Research Project Director - 3EA Initiative

About 3EA

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Global TIES for Children at New York University have launched an ambitious new initiative aimed at improving the quality of education and children's learning in conflict-affected countries, "Education in Emergencies: Evidence for Action" (3EA). Working in three countries affected by conflict or crisis – Lebanon, Niger, and Sierra Leone – the 3EA initiative will implement in different types of classrooms a set of contextually appropriate, low-intensity interventions targeted at improving children's stress, executive functioning, and basic literacy skills in emergency contexts. We will then rigorously evaluate the interventions in order to generate actionable research on the following research questions: (1) Which interventions most effectively improve primary school-aged children's literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning (SEL) outcomes in emergency contexts? (2) What are the pathways of influence through which these programs operate? (3) For which populations, at what cost, and under what circumstances are interventions feasible and most effective?

Position Summary

The Research Project Director will be responsible for overall research management of the project, including responsibility for the daily research activities of the project. The position involves serving as the liaison between all partnering organizations, and leading several research initiatives including measurement development (e.g., developing instruments for measuring children and teachers' outcomes and educational settings; fidelity of implementation; etc.), data analysis, and writing up of project findings into reports and academic journal articles. The Project Director will spend considerable time traveling in the project countries for extended periods; ability to travel for the project is a must. The position can be based at the New York University campuses in either New York City or in Abu Dhabi.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with Principal Investigator Larry Aber and researchers at IRC and other universities, the Project Director will be responsible for the following dimensions of the project:

• Lead multi-country research team to plan, coordinate, and execute project timeline and activities, including: (1) Developing a theory of change and analytic strategy for using a randomized control trial to evaluate the impact of low-intensity, targeted literacy and SEL strategies on children's outcomes; (2) Identifying, adapting, and piloting innovative measures of child development and teacher well-being in conflict-affected contexts to be administered at baseline, midline, and endline data collection; (3) Developing a framework and designing corresponding instruments for the collection of implementation fidelity data; (4) Training and providing ongoing support for in-country research directors and enumerators; and (5) Rapidly cleaning and analyzing data using advanced statistical techniques (e.g., factor scoring, measurement invariance, multi-level modeling, causal mediation)
• Oversee administrative management of project research team, including budgeting, in-country hiring, translations, IRB approvals, etc.
• Act as primary research point of contact for communication across all partnering organizations.
• Prepare and deliver presentations of results to various stakeholders.
• Writing and editing reports and articles for scholarly and policy audiences, including presentations at research conferences and academic journal articles.

Qualifications

The candidate must have completed doctoral training in developmental science, human development, educational psychology, international education, international development, or a related social science field. Relevant skills in project management and statistical analysis are required, including proficiency in quantitative methodology (with experience programming in SAS, STATA and M+ preferred). Ability to work well independently and in a multidisciplinary, multi-country team; excellent organization skills and attention to detail; and excellent oral and written communication skills necessary. Experience working in low-income/conflict-affected countries; French and/or Arabic language proficiency, and track record of academic publications and presentations for scholarly and policy audiences a plus.

Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package; support for travel costs and conference travel related to study activities. Minimum one-year commitment required, with the potential for a one-year renewal pending satisfactory performance and budgetary approval.

About Global TIES for Children

At New York University's Global TIES for Children we design, evaluate and advise on programs and policies to improve the lives of children and youth in the most vulnerable regions across the globe. Led by University Professors Larry Aber and Hiro Yoshikawa, we work with some of the world's leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and with governments in low-income (LI) and conflict-affected (CA) countries on developing and evaluating innovative approaches to promoting the health, education, and social development of children and their communities. Together with our key strategic partner organizations, our work leverages cuttingedge scientific methods and interdisciplinary collaboration to:

• Generate actionable evidence to promote child and youth development by conducting and evaluating powerful strategies to transform relevant "social settings" (i.e., classrooms, schools, families, communities, etc.) that are key drivers of children's learning and wellbeing;
• Communicate actionable evidence by engaging diverse stakeholders across sectors and regions and disseminating a rigorous evidence base to inform program and policy decisions for children and youth in LI and CA countries;
• Build human, administrative, and institutional capacityfor a robust global science and practice through the provision of professional development and training activities.

HOW TO APPLY:

The position could begin as soon as March 2016, though start date is flexible, in the Institute of Human Development and Social Change, New York University. To apply, send CV, statement of interest, writing sample (thesis chapter or published article), and names, phone numbers and email addresses of three references toglobal.ties@nyu.edu with the subject line: Global TIES 3EA Project Director Position. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.