IRC Research-Based Job Opportunities Across Multiple Locations: Unlocking a World of Career Growth . APPLY NOW
IRC Research-Based Job Opportunities Across Multiple Locations: Unlocking a World of Career Growth . APPLY NOW
Position : Multiple Research Based
Location : Various
Organization : IRC
Application Deadline : Dec 2024 Update
Introduction
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a prominent global humanitarian organization focused on helping people affected by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. As an entity dedicated to delivering aid and development support, IRC plays an instrumental role in providing critical services to vulnerable populations, ranging from healthcare and education to economic recovery and protection. Given the vast scope of its work, IRC regularly offers a variety of research-based roles across multiple locations worldwide. These roles are pivotal in supporting evidence-based decision-making and driving impactful, data-driven programs in regions affected by crisis.
In this blog post, we will delve into several research-based job opportunities at IRC, highlighting the diversity of roles available, the skills required, and the importance of these positions in advancing IRC’s mission.
1. Research Manager – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)
Location: Various Locations, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
A Research Manager in the MEAL department at IRC plays a critical role in monitoring the organization’s program effectiveness and ensuring the accountability of humanitarian aid delivered. This position is vital for IRC’s commitment to creating evidence-based interventions that improve the impact of its programs.
Research Managers are responsible for conducting evaluations, analyzing data, and providing recommendations to improve future projects. Their duties include designing research methodologies, overseeing data collection, analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data, and presenting findings in accessible formats for internal stakeholders and donors. These managers also play an essential role in training and guiding field staff on best practices in monitoring and evaluation.
Key Requirements:
- A master’s degree in social sciences, development studies, public health, or a related field.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
- Experience in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Familiarity with humanitarian response frameworks.
- Ability to work across cultural and political environments, often in challenging settings.
2. Senior Researcher – Health Systems Strengthening
Location: Middle East, Africa
As part of IRC’s health programming, the Senior Researcher in Health Systems Strengthening is tasked with assessing and improving health systems in fragile settings. This role involves conducting in-depth research into the resilience of health infrastructures, identifying gaps in service delivery, and evaluating the outcomes of various interventions aimed at building sustainable healthcare solutions.
The researcher will collaborate with public health experts, government officials, and local NGOs to analyze health system structures, identify vulnerabilities, and propose recommendations for improved health policies. They will also manage partnerships with academic institutions, ensuring that research findings are disseminated for global impact.
Key Requirements:
- A PhD or master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, or related fields.
- A deep understanding of health systems, particularly in low-resource or post-crisis environments.
- Proven research experience, including publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals.
- Strong analytical and project management skills.
- Experience working with international development or humanitarian organizations.
3. Research and Policy Advisor – Refugee Rights and Protection
Location: Geneva, Switzerland; New York, USA; Nairobi, Kenya
For those passionate about policy advocacy and refugees’ rights, the role of Research and Policy Advisor at IRC offers an exciting opportunity to directly influence global policy discussions. In this role, the advisor conducts research on refugee protection, migration trends, and the effectiveness of legal frameworks governing displaced populations. Their insights help shape IRC’s advocacy strategy to influence governments, UN agencies, and donors to adopt policies that better address refugee needs.
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Key responsibilities include monitoring global protection standards, conducting field research, and producing policy briefs that highlight key findings and actionable recommendations. The advisor also plays a crucial role in representing IRC at international forums and ensuring that the voices of refugees and displaced persons are heard in policy debates.
Key Requirements:
- A master’s degree or higher in international relations, human rights law, or a related discipline.
- Strong background in refugee law, international protection, and migration studies.
- Experience in producing research reports and policy briefs.
- Familiarity with global refugee protection mechanisms and UN frameworks.
- Excellent communication and advocacy skills.
4. Data Scientist – Research and Analytics
Location: Remote, with travel to field locations
In the era of big data, the role of Data Scientist in research and analytics has become crucial for IRC’s operational efficiency and program effectiveness. This position is ideal for individuals with a strong background in statistical modeling, data mining, and machine learning. The Data Scientist will work closely with IRC’s various program teams to analyze large datasets, including survey data, administrative data, and demographic studies, to draw actionable insights that will improve program delivery.
The responsibilities of this position include cleaning and analyzing datasets, developing predictive models to inform program strategies, and supporting field staff in using data to enhance decision-making. The Data Scientist will also collaborate with external partners to incorporate new methodologies and technologies into IRC’s data analytics capabilities.
Key Requirements:
- A degree in data science, statistics, economics, or a related field.
- Proficiency in statistical programming languages such as R, Python, and SQL.
- Experience working with large datasets and conducting complex data analysis.
- Familiarity with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) tools and spatial data analysis.
- Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
5. Research Officer – Education and Livelihoods
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia
IRC’s education and livelihoods programs aim to help vulnerable populations access quality education and develop the skills necessary to thrive economically. The Research Officer in this field is responsible for conducting research to assess the effectiveness of IRC’s educational programs and interventions aimed at improving livelihoods for displaced people and host communities.
Key tasks include evaluating the impact of vocational training programs, assessing barriers to educational access, and measuring how IRC’s initiatives affect individuals’ long-term economic prospects. The officer will also assist in designing and implementing new research studies to continually improve IRC’s approach to education and livelihoods programming.
Key Requirements:
- A degree in education, social sciences, international development, or a related field.
- Experience in designing and conducting field-based research in education or livelihoods.
- Familiarity with participatory research methods and data collection techniques.
- Strong written and oral communication skills for reporting and stakeholder engagement.
- Ability to work in challenging environments with diverse teams.
6. Field Research Coordinator – Protection and Gender
Location: Various crisis-affected regions in Africa, Middle East, and Asia
The Field Research Coordinator focuses on gender-based violence (GBV) and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. In this position, you will coordinate data collection efforts on the ground, ensuring the integrity of data while navigating complex security and cultural landscapes. The coordinator will also play an instrumental role in designing protection-focused research tools, analyzing trends in GBV, and ensuring that interventions are informed by high-quality data.
This role requires close collaboration with local partners, community-based organizations, and humanitarian actors to ensure that the research reflects the realities on the ground and contributes to policy reforms that protect vulnerable groups.
Key Requirements:
- A background in gender studies, social work, psychology, or related fields.
- Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection, particularly in protection and GBV contexts.
- Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.
- Ability to manage research teams and work in volatile and resource-constrained settings.
- Familiarity with international humanitarian law and protection frameworks.
Conclusion
IRC offers a range of research-based positions that provide opportunities for individuals passionate about humanitarian aid, policy, and data science to contribute meaningfully to global development. From research managers overseeing monitoring and evaluation to data scientists analyzing complex datasets and field coordinators ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations, IRC’s research roles are designed to create impactful, data-driven strategies for crisis response.
If you’re motivated to make a difference and have the skills to contribute to humanitarian research, IRC’s job openings across various regions could be your gateway to a rewarding career that influences lives worldwide. Visit IRC’s career page regularly to stay updated on these and other exciting opportunities.
