United States: Senior Researcher

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) is seeking a highly motivated and qualified person to research attacks on education, draft reports, strengthen monitoring and reporting, and support the Coalition’s advocacy work. The Senior Researcher will be based in New York City and will report directly to the Executive Director.

GCPEA was formed in 2010 by organizations working in the fields of education in emergencies, higher education, protection, and international human rights and humanitarian law who were concerned about ongoing attacks on educational institutions, their students, and staff in countries affected by conflict. GCPEA is governed by a Steering Committee made up of the following international organizations: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Education Above All Foundation, Plan International, Save the Children, UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNHCR. GCPEA is a project of the Tides Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, which serves as fiscal sponsor.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

RESEARCH: 

• Oversee research and drafting of Education under Attack (EUA) and other reports
• Lead data analysis and drafting of Education under Attack country profiles, Global Overview, Methodology, and Executive Summary
• Coordinate the Steering Committee review of EUA and incorporating feedback
• Direct the production of the Education under Attack report and microsite, including hiring and coordinating graphic designers, web developers, factcheckers, and proofreaders
• Analyze data and draft country-specific or thematic reports/briefs/case studies on the impacts of attacks on education
• Present EUA report findings and other research at high-level events

MANAGEMENT: 

• Lead the research team
• Supervise at least one full-time researcher, part-time researchers, consultants, and interns supporting research workstreams
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative team environment; provide mentoring and support to team members including regular work planning and performance reviews
• Oversee the research team’s monitoring of attacks on education following the methodologies established in the EUA report series, including reviewing UN and NGO reports, engaging in phone/Skype interviews, and conducting media research
• Manage the research team’s entry and analysis of attacks on education data in country-specific Excel spreadsheets

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: 

• Strengthen the collection and analysis of data on attacks on education
• Identify new data sources and build relationships with organizations and agencies monitoring attacks on education at the international, national, and local levels
• Lead on-going discussions on strengthening methodologies for analyzing attacks on education internally and contribute to these discussions outside the Coalition
• Strengthen the EUA database, including by developing new spreadsheets and a codebook
• Develop and contribute to toolkits and other technical guidance; support dissemination, trainings, and other activities to promote adoption and application of GCPEA guidance
• Advise partner organizations on data portals and platforms
• Co-author data sharing guidelines and manage the fulfilment of data sharing requests

TEAMWORK: 

• Engage with Secretariat work streams
• Contribute to reporting and communications internally and externally; including drafting press releases and blog posts, participating in podcasts and media interviews ahead of report launches and advocacy opportunities; shepherd any products through the review and dissemination process
• Develop and share tailored data with colleagues
• Support the endorsement and implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, including through participation in country-based and virtual activities
• Support the Implementation Network through data sharing, trainings, and technical support

LEADERSHIP: 

• Contribute to executive functions
• Serve as Officer-in-Charge for the Executive Director
• Promote and support partnerships and collective action, including through participation in technical and advisory groups or roles; actively advance engagement with affected populations, promote localization, and seek to diversify Coalition partnerships
• Support the Executive Director to write, monitor, and report on grants, including generating project ideas and contributing to proposal development
• Contribute to the planning of and participate in quarterly Steering Committee meetings
• Lead working groups, task teams or other initiatives within the Coalition

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education and Experience: 

• Master’s degree or higher in international development, education, one of the social sciences, gender studies, or a related field
• At least three years of research experience, including conducting literature reviews and performing qualitative or quantitative data collection and analysis
• Previous experience conducting research or working on education in emergencies, international education, child protection, and/or human rights preferred
• Experience working in a conflict-affected context preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Strong understanding of the challenges to education in settings of armed conflict
• Exceptional writing and critical thinking skills; strong proofreading skills
• Very strong attention to detail
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Excel, including the use of formulas, data validation, sorting, and filtering functions
• Experience with data collection and entry preferred
• Strong oral communication and presentation skills are desirable, along with the poise needed to represent GCPEA to external stakeholders
• Understanding of social science research design is desirable
• Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work within a coalition of organizations with differing mandates
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task and focus on several projects simultaneously
• Fluency, including the ability to read and write in a second language preferred, particularly Arabic or French, but not required

Other: 

• Applicants for this position must possess current US work authorization. 
• The Senior Researcher is an exempt position. Exempt employees are expected to work the appropriate and necessary time in order to complete key assignments and related tasks on schedule. GCPEA is an international organization that values inclusion and diversity. We encourage diverse applicants with lived experience in crisis-affected contexts.

Work Environment, Location and Travel: 

GCPEA cultivates a supportive and inclusive environment. Reasonable accommodation will be made for people with disabilities and flexible work arrangements are available (including reduced and non-traditional work hours). The location for this position is New York City, where we are headquartered and currently have office space. We are operating on a hybrid work arrangement (2-3 days in office). This position will require approximately 4-6 international trips per year.

Physical Demands: 

The Senior Researcher will spend up to seven hours a day sitting at a desk working on a computer or speaking on a telephone. He or she will travel to countries outside the US, including potentially in conflict affected environments.

The office is wheelchair accessible. When traveling, the Senior Researcher will be required to adapt to the conditions in the environment and will need to work from hotel rooms or whatever workspace may be available. Meetings with partner organizations or field-based practitioners may occur in locations that are not wheelchair accessible.

How to Apply: 

Applicants should submit the following via email to gcpea@protectingeducation.org under the subject heading “Senior Researcher”:

• Cover letter
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Short unedited writing sample of not more than 5 pages
• Names and contact details of three professional references

We thank everyone for their application, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

After initial screening, three levels of selection will occur, first a panel interview, then selected candidates advance to a skills test. Those with excellent test results will have an interview with the Executive Director.

Remuneration is commensurate with experience, within the range of $85,000 – $95,000.
GCPEA offers a generous benefits package including health, vision and dental care plans, employer contributions to 401(K) retirement plans, and 15 days of vacation, in addition to wellness days and federal holidays.

GCPEA is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Our policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), religion (all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), marital status, registered domestic partner status or civil union status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer and genetic characteristics, or HIV/AIDS related), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, military status, or veteran status, as well as any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.