Senior Researcher

Coram International is a legal and research consultancy based at the Coram Children's Legal Centre in Bloomsbury, London. Our team works with UN agencies, international charities and governments around the world to promote and protect the human rights of children.

Our research covers a broad range of thematic areas including: the treatment of children within criminal justice systems, violence against children and child protection, child migration and trafficking, child marriage, adolescents' access to sexual and reproductive health rights, the use of children in armed conflict and terrorism, and many others. We have carried out research and evaluations in over 65 countries worldwide.

We are seeking an experienced researcher, with skills in designing and implementing mixed methods research and evaluation projects, to join our small, friendly team. The ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of children's rights, advanced creative analytical skills, and be able to work with both qualitative and quantitative data. They will be able to write clearly, concisely, and in a compelling manner for a range of policy, practitioner and academic audiences, and will possess high levels of initiative, and a willingness to take responsibility for their own work load and professional development.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, and to develop their skills in a range of applied research methods. The post is originally intended as a 12 month maternity cover, but there may be further opportunities within the team.

The post will be based in London with regular, short periods of overseas travel.

Specifically the job will include:

Designing research methodologies, including sampling strategies and data collection tools, for a range of empirical research and evaluation projects;
Writing and editing research proposals to bid for new contracts;
Conducting field research, including interviews and focus groups with children and young people;
Undertaking literature reviews, and analyses of law and policy on a range of thematic issues relating to children's rights;
Analysing qualitative and quantitative data;
Writing and editing high quality research reports and publications;
Liaising and communicating with clients;
Overseeing and coordinating the delivery of research and evaluation projects.
Any other activities that are required to support the work of the international section.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Essential requirements:

Post-graduate degree in social sciences, law, human rights, or other relevant field;

Interest in child rights;

Experience working on social research projects;

Advanced skills in qualitative data collection and analysis;

Knowledge and understanding of statistical data analysis, as well an ability to interpret and use quantitative data in the context of mixed methods research;

Some familiarity with statistical software programs such as SPSS or STATA, and a willingness to further develop in this area;

Outstanding writing and analysis skills;

Excellent interpersonal skills: capacity for (cultural) sensitivity, adaptability and tact in building professional relationship;

Fluency in English;

Ability to work independently and take initiative for own work load;

Flexibility and willingness to travel (the post is expected to involve short international missions to a range of oversees countries).

Desirable experience, qualifications and skills:

Previous experience working for a human rights, development organisation or academia;

Experience of working in an international environment;

Familiarity using Nvivo software;

Experience of developing and delivering trainings;

Additional language skills (especially French or Arabic);

Experience in drafting funding applications and donor reports; and

Previous authorship of publications (for policy, practitioner and academic audiences).

ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

The Senior Researcher will be line managed by the Director of Coram International, and the Research Manager;

The Senior Researcher will work closely with other members of the core Coram International team to implement research projects, under the overall supervision of the Director of Coram International.