Qualitative Field Researcher

SCRUPLES RESEARCH

Scruples Research is an innovative and green humanitarian social enterprise that operates in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania. We conduct research, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and capacity-building activities for humanitarian actors, including the UN agencies, international or national non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, think tanks, and coordination bodies.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This assignment-based role, the Field Researcher, is expected to administer study instruments such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, story-telling activities, workshops and/or any other qualitative data generation method, depending on the specific project’s requirements. Most of the projects are undertaken on behalf of international and/or national humanitarian organizations working in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania who are funded by local and/or international funds. The projects differ in nature and can include project/programme evaluations, scoping exercises, needs assessments, gender or protection analyses, project/program reviews, third party monitoring, research, and any other ad-hoc studies. The topics studied usually includes protection, health, sexual and reproductive health, food security – livelihoods and agriculture, shelter, water – sanitation – hygiene.

This position involves approaching pre-selected study participants for collecting data in-person or remotely such as over phone or through online. The Field Researcher is responsible for contacting with and inviting the pre-selected individuals to the data collection activity. On some occasions, it will be Field Researcher herself/himself who will identify the participants in line with the profile of targeted individuals of the specific project. The profile of the study participants will be provided to the Field Researcher in this case and the Head of MERL will be supporting the Field Researcher closely in identification of the study participants. Besides, the Head of MERL will be providing orientation on the study instruments before the fieldwork starts.

The data generated during the field activities is only used for the purposes of the study and never passed on to a third-party. Field Researcher will be held responsible and accountable on the data protection. The data collected will be recorded through notetaking and/or using a recorder or appropriate software. Scruples Research uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) for online data collection and will be providing access to the Field Researcher.

The Field Researcher will usually be expected to work independently but there will be also a need to work as part of a broader team of Field Researchers. Excellent communication skills in Ukrainian/ Russian and English are required as the Field Researcher should be able to build rapport with the study participants to gain their confidence and discuss sensitive issues.

Offline data collection activities might require staying away for several consecutive days and might include evening and/or weekend work, depending on the availability/preference of the study participants as well as timeframe of the specific project. During this time, reimbursements will be provided to cover the travel costs of the Field Research such as accommodation and/ transportation. Typically, the Field Researcher will travel using her/his own transport and identify their own accommodation.

Duty Station: Remote (with possible travels to the field sites depending on the project requirements)

Reporting Line: Field Coordinator

Contract Length: Assignment-based contracts

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Undertake qualitative data collection activities in-person or remotely (over phone or online) in line with the designed study instruments in Ukrainian/Russian in timely manner.
• Pilot the study instruments before the actual data collection activity and provide feedback to the Field Coordinator.
• Identify and/or invite study participants to data collection activity and ensure their timely participation.
• Record the data collected by taking notes, using a recorder or an AI.
• Anticipate any challenges in the field and promptly report them to the Field Coordinator for resolution.
• Strictly follow the code of conduct, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding policies as well as data protection protocol of Scruples Research and always protect any collected data.
• Attend de-brief meetings with the Field Coordinator to support sense-making of the data collected and provide feedback.
• Always respect and maintain positive relations with study participants and report any adversity to the Field Coordinator timely.
• Transcribe the collected data in the agreed format and submit it timely to the Field Coordinator.
• Provide feedback to the preliminary analysis when required.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• At least bachelor’s degree in social sciences such as sociology, anthropology political science, international relations, or an equivalent subject.
• Proven experience in qualitative data collection activities
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Take initiative, prioritize well, work under pressure and manage time effectively.
• Understand and be committed to diversity, equality and treat everyone with respect.
• Maintain high professional standards and behaviors.
• Ability to address hostile and aggressive responses without putting anyone’s (including own) safety at risk.
• Emotional intelligence - Ability to understand the reasons for the feelings and behavior of others through the ability to interpret unspoken or partially expressed thoughts feelings and concerns, and through an appreciation of the cultural framework within which a person functions.
• Information seeking and interpretation – an ability to elicit basic information and probe for further facts through a wide range of information gathering skills.
• Listening and responding – an ability to listen, to interpret, clarify and respond appropriately.
• Service orientation – a desire to work within the framework of Scruples Research toward meeting the desired outcomes for the studies.
• Achieving the task – the ability to organize work through an efficient use of time, setting targets and achieving them.
• Relationship building – an ability to engage with study participants from affected population, governmental authorities, international and local organizations, UN (United Nations) agencies, voluntary groups and individuals.
• Excellent spoken and written Ukrainian and/or Russian language skills.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Sound understanding of qualitative research methodologies.
• Knowledge in humanitarian response.
• English is a strong additional asset.
• Flexible and adaptable to work in the evenings and/or weekends if required.
• Prepared to travel and work away from home if needed.
• Conceptual thinking – the ability to identify patterns or connections between situations; identify key or underlying issues in complex situations and resolve these by using creative, conceptual, and inductive reasoning.
• Analytical thinking – the ability to understand a situation by breaking it into smaller pieces, to be systematic, to trace cause and effect implications, and to set priorities.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Flexible, enthusiastic, and willing to learn from others.

FURTHER COMMENTS RELATING TO THIS POSITION:

• Payment is monthly based on the activity cost sheet.
• Evening and/or weekend work and working away from home might be required.

Problem-Solving

There are three levels of problem-solving: 1) What should be done and how to do it are clearly defined, and the incumbent will face identical or similar problems on a regular basis; 2) What should be done is known, but how to do it is not defined. The incumbent must use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem; and 3) Why things are done is known, but what should be done and how to do it are not defined. Situations are variable and the incumbent’s response will involve analysis, problem definition, development of alternatives, and making recommendations. S/he will face and address problems that are typically non-recurring.

Please indicate which of the above levels of problem-solving this position will face, and why the position falls into that category.

(2) The position falls into the level 2, requiring supervision for decision making.

Competencies

• Respect
• Integrity
• Diversity
• Excellence
• Building relations across different stakeholders
• Planning and organization
• Innovation