Research and Monitoring Director

Application Pack

This application pack contains the job description, person specification and details about how to apply.

Job Description

Job title: Research and Monitoring Director

Location: MDAC headquarters, Budapest, Hungary

Responsible to: Executive Director

Responsible for: Three staff, several programme consultants and interns

Liaises with:

• All levels of staff
• Board Members
• Research agencies and funders
• Easy-to-read, layout and printing consultants

Salary and benefits: Commensurate with experience

Job purpose

To oversee MDAC’s research and monitoring programme; the other three programmes being strategic litigation, advocacy, and capacity-building.

To develop research methods, oversee research, develop dissemination strategies and ensure that research and monitoring outputs meet MDAC’s annual plans, are practical and policy-oriented.

To build MDAC engagement with academia and research funders in a variety of countries.

Current portfolio of MDAC research and monitoring
The range of research and monitoring which we are currently carrying out, and for which the post-holder would be responsible, includes the following.

• We are developing guidelines on how States should implement Article 33 (domestic implementation and monitoring) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and will publish this in several languages.
• We are updating our guidelines for inspectorates of mental health and social care institutions, and will assess three countries’ performance.
• Having published a series of reports on the right to legal capacity in several European countries in 2007-8, we are carrying out desk and qualitative research in Kenya to explore how the right to legal capacity is implemented, and are then planning advocacy and strategic litigation as follow through from the research.
• We are also carrying out research in order to create an electronic repository of promising practices in implementing the right to legal capacity.
• We are finalising a report on human rights in psychiatric hospitals and social care institutions in Croatia, and are at the beginning of developing similar work in Moldova.
• In conjunction with NGO partners, we will be contributing to a range of ‘alternative’ or ‘shadow’ NGO reports to UN treaty bodies, and to the Council of Europe’s Committee on Economic and Social Rights.
• We are part of the research team carrying out research for the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency on the rights of persons with mental health problems and the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities across the EU, and will write synthesis reports for the Agency.

Areas of responsibility

Programme management
1. Responsible to the Executive Director for the overall management of research and monitoring programme;
2. Acts as project manager in specific projects and project supervisor in others;
3. Supervises program officers ensuring their compliance with work programmes;
4. Develops staff knowledge and skills;
5. Ensures the smooth management of several projects running in parallel;
6. Represents MDAC as required at external meetings, regional and national conferences;
7. Participates in strategic planning;
8. Reports on work achieved and planned; and
9. Participates in MDAC’s senior management team and takes collective responsibility for decisions made.

Overseeing the research and monitoring programme
1. Advises on the overall strategy and leads MDAC’s research and monitoring programme, ensuring research methodology is appropriate and implemented to the highest professional and ethical standards;
2. Is responsible for the timely delivery of research and monitoring results which include producing research findings, policy recommendations, policy briefs, as well as shadow/alternative reports to UN and other international treaty monitoring bodies based on findings;
3. Ensures cross-programmatic synergies by working in close collaboration with other programme directors;
4. Ensures appropriate beneficiary involvement in the design and implementation of research and monitoring;
5. Develops a power/interest stakeholder analysis at the outset of research so that MDAC’s outputs are from the outset angled towards key audiences;
6. Builds cross-programmatic synergies by understanding how research and monitoring results are utilized in MDAC’s advocacy and strategic litigation;
7. Compiles synthesis reports using information from a variety of sources;
8. Edits outputs to ensure the highest quality for sign-off by the Executive Director
9. Ensures outputs are also produced in easy-to-read formats;
10. Leads the development and implementation of research and monitoring and related strategies at international and regional levels;
11. Responsible for dissemination of all MDAC research and monitoring outputs, ensuring that relevant stakeholders receive information in ways they can use it;
12. Regularly evaluates programme impact, and suggests adjustments as appropriate;
13. Profiles the outputs of MDAC by writing, and encouraging and mentoring others, to write in academic journals and/or other media;
14. Liaises with the Operations Director on contracting of programme consultants;
15. As Director for the Research and Monitoring Programme, oversees the programme budgets, in conjunction with the Finance Director.

New project development
1. Seeks out innovative issues to research and monitor, in accordance with MDAC’s Strategic Plan;
2. Builds relationships with academics and research institutes and research funders, in order to influence research agendas, and co-produce research;
3. Seeks out ways to include MDAC as a collaborator in other research projects;
4. Actively identifies donors for MDAC’s programming and assists the Executive Director in new project development; and
5. Develops research and monitoring proposals for funding.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• PhD in social sciences discipline (or analogous qualification or expertise)
• Management qualification an advantage.

Knowledge and skills

• Thorough knowledge of qualitative analysis techniques (knowledge of action research/participatory methods an advantage);
• Thorough knowledge of social science research methodologies;
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of human rights;
• Ability to lead and co-ordinate research projects.

Work experience
Minimum three years relevant work experience in issues related to human rights, public policy and advocacy, including at least five of the following:

• Developing secondary, desk research methodologies;
• Developing primary qualitative research methodologies and conducting such research;
• Teaching research methods;
• Monitoring human rights in closed institutions;
• Supervising other people carrying out research;
• Carrying out action research/participatory research;
• Project management;
• Analyzing state compliance with laws or policies;
• Drafting policy briefs and other human rights advocacy submissions;
• Editing other people’s writing and giving feedback.

Personal attributes and skills
The ideal person will have the following attributes and skills:

• Commitment to MDAC’s mission, vision and organisational values;
• Ability to transform policy analysis and discussions into measurable advocacy outputs;
• Excellent spoken and written English;
• Willingness to be based in Budapest and travel internationally occasionally;
• A commitment to engage in dialogue with a variety of stakeholders;
• Demonstrated political acumen and analytical skills;
• Strategic thinking and someone who seeks linkages between people and themes;
• Quick learner who thrives on multi-tasking;
• Outstanding writing skills who can make sense of complex information and condense it into punchy outputs;
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills;
• Self-starter able to lead and be a member of teams;
• Ability to deal with ambiguous external environments and a high-paced working environment.

To apply

The deadline for applications is 23 February 2011. First round telephone interviews (including a written element via email) will take place week beginning 28 February. MDAC aims to have the successful candidate in post by 1 May 2011.

Applicants should send an email to JoinTheTeam@mdac.info with “Research” in the subject line and attach:
1. a letter of interest (up to 800 words) referring to the information set out in the job description and person specification (see above),
2. a full CV,
3. current salary,
4. an unedited writing sample, and
5. the names of two referees who may be contacted before interviews are held.

The position is based in Budapest, Hungary, and is subject to a three month probationary period. The post-holder will be under a contract governed by Hungarian law and paid in Hungarian forints monthly, and will be subject to paying Hungarian taxes, social security and other statutory contributions.

MDAC is an equal employment opportunity employer and aims to ensure that all prospective and actual employees and consultants are treated equally, irrespective of actual or perceived disability, age, race or ethnicity, religious belief, sex, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, marital status or other status. People with disabilities, including mental health service users, are encouraged to apply.