Job Title Research Program Manager

Faculty/ Department Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security

FTE (based on 35 paid hr work week) 100%

Duration 12 months. Full-time

Date Created/Updated 11/2024

Location Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Employee Group Grant-Paid

Salary $67,000 - $71,000 per annum (for 35 hours/ week)

About the Dallaire Institute                                                                               

Lt. General Romeo Dallaire founded the Child Soldiers Initiative in 2007 and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, provided a home to the Initiative in 2010.  In 2020, the Initiative became the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, an international repository of expertise, research, and advocacy to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence.  The Dallaire Institute is the co-developer of the 2017 Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. As part of Dalhousie University, the Dallaire Institute hosts a prestigious Tier 1 Canada Research Chair on International Peace, Security and Children and offers undergraduate and graduate courses. Through academic and practitioner training and community engagement, the Dallaire Institute’s interdisciplinary and applied research advances innovative strategies for preventing recruitment and use of children in armed violence.  The Dallaire Institute is supported through private, public and international contributions.      

To achieve this important objective, the Dallaire Institute conducts activities on four fronts:   

  • World-class, interdisciplinary research to build and share knowledge, which in turn leads to new solutions. 

  • High-level advocacy activities to create and promote the political will to end the use of children in violence as central to the achievement of global peace and security. 

  • Education and programming to sustain the efforts to make the recruitment and use of children as soldiers unthinkable by inspiring leaders, educators, and policy makers to implement new approaches, conduct research, and actively share their knowledge on the prioritization of the children’s rights upfront approach.   

  • Comprehensive, prevention-oriented training to security sector actors, in the service of broader security sector reform, as well as collaboration with civil society to create and implement tools that protect children from the dangers associated with recruitment."

Job Purpose                                                                                                       

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Program Manager provides both scholarly and operational leadership for projects undertaken by the Research & Knowledge Mobilization Team at the Dallaire Institute. This individual manages day-to-day team and research activities and provides technical expertise to strengthen the Dallaire Institute’s research portfolio. Key areas of responsibility include research; knowledge mobilization; project management; and personnel management.

Duties and Responsibilities                   

  • Implement research studies while ensuring quality control and meeting institutional requirements as required (e.g., developing and abiding by ethics protocols, and submitting projects to the Dalhousie University’s research database). This includes the logistical management of participant recruitment and data collection/analysis activities.

  • Co-lead the development and implementation of data collection and analysis plans for the Dallaire Institute’s curriculum development and adaptation activities.

  • Manage the implementation of knowledge mobilization plans and innovate with new research and knowledge mobilization approaches and tools.

  • Develop funding applications in support of Dallaire Institute activities and strategic objectives.

  • Serve as project manager for projects under the purview of the Research & Knowledge Mobilization Team as required.

  • Provide training, mentorship, and support to students, postdocs, early career researchers, and other relevant actors as required to help build their professional capacity.

    All staff are additionally responsible to:

  • Proactively participate in planning and performance processes as outlined in the Employee Handbook including annual appraisals, regular meetings, and ensuring that annual reviews are an integral component of work plans and priorities.

  • Promote a safe and secure work environment in line with the organization’s core values including the Dallaire Institute Workplace Principles and foster strong communication between teams within the organization.

  • Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of children, particularly the prevention of the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict.

  • Comply with Dallaire Institute’s financial and operational requirements and uphold high standards of honesty and integrity in personal conduct.

  • This job description is a general outline of responsibilities and qualifications and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The responsibilities and duties may evolve based on the organization's needs, and additional tasks may be assigned as required.

Qualifications                                                                                                                      

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in International Development, Peace & Conflict Studies, International Development Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Community Engagement, Knowledge Mobilization, or a related field. Candidates with undergraduate, professional degrees, or other educational qualifications may be considered depending on relevant experience.

  • 2+ years of project management experience (including planning, budgeting, resource management, and reporting).

  • Comprehensive knowledge of research methodologies (preferably both qualitative and quantitative) and study design requirements (including research ethics).

  • Functional knowledge of statistical analysis and qualitative analysis tools such as SPSS, SAS, Stata, and NVivo.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, strong analytical skills and the ability to adapt messages to culturally diverse audiences.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead and participate within multicultural, multilingual, and multidisciplinary teams.

Assets

  • Knowledge of Dalhousie University research-related policies, processes, and systems (or comparable knowledge of similar systems from other institutions).

  • Scholarly publication record and knowledge of academic publishing processes.

  • Experience in relevant organizations such as international non-profit organizations, governments, security sector institutions, or academic institutions.

  • Training and/or experience in the field of knowledge mobilization.

  • Proficiency in languages other than English, specifically French, Spanish or Portuguese.

  • Experience in the production and management of research grant applications and budgets.

To apply for this opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to dallairehr@dallaireinstitute.org””