Research Manager

The Research Manager will manage and implement a participatory photovoice study on empowerment, equity, and resilience in reproductive health in rural South Sudan. The role involves close engagement with government and Ministry of Health officials and other stakeholders to ensure project requirements are met.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Principal Investigator, Research coordinator and Project Manager to execute the research project including adapting study protocol, tools, and consent scripts to the South Sudan context.
• Train and onboard facilitators on the protocol, data collection tools, and ethical conduct with minors; lead facilitator debriefs and reflexivity exercises.
• Oversee implementation of the research project; supervise and mentor the Research Officer and facilitators; conduct ongoing protocol-fidelity checks and document protocol deviations.
• Lead external engagement with local PI, MOH, district health teams, clinic gatekeepers, WISH project team, and CP stakeholders.
• Provide technical supervision of the facilitators with strengths in language, behavioural science, SRH and qualitative research experience.
• Oversee the informed consent process; ensure adherence to research protocols, ethical standards, timelines, and deliverables.
• Oversight of the data management system and confidentiality procedures.
• Risk mitigation oversight including managing breach-of-confidentiality, psychological, and social/stigma risks; escalate safeguarding issues; liaise with IRC security focal point; coordinate IRC IRB on-call process in the field.
• Hold weekly team meetings; maintain a project risk and issues log; troubleshoot protocol-implementation issues and document decisions.
• Provide technical oversight across photovoice workshops, Cross-Group Dialogues, indicator development, and Delphi validation processes.
• Co-lead analysis, reporting, and dissemination planning; co-lead the Delphi survey implementation.
• Co-lead on the production of technical reports, presentations, policy briefs, and final study outputs.
• Ensure research findings are translated into practical recommendations for family planning programming, monitoring, and policy.
• Provide weekly updates on progress of the research by email to PI and larger oversight team.
• Report to the Principal Investigator any concerns during the study promptly and transparently to troubleshoot.
• Prepare and maintain/update detailed work plans supporting project activities and spending within grant timeline.
• Manage and monitor monthly expenditures and track budgets to ensure spending aligns with approved budgets and timelines, including procurement plans and cash forecasts.
• Assure appropriate and timely spending of grants to achieve program goals and grant reporting contributions.
• Participate in organized Project implementation and closing meetings as part of organizational PCM processes.

Requirements

• Educational background related to public health, social science or other relevant fields. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years in the field of sexual and reproductive health or related programs, health research, or health M&E.
• Preference highly for participatory methodology.
• Demonstrated experience working with women and/or vulnerable community groups in South Sudan or a similar context.
• Familiarity with the study communities and local social structures, including clan dynamics and community leadership.
• Experience working on reproductive health, gender-based violence, or women’s empowerment preferred.
• Prior experience with photovoice, participatory action research, or visual methods.
• Experience with qualitative data collection tools including audio recorders and tablets.
• Supportive attitude and passion toward women and girls (right to access to sexual and reproductive health services).
• Experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights related research or programs.
• Data collection, entry, and quality management experience in low resource settings.
• Good spoken and written communication in English.
• Excellent computer literacy.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Gender sensitivity: Deep understanding of gender dynamics in the study context.
• Ethical conduct: have undergone Human Subjects Research Ethics training (e.g. NIH, CITI, or equivalent).
• Cultural competence: Ability to adapt research methods to locally meaningful norms without distorting the research intent.
• Confidentiality: Rigorous adherence to data protection and confidentiality.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative analysis skills.
• Experience with technical report writing, research documentation, research communication.
• Experience of working in networks and building strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience in policy, advocacy and stakeholder engagements related to SRHR.
• Fluent in written and spoken English required, knowledge of local language is study implementation area preferred.
• Experience with data management and analysis software.
• Communication and interpersonal skills for collaborative teamwork, effective networking, and stakeholder engagement.
• Methodical and efficient approach to work, balancing the research, technical and project management aspects of the role.
• Willingness to learn and gain new skills for efficiency and growth in the role.

Skills

• Sexual and Reproductive Health Research
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Participatory Methodologies
• Community Engagement
• Gender-Based Violence Analysis
• Women’s Empowerment
• Photovoice Methodology
• Participatory Action Research
• Visual Research Methods
• Qualitative Data Collection
• Use of Audio Recorders
• Tablet Data Collection
• Data Quality Processes
• Human Subjects Research Ethics
• Cultural Competence
• Data Confidentiality
• Qualitative Analysis
• Quantitative Analysis
• Technical Report Preparation
• Research communication
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Policy and Advocacy
• Data Management
• Project Management
• English Language Proficiency

Languages

English