Senior Research and Analysis Lead

Summary

Join Search for Common Ground as a Senior Research and Analysis Lead in Damascus, Syria (initially remote). This role is contingent on donor funding and involves ensuring stabilization projects are grounded in up-to-date analysis, addressing GESI and conflict sensitivity issues. You will lead technical design, participatory processes for GESI program strategy, and capacity building initiatives. Responsibilities include providing analysis, technical leadership to partners, community consultations, and representation with external stakeholders. You will also work on monitoring and evaluation, alliance building, and ensuring compliance with donor and funding requirements. The position requires a BS/BA degree with 9+ years of experience in a related field, including 5+ years in a GESI advisory role, and fluency in English and Arabic.

Requirements

• BS/BA degree with a minimum of 9 years’ experience in International Development, Gender Studies, Social Work, Conflict Resolution, or a related field
• A minimum of seven years of direct work experience in international development, with a minimum of five years in a GESI advisory role, including experience working on GESI and conflict, security, and peacebuilding-related interventions in Syria
• A strong understanding of and experience implementing projects related to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda
• Substantial background in GESI and development work, including experience designing and conducting training, analysis, and integration, and engaging in advocacy
• Experience supporting the capacity building and development of women’s rights organisations and women-led organisations
• Comprehensive knowledge of GESI norms and standards, as well as holistic and practical methods towards implementing protection mainstreaming and integrated protection outcomes
• English and Arabic fluency are required
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate (verbally and in writing) and negotiate clearly and effectively. Tact, diplomacy, and cultural sensitivity are essential
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Word

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with other leaders, lead the technical design for the program, including conducting GESI and conflict assessments during the inception period, based on participatory data collection and analysis, and co-creating recommendations with the team based on the findings
• Lead participatory processes to develop a Gender, Equality and Social Inclusion program strategy to guide GESI integration and priorities across the life of the project, including but not be limited to, capacity strengthening of CSOs/CBOs, including women’s rights organizations; supporting GESI and youth integration into digital harm mitigation strategies and capacity strengthening; supporting alliance building to further Government of Syria priorities for gender equality, disability, and youth inclusion to address security and stability threats; developing and integrating GESI learning questions in research products on preventing and mitigating digital harm
• Support the team, including partners, in integrating gender, equality, and social inclusion, and conduct capacity-building and training initiatives to enhance these areas of focus
• Provide up-to-date analysis of the context and political dynamics
• Provide technical leadership to implementing partners in the design and delivery of grant-funded projects
• Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains gender, age, and socially sensitive and on track
• Represent the organization’s gender and social inclusion strategy, analysis, and research with external stakeholders, including at workshops, conferences, and annual learning events
• Collaborate with teams to ensure a 'do-no-harm' approach to gender-focused and inclusive programming is implemented, and that appropriate protections are in place for participants
• Coach new and ongoing staff on best practices for engaging in gender and social inclusion
• Conduct frequent supervisory visits to the locations to monitor project implementation and ensure project quality, and support staff in reflecting on and iterating based on ongoing feedback
• Contribute to internal and donor reports by documenting GESI-related progress, impact, challenges, and lessons learned
• Work with the MEAL Manager to effectively design and integrate gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation systems and protection monitoring methodologies into all stages of the project, ensuring that output and impact data are captured and used to optimize quality
• Lead activities to support teams in using vulnerability frameworks and targeting that enable inclusiveness and help teams to identify individuals and households with specific needs and ensure their participation in the project activities
• Draft or contribute to GESI-specific sections of reports, assessments, and evaluations in coordination with the Senior Project Manager and MEAL team
• Co-lead the development of alliances by bringing civil society actors together with government representatives to promote security, stability, and transitional justice
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders to enhance cooperation and coordination
• Attend relevant GESI coordination meetings and/or represent Search in other relevant forums, ensuring that information is shared both internally and with other sectors as appropriate. Contribute to thought leadership in this area of expertise
• Identify and nurture strategic GESI partnerships with other organisations and institutions in Syria to enable coordination and synergies across workstreams
• Support leadership to ensure that the GESI Program Minimum Standards are implemented
• Ensure the team complies with donor and funding requirements
• Ensure activities promote gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness by applying the 'Do No Harm' principle
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies
• Lead the recruitment and coordination with consultants contributing to research activities under the assigned project
• Support the integration of safeguarding into design and delivery, including conducting or contributing to safeguarding risk assessments
• Ensure safeguarding messaging is consistently embedded across community-facing materials and tools, in collaboration with the Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) and MEAL teams
• Practice the values of Search, including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourage openness and communication within their team by promoting the submission of reports from team members who have concerns, utilizing available reporting mechanisms (e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options)
• Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred
• Experience working on digital literacy, countering mis/disinformation, social media engagement, and protection from digital harm preferred
• Prior working and living experience in Syria. Members of the Syrian diaspora are strongly encouraged to apply