About US:

War Child Holland (WCH) is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization, investing in a peaceful future for children and young people affected by armed conflict. We strive to empower children and young people while enabling adults to bring about positive and lasting change in the lives of conflict affected children and young people.

Job Summary: The Senior Researcher (Learning through Play) is responsible for co-coordinating the research agenda across the 5-year $100 Mil USD PlayMatters consortium project, funded by the Lego Foundation and lead by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). PlayMatters is designed to promote learning through play for all conflict affected children aged 3 to 12+ in Ethiopia and Uganda, working with stakeholders including children, caregivers, educators, communities and education systems. War Child’s role in the consortium includes co-leadership of the research agenda with the consortium lead, as well as designing and implementing War Child’s own research activities. The Senior Researcher is responsible for providing guidance in the content, design, implementation and analysis of research projects that meet essential requirements for both scientific research and good humanitarian practice, and contributes to advances in the sector through networking and collaboration with consortium partners, other international organizations and research institutes.

The Senior Researcher Learning through Play is part of the Research and Development (R&D) Department, and reports to the Director of R&D, Prof. Mark Jordans.

The Senior Researcher will be based preferably in Kampala (location in other War Child country offices can be discussed).

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the research agenda for the PlayMatters program, in collaboration with relevant counterparts
• Design, propose and adopt PlayMatters and related War Child research projects, in collaboration with consortium partners
• Support the development of appropriate qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research projects and strategies for the development of the PlayMatters program
• Plan and manage data collection (for different research projects), including RCTs, in consultation with consortium partners and WCH Uganda counterparts
• Disseminate, communicate and uptake results within and beyond the consortium
• Undertake relevant program/financial management, reporting, and accountability responsibilities for research projects
• Provide research data when needed to senior management of War Child and the PlayMatters consortium to facilitate decision making processes and scaling strategy
• Manage, train, and/or supervise relevant staff (e.g. technical advisors, research assistants, research coordinators) and consortium partner staff where appropriate.**

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a PhD degree in Education, Psychology, Social Sciences or other relevant discipline
• At least five years of relevant research and implementation experience (e.g. play-based learning, ECCE, primary education, child-focused MHPSS, in LMICs and/or conflict affected settings)
• Significant experience with different study designs, for example randomised control trials, mixed methods studies, ideally in settings of adversity
• Cultural sensitivity and competency, and knowledge of East Africa context
• Flexibility, and ability to adapt processes to varying contexts
• Able to conceptualise and ensure functional relations between research activities and program design/implementation for rapid translation of research findings
• Able to perform as a project manager; managing, coordinating and facilitating proper implementation, budgeting and reporting
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Fully support War Child’s mandate and mission