Coordinator Research and Documentation Refugee Law Project

To lead, manage, coordinate and deliver high profile research strategy. The position holder will provide strategic visioning and leadership on thematic and crosscutting research functions ensuring a strong knowledge creation and exchange, enabling RLP’s to become a reputable centre of research excellence. The post holder will use research to build a community of practice, engaging multi-stakeholders in research and policy dialogue, influencing, and application.

Duties and Responsibilities
KPA 1: Research Leadership and Strategic oversight
• Develop RLP’s research strategy and expand its networks of local, regional and international research partners.
• Provide organizational leadership and coordination in the establishment of a range of collaborative and/or field research projects involving other institutions, university departments and/or external research entities.
Work with Makerere University School of Law and other external entities and researchers to develop and implement research strategies, such as developing new methodologies for collecting data.
In partnership with the School of Law, establish an independent nationally accredited Ethical Review Board.
• In partnership with the School of Law, establish a peer reviewed research journal through working with a team of highly committed scholars from across disciplines.
• Leads multiple projects from inception through to delivery including the development of high-quality research instruments, such as discussion guides, consensus panels, storytelling and other ethnographical tools, stimulus and recruitment materials, in line with the research objectives.
Support collaborative team working relationships and lead others in managing multiple research projects.
• Design and/or develop high quality innovative research training courses including tailored funded courses.
• Supervise and train RLP staff in research methods and protocols involved in organising and effectively participating in research.
• Lead research proposals writing for delivering research projects involving mixed methods.
• Understand the international research funding and strategy or national research funding and strategy.
• Develop independent model concepts and approaches to research.
• Support full compliance with donor requirements in relation to projects.
• Ensure the timely provision of internal and external communications material to donors and partners as appropriate and required.
• Development of RLP research team including hiring, training, scheduling work tasks, and evaluating performance.
• Oversee all aspects of research program management including carry out due diligence including and ensuring that high ethical standards and risk management and protocols are put in place to strengthen the institutional mechanism of knowledge production, knowledge dissemination, knowledge critique, and knowledge application.
• Be a thought leader, developing organised research platforms for dialogue and exchange on issues relevant to RLP.

KPA 2: Dissemination of RLP’s Research products
• Engage with academic and research institutions and provide compelling narrative and content of what RLP research work is bringing out.
• Support the intersection and diffusion of institutional research and knowledge into the academia through identifying enduring areas of collaborations with Makerere University departments, schools and colleges and other research institutions to necessitate mutually beneficial knowledge reciprocity.
• Develop RLP-hosted researchers and postgraduate students’ framework and promote local and international internships/fellowships and experience in research.
• Organise conferences, workshops, and learning events in order to build a research community of practices.
• Lead in ensuring that RLP knowledge production and critique shape RLP’s practice and programming.
• Participate and/or lead in the development, implementation and maintenance of policy positions, Press Statements and audio-visual products, on the basis of research findings and available evidence.
• Utilise all RLP’s existing advocacy platforms such as the Summer Institute, South-South engagements and others while also leading on RLP’s Annual Transitional Justice Institute on topical global research themes.

KPA 3: Embedding Research into programmes
• Partner with cross-functional programme teams to ensure that research findings are integrated into decision-making at all levels of the organization and inform programming.
• Design and implement new research concepts, protocols, and procedures.
• Design and lead research across the breadth of RLP’s key thematic areas.
• Ensure consistency in the delivery and application of research and learning/training standards across the organisation and oversees the planning, prioritization, and development of new training programs and initiatives, checking that these programs and initiatives are consolidated and consistent with the overall strategies, objectives, and research needs of RLP.
• Plan, organize, and lead research and learning/training programs for RLP staff, ensuring proper execution of research across all thematic programmes and within the research department.

KPA 4: Research Partnerships development and strengthening
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships across cultures and partnerships within and outside Africa and build effective relationships and networks with key individuals, institutions and other stakeholders involved in relevant policy, delivery and research – including national and local governments, other national/local agencies, trusts and foundations, service providers, and other research centers and global think tanks.
• Undertake regular and continual review of national and international media, government legislation, other relevant bodies and policy think tanks to understand and translate changing and evolving policy. In this way, he/she is supposed to keep up to date with key developments in policy, research and practice on learning, skills and employment; and on innovations in research and evaluation methods and tools.

KPA 5: Strengthening RLP Archival work
• Work with other senior colleagues such as the Programme Managers for Conflict, Governance and Transitional Justice, Access to Justice, and Head of the Kitgum National Memory and Peace Documentation Centre, Head of Innovation Centre in Gulu, and Communications Team to communicate and promote RLP’s work and to identify opportunities for research and evidence to influence policy and practice across all program activities.
• Proactively provide advice, support and guidance to colleagues across RLP in order to improve the quality and impact of RLP research, working closely with the Senior Management Team.

KPA 5: Writing, Publications and Presentations
• Write and publish research papers in academic and practitioner journals; presents research results to scientific conferences and other groups.
• Collect, analyze, interpret complex data and communicate insights in a clear and concise manner to non-research audiences including the use of statistical and narrative reports and/or graphs, as appropriate; prepares manuscripts for publication;

KPA 6: Carry out any activity as delegated by the Director
• May be delegated by the Director to carry out any activity on behalf of the Director.

Required skills and abilities/Person Specification
The Coordinator Research and Documentation will require the following skills to be successful:

Education and training
• Ph.D. in reputable university in a relevant field of Law, Social Sciences and Humanities, with additional Master’s Degree in relevant disciplines such as Research, Conflict, Peace, Philosophy and International studies with significant experience, or substantial broad vocational experience, in progressively more demanding jobs, in research or a similar environment.
• 7+ years of experience leading research teams and projects preferably.
• Proven track record of publishing high-quality research in peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with preferable training in management and/or research from a reputable institution.
• Ability to secure sustainable external funding for research projects.
• An excellent level of written English and strong presentation skills are essential.
• Must be highly proficient in the use of MS Word, MS Excel, and PowerPoint, necessary for the creation of visually and verbally engaging materials and reports for senior management team and key stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, proactively and collaboratively.

Essential qualities
• Effective leadership skills that inspire others to achieve and exceed objectives.
• Able to engage and work at a senior level with or for research bodies.
• Ability to build credibility quickly and sustain it.
• Ability to negotiate with confidence, tact and diplomacy across a diverse range of partner organizations and cultures.
• Able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of legislation and codes of practice for grant funded bodies.
• Ability to identify problem area quickly and recommend solutions to meet research needs.
• Ability to prioritize tasks completing multiple tasks in a timely manner, be flexible and welcoming to change, have an ability to work independently with minimal or no supervision, and be self-motivated.

Desirable qualities
• Knowledge and understanding of the Uganda national, regional and/or international research landscape.
• Knowledge of Makerere University and national science and research regulations, policies and procedures on issues related to research.
• Excellent presentation skills and the ability to plan and deliver tailored funding training.