Overview of the Position IMPACT Initiatives is seeking a Senior Research Officer to join the Research Quality Assurance (RQA) Unit within the Programmes, Communications and Research (PCR) Division. The role is based in Dakar, Senegal, which serves as IMPACT’s regional hub for West and Central Africa. The position is offered as a six-month contract with the possibility of extension, beginning 12 January 2026. The PCR Division was established in 2025 following an organisational restructuring that unified the Global Programmes, Research, and Communications & Advocacy departments. This integration was designed to ensure the consistent delivery of high-impact and user-centred research programmes, supported by strong internal systems in data, GIS and MEAL. Central to this mission is the RQA Unit, which functions as the organisation’s guardian of research quality, ethics and compliance. The Senior Research Officer contributes to Objective 2 of IMPACT’s Strategic Framework 2025–2030—Pioneering Research Excellence. The role focuses on ensuring that research produced across the organisation meets rigorous standards while supporting country teams in strengthening methods, processes and compliance. Core Mandate of the RQA Unit The RQA Unit ensures that all IMPACT teams possess the necessary knowledge, tools and technical capacity to produce credible, responsible and methodologically sound evidence. It achieves this through: Maintaining and promoting standards detailed in IMPACT’s Research Toolkit. Providing technical support and peer review across the full research cycle. Strengthening research methods and systems through continuous learning. The Senior Research Officer provides regional-level leadership for West and Central Africa, offering day-to-day guidance to country teams and contributing to the decentralisation of research quality assurance processes. Key Responsibilities 1. Ensuring Implementation of Research Standards The Senior Research Officer supports the application of research quality standards across country teams by: Serving as the focal point between the RQA Unit and country operations in West and Central Africa. Providing guidance throughout research planning, implementation and documentation. Supporting the transition towards decentralised research quality assurance mechanisms through the development of reviewer tools, training materials and mentoring. Offering technical support on research methodologies, particularly quantitative approaches, working collaboratively with Global Programme teams. Conducting peer review of research design, data processing, data analysis and research outputs. Flagging risks and quality concerns to the Unit Manager in a timely manner. Providing field surge support when needed, including short-term deployments to country offices (estimated at up to 25% of the role). 2. Strengthening Research Standards Through Learning The Senior Research Officer helps drive organisational learning to enhance research quality by: Supporting the development and upkeep of learning materials such as guidance notes, online courses, regional webinars and tailored training sessions. Working with the MEAL team to consolidate lessons learned and best practices, and contributing to regular Quality Monitoring exercises. Identifying areas of improvement in research processes and recommending updates to methodologies and guidelines. Providing ad-hoc support to other regions when required based on organisational priorities. Given that this is the first role of its kind within IMPACT, responsibilities may evolve over time. The incumbent is expected to demonstrate adaptability as workflows and collaborative arrangements between HQ and country teams continue to develop. Required Qualifications and Competencies Candidates must demonstrate: At least three years of experience in primary research design and implementation, preferably in humanitarian or development settings. A master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Social Research, Economics, Data Science, Statistics, Anthropology or International Development. Full professional proficiency in both English and French. Additional technical competencies include quantitative methodology design, quantitative data processing, responsible data management, applied statistics, programming experience in Python or R, and the ability to oversee research quality standards across diverse contexts. Compensation and Benefits The monthly salary ranges from 2,460 to 2,520 CHF before tax, with an additional living allowance of 300 USD. Compensation aligns with IMPACT’s established salary grid and includes health insurance, life insurance, repatriation assistance and enrolment in a Swiss pension fund. Staff receive flight support every six months, visa-related cost coverage and contributions toward luggage transport. Leave entitlements include 36 annual days plus national public holidays. Comprehensive pre-departure training is provided in Geneva and Paris, including in-situ security training. Psychological support services are also included as part of the health insurance coverage. Application Process Applicants must submit their materials via the designated online form. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for follow-up. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. 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