Aktis Strategy Recruitment

Manager, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

Time: / Permanent, full-time
Location(s) & Travel: / London preferred, with extensive international travel
Start: / Asap
Language requirement: / English (fluent professional proficiency). Other relevant language skills (especially Arabic and/or French) will be considered an advantage
Salary: / Salary dependent on skills and experience.
To apply: / Please email your CV, brief cover letter, and your salary expectations to . Please quote reference UKRMEPM17/01/EES

The organisation

Aktis Strategy is a global consulting firm specialising in development, stabilisation, and governance in conflict-affected states. From our network of local offices across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, we deliver programmes that tackle our clients’ highest-priority challenges, addressing both the root causes and symptoms of conflict to deliver lasting positive change.

At Aktis, we are pioneering novel approaches to programme design and research in some of the world’s toughest environments. From monitoring the delivery of international assistance inside Syria, to analysing drivers of instability in Lebanon, and evaluating stabilisation programming in Somalia, the use of data and analysis are central to our philosophy. As Manager in Aktis’ rapidly growing Research, Monitoring and Evaluation practice, you will play a key role in helping our clients think through how to better deliver assistance in these complex and contested environments, hence making a real impact on some of the world’s most difficult policy problems, for some of the world’s most vulnerable people. You will be part of a team that is intellectually curious, creative, and analytical. You will work closelywith local experts and international thought leaders who are passionate about understanding and mitigating the complex drivers of conflict and instability, andcommitted to applying solutions that affect real change in complex and unpredictable environments.

The role

Aktis is looking for an experienced, dynamic, and ambitious research and/or monitoring and evaluation professional who wants to take a leading role in developing our innovative practice which is pioneering novel approaches to research and evaluation in conflict-affected environments.

The candidate will manage our Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RME) practice, designing and delivering research and evaluation interventions for our clients seeking to resolve conflicts, build institutions, and counter terrorism and extremism. The candidate will take over leadership of existing research projects, develop new projects, and build the capacities of our teams worldwide to deliver high quality research, accurate monitoring, and innovative evaluation techniques. The position reports to the Practice Lead, RME (currently Beirut-based), and currently manages one Project Coordinator (London-based).

The suitable candidate will:

  • Manage existing projects with our public sector clients across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
  • Lead development of new opportunities including upstream client engagement to build our brand and lead the preparation of winning proposals
  • Support development of innovative thinking and techniques, working with our field-teams, our technical practice areas, and our technology partners
  • Build the capacity of our staff to do rigorous programme design, research and evaluation

The successful candidate is expected to have experience in one or more of these settings:

  • Working for a donor, such as DFID, in a role related to M&E
  • Working in an M&E capacity for an INGO
  • Working in the social and/or market research industry
  • The academic study of conflict

Requirements

Required competencies, skills and experience

  • 5+ years post qualification experience in developing, delivering and managing research and/or monitoring and evaluation projects for public or private sector clients
  • Proven skills in managing project delivery, teams, and client relationships
  • Proven skills in acquiring new business through client engagement and bidding
  • Technical expertise in research and/or monitoring and evaluation design
  • Very high level of written and oral communication skills in English; demonstrated accuracy in report drafting and editing
  • Proven skills in design and delivery of a variety of research methodologies – surveys, focus groups, interviews, remote monitoring and use of emerging technologies
  • Proven skills in qualitative analysis and reporting
  • Good skills in quantitative analysis including statistical analysis and use of relevant analytical software
  • Dynamic and results oriented team leadership with a track record of personnel management and leadership of dispersed teams
  • Active desire to travel extensively to fragile and conflict-affected environments

Desirable competencies, skills and experience

  • Current knowledge of UK, US and/or EU international development and/or foreign policy clients
  • Current knowledge of the application of research and evaluation techniques to conflict management, stabilisation, institution building
  • Fluency in languages other than English
  • Relevant academic qualifications and specialist training courses
  • An understanding of or interest in conflict dynamics
  • Applicants with the right to work in the EU are preferred. Applicants without the right to work in the EU may be considered exceptionally.

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