Research Program Manager

09-July-2025

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VACANCY ADVERTISEMENT For Research Program Manager Country Office: Ethiopia Work Base: [Addis Ababa] Availability: As Soon As Possible Salary Scale: EMS–09 Insurance – (Life, Group Personal Accident and Medical Insurances are covered upon the organization policies). Seniority Allowance – paid depending up the years of service. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

 

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience. Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others.

I. Position Summary

The Research Program Manager is responsible to oversee, coordinate, and drive the success of research initiatives within an Action Against Hunger in collaboration with Head Quarter research specialists and advisors. He/she acts as the bridge between researchers, leadership, and other stakeholders, ensuring that research projects are aligned with strategic goals, delivered on time, and properly resourced. He/she also ensures that research initiatives are strategically planned, well-executed, and impactful—helping organizations make informed decisions based on rigorous, organized research efforts. He/she defines goals, milestones, and timelines for research programs, aligns research priorities with organizational strategy, identifies new areas of opportunity and helps shape the research roadmap and increase Action Against Hunger Research Portfolio in collaboration with Head Quarter, Regional Office and in country team. He/she will act as a key member of the research team and the main point-of-contact for the study in Ethiopia including the ongoing Modified Dosage for Management of Acute Malnutrition (MODAM) Trial and Research to improve the screening for wasting and the identification and treatment of wasted children (R-SWITCH research activities and other upcoming opportunities.

Purpose:

The Research Program Manager will be the in-country lead accountable for overseeing implementation of the research studies in Ethiopia including the ongoing MODAM Trial and R-SWITCH research activities and new opportunities from set-up, training, data collection, analysis, documentation, and dissemination. The Research Program Manager will also oversee and manage the operational components of the program including oversight of logistics and supply chain management, and program quality assurance. He/she provides technical support and supervision to the research supervisors and Health and Nutrition supervisors at the field based on the nature of the project in the set-up and implementation of research activities within their base and the catchment area, ensuring the effective implementation of activities to improve data collection and service delivery quality for the R-SWITCH project.

Engagement:

This position will act as the primary point of contact and central interface for ongoing MODAM trial and R-SWITCH projects. MODAM trial is exclusively run by Action Against Hunger and the Research Program Manager is responsible for the in-country implementation of the project including enrollment, data collection, analysis, reporting and supplies management. For the R-SWITCH, the research is being run by other research partners and Action Against Hunger is responsible for the field level implementation of interventions packages designed by research partners. The research program manager is responsible for overseeing both projects and other upcoming opportunities.

Internally, the role requires close collaboration and engagement with the Action Against Hunger Ethiopia Country team (including logistics, finance, technical teams, and leadership) and the US-based research team (PON Research Project Coordinator and Study PI). Externally, the Research Program Manager will engage with academic/university partners (EPHI and University of Washington), PON consortium partners (UNICEF and MOH), donors (PON, Eleanor Crook Foundation, and others), EPHA, IFPRI and other government partners (Regional and Zonal health offices, other local authorities, etc.).

Delivery:

The Research Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality research implementation, including management of OTP and TSFP programs, strengthening community platforms, strengthening communication between community and health facilities and overseeing SBC initiatives in the research target areas. This includes supply procurement and oversight, logistics, budget management and oversight, training and capacity building, and regular field-level monitoring visits and troubleshooting, data quality monitoring and tracking, supervising project specific staff, and overseeing communication and coordination. S/he will support the project through coordination with external stakeholders, and management of the award through budget monitoring, and quality reporting to Action Against Hunger donors and stakeholders in line with internal rules and regulations, funding regulations, and core values of the organization.

II. Essential Job Duties

1. Strategic Planning and Alignment (20%)

• Defining research objectives aligned with the overall organizational strategy and ensuring research projects contribute to broader Action Against Hunger Goals.
• Identify new areas of opportunity and help shape the Action Against Hunger research roadmap in collaboration within country and HQ based team.
• Manage multiple research projects across teams
• Engage in resource mobilization for research projects aligned with Action Against Hunger priorities.

2. Program Management (20%)

The Research Program Manager will serve as the individual responsible for managing the research project operations in Action Against Hunger. This function is expected to include:

• Leading and providing oversight to the management of the ongoing projects and other upcoming new projects, in collaboration with other teams (e.g., operations, finance, logistics, and health and nutrition technical teams).
• Overseeing management of ongoing research projects budget, together with the field team, Head of department, US based research team and Finance department, including regularly following project budget utilization, supporting budget revisions and re-allocations as needed, and providing regular guidance and support to field teams for effective budget utilization
• Supporting the Field team, Head of department and US based research team to develop and implement systems to track progress to ensure that the project is implemented on-time, on-budget, and with the highest quality execution
• Developing detailed implementation plans, project procurement plans, and supply plans
• Leading the coordination of effective procurement, transportation, storage, and distribution of nutrition commodities (e.g., RUTF, RUSF) and program supplies, ensuring consistent supply provision throughout research implementation
• Leading research staff recruitment, in line with HR policies and in collaboration with capital and base-level HR teams
• Supporting on-time reporting to partners and donors
• Ensuring that all potential project risks are appropriately identified and proactively managed and/or mitigated on a timely basis
• Identifying programmatic challenges and bottlenecks in the overall program implementation and developing solutions alongside the research team, capital based technical experts and field office staff
• Serving as the technical line-manager for field-based Research Managers

