experience in conducting semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field observations, transcription/translation of interviews and qualitative data analysis
•  Experience leading field work activities and managing field-based research staff responsible for data collection
•  Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ability to use intermediate Excel functions effectively
•  Strong written and verbal English and Somali communication and interpersonal skills to engage a variety of audiences
•  Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donor-funded projects stakeholders including local organizations, survey firms, partners, etc.
•  Experience working in Somalia is required
•  Individuals with a strong experience in community engagement/participatory rural appraisal are also encouraged to apply

Desirable Skills

•  Master’s degree in development studies, research methods, statistics, economics, social sciences, public policy, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant field
•  Experience working in the humanitarian sector is an asset, but it can be substituted with substantial experience the private, governmental or development sector
•  Quantitative and/or mixed methods research experience, including design and data analysis
•  Experience using qualitative data analysis (QDA) software, such as Dedoose, Nvivo, or MaxQDA

Success Factors

•  Excellent listening and facilitations skills
•  An outstanding ability to create a safe place for people to freely express diverse and conflicting views
•  Attention to detail and superb note-taking
•  Ability to provide accurate translations on the fly
•  Excellent on-line communication skills and experience using multiple communication platforms.
•  Superb organizational skills and show initiative to identify and solve problems
•  Capable of multitasking, rapid decision-making, and work under time constraints
•  Must be able to work with diverse teams (country, language) and sectors (e.g. natural resources, economics, sociology, digital technology)
•  Flexibility to adapt to changing conditions and requirements
•  Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision with attention to detail
•  Strong team player with demonstrated interpersonal skills

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is split between Mercy Corps offices in Mogadishu and Baidoa, Somalia, and it may require some travel to other field offices if and when required for meetings and other functions. Accommodation is provided in group housing. The Research Coordinator will support activities throughout Somalia. Mobility in Somalia is restricted and must first be cleared with the Security Advisor. The standard Somali workweek is Sunday – Thursday. Provisionally, the selected candidate shall be expected to travel 30-50% of his or her time.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDT to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures and values et all times and in all in-country.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.