BACKGROUND ON IMPACT & REACH

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two International NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts. REACH facilitates information management for aid actors through three complementary services: (a) need and situation assessments facilitated by REACH teams; (b) situation analysis using satellite imagery; (c) provision of related database and (web)-mapping facilities and expertise.

IMPACT Initiatives is a humanitarian NGO, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation manages several initiatives, including the REACH Initiative. The IMPACT team comprises specialists in data collection, management and analysis and GIS. IMPACT was launched at the initiative of ACTED, an international NGO whose headquarter is based in Paris and is present in thirty countries. The two organizations have a strong complementarity formalized in a global partnership, enabling IMPACT to benefit from ACTED’s operational support on its fields of intervention.

BACKGROUND ON MULTI-SECTOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT (MSNA)

Over the past 10 years, REACH has established itself as a leader in the delivery of independent, crisis-wide Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessments (MSNAs). MSNAs respond directly to Grand Bargain commitments by providing impartial, unbiased, comprehensive, context-sensitive, and timely data to inform humanitarian decision-making. In doing so, MSNAs promote a shift in how humanitarian needs are measured and how response planning and prioritization decisions are made. MSNA data enables and promotes needs-based, evidence-based and people-centred decision making when it comes to aid. MSNAs are delivered on an annual cycle aligned with the Humanitarian Planning Cycle (HPC). IMPACT delivers approximately 20 MSNAs each year across some of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. In 2026, IMPACT embarked on an exciting but ambitious journey to expand and improve the MSNA programme. The ultimate goal is to improve the resilience of the data and information system underpinning humanitarian aid policy by streamlining delivery of MSNAs, making them easier, faster and cost-effective the deliver by 2028. Delivering on this agenda requires a scale-up of the Global MSNA Team, close coordination with country teams delivering MSNAs, and with our Global Data Team (GDT) based in Amman. This position is therefore based in our Regional Office in Amman.

We are currently looking for a Senior Research Officer (SRO) to join the Global MSNA Team of the Research Systems Unit (RSU).

POSITION PROFILE

This position is situated within the Research Systems Unit (RSU) of the Global Programmes Section. Under the overall guidance of the Research Manager, the RSU supports the delivery of core, multi-sectoral research across IMPACT’s countries of operation. Reporting directly to the MSNA Research & Development (R&D) Specialist (based in Geneva), the Senior Research Officer (SRO) will lead and support various initiatives within the R&D workstream of the Global MSNA Team including, among others, MSNA toolkits and methods, the Multi-Sector Needs Index (MSNI), cross-crisis analysis, mortality & nutrition data modules, and digitalization of workflows.

FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The SRO will support the below core areas of work:

• MSNA toolkit and methods
• MSNA and cross-crisis analysis
• Digitalization, automation and country support
• Country support and quality assurance (approx. 30%)

Key deliverables in the first 12 months

Lead the revision and publication of key MSNA toolkit components, including sectoral guidance notes, technical templates and resources, ensuring coherence, usability, and accessibility for both REACH and external MSNA producers.

REQUIREMENTS

Excellent academic qualifications, including Master's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. development, humanitarian studies, international relations, research methods, social sciences, statistics). At least 2 years of experience in the humanitarian sector and/or field-based roles in fragile or development contexts. Experience with designing and implementing primary research, in particular large-scale quantitative surveys and/or humanitarian needs assessments. Solid understanding of statistical concepts and methods, including sampling. Advanced proficiency in R and/or Python for data processing, analysis and reproducible workflows is required for this position; familiarity with version control (Git) and with R package development is a strong asset. Experience developing, testing or otherwise working with multidimensional indices based on quantitative data to summarize multiple data points into easily digestible information an asset. Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including the ability to explain methodological choices to non-technical audiences. Strong interpersonal skills, including good external engagement and coordination skills. Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility. Ability and willingness to engage in short term field deployments, including to complex and challenging security environments. Fluency in English required; proficiency in Arabic, French, or Spanish an asset. Familiarity with the humanitarian system and global humanitarian policy frameworks, in particular the Grand Bargain, the HPC and the JIAF. Experience with mortality and/or nutrition survey methods (e.g. SMART) an asset. Prior experience leading the design or implementation of MSNAs an asset. Familiarity with GIS principles and experience using GIS software an asset (e.g., ArcGIS, R, and/or QGIS). Ability to operate InDesign, a strong plus.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

For this position, salary between 2’580 CHF and 2’640 CHF monthly (before income tax), etc as well as a monthly living allowance of 300 USD NB - IMPACT salaries are strictly determined by our salary grid depending on the grade of the position and the level of education of staff. A location-dependent security and/or isolation adjustment is then applied as a recognition that some staff are required to work in difficult places where living and working conditions are much more difficult than elsewhere. Accommodation and food provided in the guesthouse. Enrolment in Swiss private pension fund (Swisslife – approx. 9.975% of staff gross salary), health insurance, life insurance and repatriation assistance. Flight tickets every 6 months & visa fees covered (in-country travel costs and professional expenses are fully covered). Contribution to the luggage transportation: between 20 and 100 kgs, depending on the length of the contract (+ luggage and personal property insurance) Annual leave of 36 days per year. Public holidays of the country of assignment. Family/compassionate leave when applicable. Predeparture induction - 3 days at IMPACT Initiatives’s HQ in Geneva + one week pre-departure training in ACTED HQ in Paris, including a 4-days in situ security training; IMPACT prioritizes the psychological safety of its staff and the health insurance provided covers, among others, up to 1000 € per year of psychosocial counselling fees.