Researcher (12-month fixed term contract)

Researcher

12-month fixed term contract (may be extended with funding)

Full Time – 40 hours per week

Location: Hybrid working in UK, with travel to UK officers (Wilton, Wiltshire or Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, and some international travel

Salary: £32,000 – £36,000 dependent upon experience

About us

The HALO Trust is the world’s largest and oldest international humanitarian mine action non-government organisation. Our mission is to lead the effort to save lives and restore livelihoods for those affected by conflict. HALO is known for its work to clear landmines but is very much involved in the disposal of other explosive hazards such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance. HALO was established in Afghanistan in 1988 and now employs over 10,000 staff in over 30 countries.

About the role 

HALO is seeking a Researcher to support and manage HALO’s research projects into the use and humanitarian impact of explosive ordnance in ongoing conflicts such as in Ukraine, Yemen, and Gaza. This includes technical research into conventional and emerging weapon systems in use, identifying geographic concentrations of weapons use and resulting contamination, and collecting data on the humanitarian impact of weapons use and subsequent contamination by unexploded ordnance, mines and IEDs.

The aim of the research is to provide an up-to-date understanding of the proliferation, type, nature, and characteristics of explosive remnants of war as well as their impact to inform both HALO’s operations and its advocacy and policy work.

The Researcher will assist programmes with research design, ensuring adherence to best practice guidelines, and training programme staff on open-source research tools and techniques. The post holder will also be responsible for maintaining data management platform across all HALO programmes to support new and existing research projects.

Responsible To: Global Research Officer

Key Responsibilities

The Researcher will:

• Work with programme teams to conduct open-source research projects in priority countries, focusing on identifying areas of EO contamination and infrastructure damage, casualty information and other impact data, and the types of explosive ordnance and weapons systems used.
• Conduct technical research on conventional and emerging weapons systems relevant to HALO operations.
• Use research data with GIS tools to produce analyses of the presence and impact of mines and other explosive contamination for external and internal use.
• Assist HALO programmes with research project design and the recruitment and training of project staff and/or contractors.
• Develop and deliver training to HALO staff on open-source research methods and tools.
• Publish research findings for a variety of audiences in collaboration with other HALO departments.
• Develop partnerships with other research organisation to support HALO’s work.

Who we are looking for

This role would suit an open-source analyst with experience of research relating to conflict, explosive ordnance, and weapon systems.

Essential

• Significant experience in conducting open-source research, including data collection, analysis, and publication.
• Experience working with social medial monitoring tools and mapping open-source datasets.
• Demonstrable analytical, organisational, writing and communication skills, including a record of publications for diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with explosive ordnance, military technology, and weapon systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritise work.
• Tenacious, self-starting, and able to thrive in a fluid environment with rapidly changing priorities.
• Collaborative team player.
• Strong intellectual curiosity and the ability to articulate HALO’s research finding in a compelling way.

Desirable

• Post-graduate research degree in a related discipline.
• Knowledge and understanding of GIS software and related tools.
• Understanding of quantitative statistical methods.
• Experience designing and delivering training courses.
• Knowledge of a relevant language, particularly Russian and Arabic.

All HALO staff are expected to undertake the following general duties:

• Work within the framework of HALO’s core values, promoting its ethos and mission statement.
• Work towards achieving programme and/or group business plan objectives.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures and keep informed of HALO activities.
• Travel overseas as and when required.
• To discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s health and safety procedures which may include Risk and COSHH Assessments and participation in evacuation procedures as necessary.

Our benefits:

• Competitive salary depending upon experience
• Annual Leave: 25 days plus 8 statutory holidays
• Non-contributory life assurance (3 x salary)
• Private medical health cover
• Pension contributions matched by HALO up to 5%
• Emergency medical insurance when travelling overseas
• Flexible working policy

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter (no more than 2 pages) outlining how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role by no later than 7th June 2024. If there is a sufficient calibre of applicants, we reserve the right to close the role earlier than the date noted.

** PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A COVER LETTER TAILORED TO THIS POSITION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED**

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

The HALO Trust is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and trusted environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare and well-being of anyone who comes into contact with, or is part of, the Charity, with a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours which challenge this.