3. Technical Oversight of Study Implementation (30%)

The Research Program Manager will be the primary overseer for implementation of the research projects in Ethiopia. This function is expected to include:

• Conducting regular supportive supervision visits to sub-offices and health posts where research is being implemented, with a focus on ensuring high quality data collection and adherence to the research protocol.
• Ensuring all relevant national ethical approvals and local approvals are obtained and remain up-to-date and active
• Ensuring proper implementation of all data collection tools, databases, and monitoring systems to track and monitor data collection throughout the study
• Reviewing data as it is collected to ensure quality
• Facilitating close collaboration with local authorities, including health extension workers (HEWs) and other health facility staff as it pertains to the study activities
• Ensuring proper informed consent processes are followed
• Tracking enrollment progression and participant completion of follow-up appointments, together with the US based research team, head of department and field-based staff, working collaboratively to ensure target sample sizes are met and to minimize loss to follow up
• Supporting single-double data checking and data cleaning together with US based research team and in country nutrition and health team (MODAM Trial)

4. Partnerships, External Engagement, and Coordination (15%)

The Research Program Manager will serve as the primary point of contact and lead for the in-country interface between Action Against Hunger and other stakeholders in Ethiopia. This function is expected to include:

• Strategically engaging in partnership with the Ethiopia MoH, UNICEF, EPHI, EPHA,, IFPRI and other government actors (e.g., sub-national health offices, MOH); as well as with relevant donors (e.g., PON, ECF, and others).
• Engaging with country-level nutrition coordination mechanisms as relevant (e.g., Nutrition Cluster, technical working groups) to ensure alignment with project activities and a clear pathway to uptake and scale-up, dependent upon results
• Sharing information on the study design, progress, key updates and results in national forums, when appropriate
• Represent and provide updates to regular and ad hoc meetings at national level through collecting information from the field

5. Analysis and Dissemination (15%)

The Research Program Manager’s responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the PoN research team to develop and roll-out dissemination and communication strategies, particularly as it relates to national-level dissemination
• Collaborating with the research team to analyze and contextualize the data, highlighting key results
• Facilitating in-country meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the study design, progress, and results
• Supporting the research team to present results at national and sub-national dissemination events and in other relevant forums (e.g., working groups, cluster meetings, etc.)
• Supporting the research team to prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, and other communications materials
• Support the field team in regular reporting and bi-weekly update meetings

III. Supervisory Responsibilities

The Research Program Manager will serve as the technical supervisor for the research managers and supervisors and will provide indirect supervision to other project-specific staff. S/he will support in hiring and training the research team as well as providing ongoing support and capacity building.

IV. Fiscal Responsibility

• The Research Program Manager will ensure timely and appropriate budget utilization for the research activities in collaboration with US based PON Research team, field staff, Finance Department, Health and Nutrition Head of Department and Program Managers, Field Coordinators, and Field Research Managers.
• S/he will provide regular follow-up and support to the base teams, specifically for the field level research teams, on ways to efficiently and timely utilize project resources to ensure high-quality program delivery.

V. Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with interruptions.
• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

VI. Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance of at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the sub-offices if appropriate. While visiting sub-offices, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

VII. Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

• Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information
• Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff
• Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status
• Value and respect all cultures

VIII. Safeguarding Commitments

• Action Against Hunger has a zero tolerance to child safeguarding violation and SEA. Our selection process includes rigorous reference and background checks. Successful applicants will be expected to sign up and carry out their duties in accordance with our Child Safeguarding and PSEA policies.

IX. Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Required master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a major health science field of study, preferably public health, nursing, or nutrition, epidemiology with at least five (5) years of experience in the implementation, coordination and monitoring of research projects, C/IMAM programs (including OTP and TSFP), SBC activities in humanitarian and development contexts
• Or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a major health science field of study, preferably in public health, nursing, or nutrition, with at least seven (7) years of experience in the implementation, coordination and monitoring of research projects, C/IMAM programs (including OTP and TSFP) and SBC activities in humanitarian and development contexts
• Significant experience and knowledge about current national and global nutrition and health agendas, policies and strategies. Good knowledge and practical experience of national and sub-national nutrition and health coordination platforms and various Technical Working Groups (TWGs)
• Experience of working with research organizations, operational research implementation and ability to effectively work with various stakeholders
• Practical experience of working in INGOs is preferable

X. Required Skills

• We are seeking an individual who has good judgement and problem-solving skills, along with strong communication skills and documentation habits.
• This person needs to have excellent interpersonal skills (to develop a good rapport with staff, HEWs and other in-country stakeholders), and the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• Experience in global and national supply procurement and logistics, including developing project procurement plans, raising procurement requests, and multi-level stock management
• Experience in designing and leading technical training related to acute malnutrition treatment programming (C/IMAM), community engagement and SBC
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite required and comfortable working with computers with minimal IT support
• Fluent in written and spoken in English and Amharic; other local languages desirable
• Willingness to commit to >50% travel to sub-offices
• Possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to take initiative and prioritize multiple tasks with minimum supervision
• Genuine interest in and commitment to the mission and principles of Action Against Hunger.