Afghanistan: Sr. Program Manager
Country: Afghanistan
Closing date: 21 Aug 2013
Introduction
The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research organization headquartered in Kabul. AREU’s mission is to conduct high-quality research that informs and influences policy and practice. AREU also actively promotes a culture of research and learning by strengthening analytical capacity in Afghanistan and facilitating reflection and debate. AREU’s current major research thematic areas include Gender, Natural resource management and sus-tainable livelihoods, Political economy and governance, and Social sector and protection
More information on AREU is available at www.areu.org.af.
The Research Department with the following units: Natural Resources Management (NRM) and Sustainable Livelihoods, Gender/Social Sector and Protection are in need of a Sr. Program Manager to manage and coordinate the research activities at AREU and working in close collaboration with NGO partners, Afghan government institutions and other stakeholders including donors.
Responsibilities
The Sr. Program Manager provides overall coordination and management and logistical and operational guidance to the various teams working in various assigned units of the Research Department. The ProgrameManager will hold overall responsibility for overseeing that report deadlines are met and deliverable submitted on time. The position reports to the AREU Deputy Director, Research, or in his or her absence, the AREU Director.
Specific responsibilities include:
Research Leadership
• Keeping the timelines of the research outputs of research teams• Assisting with donor and research coordinator in creating research concept notes, pro-posals as required. • Ensuring appropriate research standards are maintained, and coordinating works related to the production, editing and publication of research outputs.• Reporting to donors and other stakeholders on research progress as required. • Supporting Deputy Director, Communication in ensuring that project research addresses the needs of AREU’s target audiences, particularly policy makers and development practitioners.
Research Management
• Managing budgets and monitoring expenses for different research projects. • in consultation with project team leaders, take overall responsibility in consolidating the plans formulated for various projects, monitor the implementation research activities in line with schedules and project deliverables and work with the Donor and Research Coordinator in dealing with consultants for their research activities and project delive-rables.
• Writing and contributing to narrative progress reports to donors and the AREU board• Ensuring compliance with AREU and donor contractual requirements.• Ensuring effective coordination on logistical support for research activities with Adminis-tration and Finance Department• Liaising with other researchers at AREU to ensure institutional learning and communica-tion across research projects.• Ensuring with administrative staff that research staff and consultants take appropriate security precautions.
Research Representation and Policy Engagement
• Staying current on policy programming environment related to AREU’s research areas.• Developing communication strategies for research studies, with the communication and advocacy team• Working with the Communications and Advocacy team at AREU to ensure that research findings are adequately disseminated and represented. • As necessary, represent the work of AREU on working groups, policy consultative groups, and at meetings..
Capacity building and institutional development
• Contributing to AREU’s annual planning exercises.• Contributing to the ongoing training, mentoring and professional development of junior research staff.• Supporting the development of intellectual space and a culture of learning at AREU.• Keeping up to date with the various policies related to the assigned strategic themes of AREU and programming environment in Afghanistan.
Location
The position will be based in Kabul with some time spent in provincial travel to research sites (security permitting).
Position Requirements
Essential
• A Master in agriculture, natural resources management or a related area of the social or biological sciences is required however preference will be given for those who have PhD. • Field research experience in developing countries, with demonstrated expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.• Preferred specific knowledge of the following; Natural Resource Management and Live-lihoods and Social Protection with gender as a cross-cutting issue• At least four years experience of project, people and budget management.• A rational and logical approach to problem solving and planning. • Proven communication skills (both oral and written).• Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills.• Proven ability to work in a complex multi-cultural environment.
Desirable
• Experience of planning and conducting training.• Experience of using databases for data management in research.• Experience of living and working in an Islamic society.• Prior knowledge of, or work in, Afghanistan.• Dari or Pashto language ability.
How to apply:
Please apply by sending your CV, together with a cover letter which outlines how your experience relates to the skills and qualities outlined in the position requirements above. Applications should be sent to applications@areu.org.af. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
