WaterAid template job description and guidance notes
Job Description
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Research Manager
London
B
Head of Programme Support Unit
Up to 2 research interns or assistants
Up to £300,000 per annum
Up to 12 weeks per annum
Introduction
The Programme Support Unit (PSU) is a key unit within the International Programmes
Department (IPD) that focuses on programmatic excellence, effectiveness, learning,
research and development. This post relates to a global research portfolio managed by
the unit and the post holder will provide research leadership, advice and capacity
development. In the immediate future a large proportion of the post holder’s time (60%)
will be dedicated to the research component of a large Sustainable Total Sanitation (STS)
project just starting in Nigeria. The post holder will work closely with regional teams in
IPD, Country Programmes (CPs) and other WaterAid Departments such as the Policy and
Campaigns Department (PCD).
Job Purpose
The job purpose is to provide research, leadership, advice and capacity development with
respect to the organisation’s research agenda, appropriate research methodologies and to
assist in embedding rigorous action based research approaches within the organisation’s
overall learning and knowledge management approaches. In particular the Research
Manager will be required to initiate and support CPs in the preparation of high quality
research proposals and the implementation of research and capacity-building activities incountry. The Research Manager will identify knowledge gaps across the organisation and
look for opportunities for multi-country research and collaborative research with other
sector organisations or academic institutions.
Key accountabilities
In all the tasks listed below the Research Manager will be accountable directly to
WaterAid’s Head of Programme Support and through him to the Director of the
International Programmes.
Develop research proposals
1. Identify an initiate research ideas through discussion with Country Programmes,
Regional Teams and the Policy and Campaigns Department.
2. Develop research ideas into high quality research proposals.
Lead research and advise
3. Lead or coordinate key research projects, particularly multi-country or high profile
projects.
4. Advise and guide CPs in the implementation of these and their own research projects.
WaterAid template job description and guidance notes
5. Ensure effective cross-linkages between research partners both internally and
externally.
Manage and coordinate the documentation and disseminations
6. Manage and produce high quality research outputs
7. Advise and guide CPs in documenting and disseminating research findings effectively,
internally and externally.
8. Coordinate reporting of activities, results and expenditure for research activities directly
managed from PSU.
Capacity development
9. Identify the research capacity development needs of staff in the Country Programmes.
10. Design, deliver or coordinate capacity development activities for Country Programme
and partner staff.
11. As needed and funding dependent, recruit and manage research interns or part-time
research assistants for effective delivery of specific research projects.
Collaboration and Representation
12. Develop key beneficial collaborations and act as the main link with key research
donors, members of research consortia or other research partners.
Person specification
Essential
 qualification to a PhD level in an area relevant to the water and sanitation sector, and
with a strong knowledge of sanitation and hygiene (alternatively a relevant Masters
degree with significant demonstrated experience in research in the sector);
 sound understanding and experience of research problem identification, research
methods and research implementation;
 strong competency and knowledge of action learning and rigorous action research
methods;
 experienced in working in low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia;
 comfortable working with academic institutions, Governments and non-Governmental
organisations;
 good at networking and collaborative styles of working
 able to work collegiately across all departments and teams within WaterAid
 highly competent at oral and written forms of reporting and presentation
 A proven track record of delivering to time and budget
 fluency in written and spoken English
 expertise in MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint
 Ability to travel significantly, up to 25% of the time per annum
 Commitment to WaterAid’s values and a working style that reflects these
Desirable
 Chartered membership of a professional institution related to the WASH sector
 Proficiency in French and/or Portuguese