Research Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC).The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping people to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. To deliver the highest impact in volatile environments, the IRC relies heavily on evidence-based programming.
The Research Manager position at the IRC is a highly specialized, cross-functional role situated at the intersection of field implementation, academic rigor, and humanitarian innovation. Often working directly with Airbel Impact Lab (the IRC’s dedicated research and innovation hub) or specific Technical Units (such as Economic Recovery and Development, Public Health, or Climate Resilience), the Research Manager translates complex, real-world field problems into robust, ethically sound scientific studies. This role ensures that humanitarian interventions are not just well-intentioned, but proven to work.
Research Manager at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Background & Job Description
In humanitarian contexts, traditional research methodologies often stumble due to conflict, displacement, and infrastructural breakdown. The IRC bypasses these constraints by generating rigorous, localized evidence directly from crisis zones.
As a Research Manager, you will lead the operationalization of both quantitative and qualitative studies—ranging from rapid monitoring assessments to large-scale, multi-country Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Rather than operating from an isolated academic ivory tower, you will embed yourself deeply within distributed country program teams and external research coalitions.
Whether you are evaluating cash-transfer efficacy, testing climate-resilient seed security frameworks, or measuring trauma-informed education initiatives, your day-to-day mission is to manage the complex logistics of data collection while strictly safeguarding research integrity and participant ethics.
Key Responsibilities
The Research Manager manages the entire lifecycle of a research portfolio, dividing their time between technical data architecture and field-level coordination.
- Research Design & Data Operations: Under the guidance of Senior Researchers, develop and refine data collection instruments, surveys, and qualitative interview guides. Script and deploy tools onto mobile monitoring systems (such as Kobo Collect or CommCare).
- Field Logistics & Enumerator Supervision: Lead the recruitment, onboarding, and training of local data collection teams and field research assistants. Develop detailed fieldwork calendars, coordinate regional travel logistics, and maintain data collection equipment.
- Rigorous Data Quality Assurance: Implement strict daily data-cleaning protocols. Monitor incoming data streams for compliance, identify and troubleshoot anomalies, and ensure absolute fidelity to statistical methodologies.
- Ethical Compliance and Permitting: Manage the rigorous administrative pipelines required to secure Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethical clearances and national research permits from sovereign host governments.
- Evidence Synthesis and Dissemination: Translate dense statistical findings into highly accessible policy briefs, blog posts, and community-level dissemination products. Contribute directly to writing peer-reviewed journal articles and donor reports.
- Business Development & Grant Proposal Design: Act as a technical research anchor for proposal development, crafting learning agendas, brainstorming methodologies, and building realistic research budgets for institutional donors.
Qualifications
This role demands a meticulous technical skillset paired with the soft skills required to navigate high-stakes, multicultural environments.
Education & Professional Experience
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Statistics, Research Methodology, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or a related quantitative field.
- Minimum of 2 to 3 years of hands-on experience supporting or managing field research projects, with a strong preference for individuals who have executed studies in humanitarian, post-conflict, or low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings.
Technical Competencies & Soft Skills
- Statistical Programming Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency using coding architectures like R or Stata for data cleaning, data restructuring, and preliminary analysis is typically required.
- Field Data Software: Expert-level familiarity with mobile data collection software (Kobo Collect, ODK, or CommCare).
- Research Ethics Mastery: Deep structural knowledge of human subject protections, informed consent protocols, and strict data protection frameworks (like GDPR in humanitarian action).
- Linguistic Versatility: Fluent written and spoken English is mandatory. Professional working proficiency in French, Spanish, or Arabic is highly advantageous given the IRC’s global operations.
- Matrix Coordination: Proven ability to operate efficiently under remote management structures and coordinate actions across distributed global teams.
Why Apply for This Position
A Research Manager position at the IRC offers a distinct professional pathway that bridges academic research and real-world humanitarian action.
Actionable Research Impact
Unlike theoretical academic roles where publications can sit on shelves for years, your research outputs directly shape active humanitarian programs. Your findings will influence how millions of dollars in aid are deployed and how frontline staff protect vulnerable populations.
Elite Collaborative Ecosystem
You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with leading economists, public health specialists, and behavioral scientists from institutions like the Airbel Impact Lab, alongside premier global research universities (e.g., Oxford, Harvard, J-PAL).
High-Growth Technical Career Track
The IRC provides a robust internal mobility pipeline. Excelling as a Research Manager positions you perfectly for advancement into Senior Researcher roles, Regional MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) Directorships, or global Policy Advisor positions.
Application Tips & Insights
The IRC’s technical screening committees look for candidates who can demonstrate precision under pressure.
Resume Tailoring Strategy
Do not just list the titles of projects you worked on; detail your explicit technical contributions. Use metric-driven bullet points to prove your capability.
Instead of: “Assisted with data collection for a health project.”
Use: “Programmed and launched a 1,200-household survey in Kobo Collect; managed a team of 15 local enumerators and executed daily R-based data cleaning scripts to reduce formatting errors by 40%.”
Key Competencies to Project
- Problem-Solving in Chaos: Be prepared to discuss a time when field realities disrupted your research design (e.g., sudden insecurity or connectivity loss) and detail the concrete step-by-step pivots you made to save data integrity.
- Ethical Sensitivity: Emphasize your commitment to trauma-informed data collection and safeguarding vulnerable populations during interviews.
Additional Information
- Work Arrangement: Varies by specific posting. The IRC utilizes Hybrid, Fully Remote, and In-Person Country Office models depending on whether the role is tied to a global technical unit or a specific regional emergency response program.
- Compensation Framework: Competitive NGO salary scales commensurate with geographic location and experience, supplemented by comprehensive benefits packages (including international health coverage, retirement contributions, and hazard allowances where applicable).
- Travel Windows: Requires a willingness to travel internationally—frequently up to 20% to 30% of the year—to conduct field training, audit data quality, and interface with regional field offices.
How to Apply
To ensure your portfolio is accurately indexed by the IRC’s talent acquisition team, follow these application protocols:
- Navigate to the official IRC career platform using the verified recruitment portal linked below.
- Filter search parameters using keyword combinations like “Research Manager” or “Airbel Impact Lab” to pinpoint your specific thematic preference (e.g., Health, Climate, or Economic Recovery).
- Upload your master CV alongside a technical Cover Letter that explicitly highlights your programming language fluencies (R/Stata) and your experience managing field logistics.
- Be prepared for a technical assessment. Shortlisted candidates are almost always required to complete a timed written exercise or a data-cleaning diagnostic test in R or Stata prior to the panel interview.
To browse current international vacancies and submit your application portfolio directly, visit the official International Rescue Committee Careers Portal.
Suggested Focus Keywords
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