Research Coordinator

Terms of Reference

Research Coordinator occupied Palestinian territory – Community case detection for children in need of psychosocial care

Background

War Child (WC) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. We strive to empower children and young people while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict affected children and young people. In the next five years (2016 – 2020), based on innovation of our approaches, and solid research of our outcomes and impact, War Child aims to evolve towards a globally renowned and recognised expert organisation in the field of psychosocial well-being of children and youth affected by conflict.

Project background
One of our research projects is focused on the development of a tool to better understand which children and families might be in need for additional psychosocial care. A group of selected and trusted members of Palestinian communities in the West Bank who are closely connected to children/families in their community, will be trained in the use of this tool. The tool gives a series of vignettes (fictional case stories) and illustrations which describe children and families experiencing clusters of emotional, behavioural and relationship issues.  Facilitators and key community members will be asked whether any of the children and families they see in their communities match the vignettes and illustrations. After positive identification (a “match”), an assessment will be done by trained War Child/partner staff to confirm whether the child is experiencing the kinds of problems we are trying to detect, and to refer the children/families to relevant available services.

This first phase of the research project is focused on the accuracy of the tool; the goal of the research is to see whether the tool really works to recommend the right children/families in the community for extra help. This will be done by a comparison of the detection tool outcomes with outcomes of an already validated clinical assessment (done by a Palestinian clinical psychologist) and self-rating assessments done by a research team. The research team will be composed of a Research Coordinator and several research assistants, under direct management from War Child oPt and technical supervision from War Child Research & Development department in Amsterdam. The research team will also work in collaboration with other War Child oPt staff, local academic contributors, clinical psychologists, and students.

Roles and responsibilities
The Research Coordinator is essential to the success of any research project- s/he forms the backbone of a research team.
The Research Coordinator will work within the oPt team and in close collaboration with the R&D team to coordinate all aspects of implementation of this research project. 
S/he will be responsible for
Finalising selection and hiring of a local research team including research assistants, students and clinical psychologists. This may involve:
assisting in drafting job descriptions
assisting in the circulation of advertisements to relevant networks
participating in the screening and interview of potential applicants
Taking a critical role in final selection of team together with the detection team (part of the R&D department).
Assisting in competency and capacity-building of local research team and relevant War Child oPt staff in research methods, research ethics, and the detection tool, with support of the oPt team and R&D department. This competency-building will involve
Basics of data collection for qualitative and quantitative research projects
Interviewing methods
Conducting self-rating assessments
Data management processes
Research ethics including participant safety, confidentiality, reporting of adverse events, maintaining integrity of research data
Child safe-guarding
Supervision and coordination of the tasks of the local research team including:
Holding regular supervision meetings and performance appraisals
Scheduling and coordination of data collection including managing all logistics such as transport, work schedules, resources required
Data management
Monitoring of quality of data collection, adherence to ethical practices, and intervention fidelity
Overseeing data entry, and able to be responsible for data set cleaning.
Communicating key information from the research in a simple, clear, effective way to stakeholders that are non-researchers
Managing and reporting on adverse events and serious adverse events related to implementing the research project according to War Child data management protocols
Participating in regular research supervision and coordination meetings with War Child Holland R&D department.

Reporting
The Research Coordinator will report to the Programme Development Manager oPT with technical guidance from the War Child Holland Research and Development department in Amsterdam.

Profile

Essential:
Masters level degree in relevant field (e.g. Psychology, Nursing, Education, Public Health, Social Sciences).
At least 3 years’ experience in leading and coordinating field-based/community-based research with human subjects in a relevant field (i.e. psychosocial support, education, and/or child protection).
Proven track record in implementing research activities and quantitative data management for human subjects’ research projects.
Experience in supervising research assistants and building competency.
Excellent communication skills in English (oral and written) and Arabic.
Ability to communicate the results of research to others in a simple, clear, effective way.
Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision
Demonstrated ability to enter and clean data using SPSS or similar data analyses software
Available for 0.7 FTE per week, committed to invest at least 5 months in contributing to our research agenda in occupied Palestinian territory.
Ability to work in East Jerusalem and travel throughout the West Bank.

Desirable:
Local candidates are preferred. Extensive experience working within occupied Palestinian territory a strong advantage.
Experience in (basic) analyses of data sets in SPSS of similar software package.
Previous extensive experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Job Location
East Jerusalem with frequent travel to other locations in the West Bank including Jordan Valley.

Time frame
The assignment is expected to start in August, 2017.

How to apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply before the 14th of July. Make sure to send your English CV and cover letter to
 

[email protected]

War Child strives to create an inclusive work environment. Candidates from all backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences who judge that they are able to fill all or most of the essential requirements for this role are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to undertake a written assessment in English.
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The safety of children is essential to War Child. War Child does not tolerate or accept any form of abuse. This subject is addressed in our recruitment and selection procedures.

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