Director of Research and Operations | Location flexible | 2021-2024

The Evidence Fund

Chemonics International seeks an Executive Director (Director of Research and Operations) to lead an anticipated multi-year research and evidence synthesis programme to be funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The FCDO Evidence Fund (the ‘Fund’) is intended as a single, coordinated platform to commission new research and evidence related to East Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and South Asia, and to support knowledge generation, synthesis, translation and engagement. The Fund will focus on enabling research to inform policy and programmes of FCDO country teams and that of the United Kingdom’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) partners. The Fund will support a broad spectrum of evidence needs to generate operationally relevant research, analysis, evaluation, and syntheses to inform policy and programming decisions.

The Role

As Executive Director, you will be responsible for leading all activities of the Fund, bringing together a strategic vision for how the Fund can efficiently and effectively support HMG research needs, and overseeing operational implementation to ensure successful delivery of the contract. You will bring significant expertise with research shaping and policymaker uptake of research and evidence, to guide the senior management team in their responsibilities to help maximise the Fund’s impact and value. The Executive Director will have a critical role in interfacing with policymakers across HMG and with other international and host-country stakeholders and will be the public face of the programme.

Key skills and experience include:

• International portfolio and supplier management experience at a senior level, particularly in relation to strategic leadership and delivering donor development funds
• Proven experience bringing together portfolio vision with operational delivery across number of sub-suppliers, delivery components and countries
• Expertise in working across sectors, bringing together political, economic and development issues
• Expertise in the management and delivery of research, evidence and evaluation including ensuring effective quality assurance and peer review
• Strong track record of managing delivery of suppliers through commercial mechanisms/frameworks
• Demonstrable experience of managing risk, and adaptive and flexible approaches to delivery in complex portfolios
• Experience delivering research and evidence to government audiences

The location of the position is flexible given the international nature of the programme. Project hubs are expected to be located in London, Nairobi, Beirut or Amman, and Islamabad or New Delhi. The role will require regular travel to/from London to the project hubs, and occasionally to other countries where research is being commissioned or promoted. The project is expected to start in April 2021. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for linking academic-standard research with practical policymaking and programme decision-making, to make a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Setting and overseeing overall strategy and direction of the research objectives of the programme and ensuring country specific trends, contexts, and strategies are factored into solutions for addressing country and FCDO needs
• Contributing to the design of high-quality and innovative research concepts, products and requests for research proposals
• Providing overall leadership and supervision of senior management team, technical and administrative staff, and sub-awardees
• Supervising procurement competitions for research and evaluation projects, oversee due diligence assessments on prospective sub-contracted Research Provider Pool providers, and lead programme team managing research projects implemented by sub-contracted research organisations.
• Overseeing programme work planning, financial management, performance management, monitoring and evaluation, strategic communications, and evidence generation
• Addressing issues and mitigating risks related to programme implementation in a timely manner and appropriately adjusting programme strategies, as required
• Supporting the production of high-quality, policy-relevant project performance indicators.
• Initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with donors, implementing partners, academic and think tank organisations, and other development organisations.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a social science, health, international development, technology or a related discipline is required. A doctorate is preferred.
• Demonstrable experience in the field of government, academic or think tank funds management, research, or policy development for international development.
• Track record of progressive responsibility, and at least three years of professional experience managing large (£10m+), complex, government or donor funds management, research, and/or international development projects similar in scale, scope, and complexity.
• Demonstrated international thought leadership in the field of academic/think tank research and/or the links between policymaking and research preferred.
• Experience leading teams and managing programs that achieve results, with a focus on responsive management to policymaker clients and stakeholders.
• Thorough knowledge of the international academic/think tank and scientific research sectors.
• Proven experience in working in a politically complex and sensitive environment.
• In-depth knowledge and experience in all outputs of the programme including funds management, research commissioning, grant/award making, use of evidence, and policy-oriented communications.
• Strong ability to collaborate and build partnerships with host country governments, UK government agencies, donor agencies, international organisations, and the private sector.
• Experience in at least one of: East Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and South Asia required.
• Fluency in English is required.