Research Coordinator, Political Integrity (m/f/d)

Transparency International is looking for a Research Coordinator - Political Integrity (m/f/d) to coordinate the implementation of the Integrity Watch in the Western Balkans and Turkey - Civil Society Combating Corruption with Political Integrity Data (IW WB&T) and Bridgegap projects, conduct and coordinate research and provide thematic expertise in support of these project and TI’s global work on political integrity.  Within this framework, the Research Coordinator - Political Integrity will support the IW chapters in Western Balkans and Turkey and the European Union with dataset scoping, training of staff on data analysis methods and support on Integrity Watch platform design and development.  

The TI Secretariat in Berlin implements Integrity Watch (IW) projects to monitor integrity in political decision-making across since 2014. To date, IW platforms exist in 16 EU countries, four countries in the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia), Turkey, the United Kingdom and Chile. 

Within this framework, Integrity Watch in the Western Balkans and Turkey - Civil Society Combating Corruption with Political Integrity Data (IW WB&T) is led by the Kosova Democratic Institute and implemented by five national chapters. IW provides officials, citizens, civil society and journalists with online tools making information on lobbying, conflicts of interests, assets and incomes of politicians accessible for the prevention, detection and reduction of political corruption, and develops tools for the detection of conflicts of interest, undue influence and flows of criminal money. 

Linked to the IW approach, as part of the research programme Horizon Europe 2023-2024 and in partnership with a consortium of 14 academic institutions, the Bridgegap project aims at mapping and measuring the deficit of both legal and real transparency in EU-27 and neighbourhood countries, to clarify the interaction between transparency and citizen e-participation in order to design and adjust transparency policies for more effective preventive anticorruption policies at both member state and EU level. The project intends to map transparency and undue influence schemes by leveraging Integrity Watch data from EU countries, updating (existing tools) and upgrading (add new tools) in the IW platforms, and engaging policy makers with analysis and recommendations resulting from the research to curb undue influence.

Role Purpose:  Conduct and coordinate research to support TI’s global work on political integrity, provide managerial support to IW and Bridegap projects and thematic expertise on political integrity regulations, practices and risks  

Team: Research and Knowledge 

Reporting Line: Head of Research and Knowledge 

Band: Band PF2, salary starting at €42,000 p.a.

Starting Date: as soon as possible

Contract Duration: Currently we can offer an employment contract limited for a duration of two years, with the possibility of extension.

Working Hours: full-time [100%; 40 hours per week] 

Location: Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S), Berlin

Based in the Research & Knowledge Team and reporting to the Head of Research & Knowledge, the Research Coordinator Political Integrity will:

• Manage the implementation of IW and Bridegap projects, including project coordination and reporting and managing the awarding process of mini-grants to Bridgegap chapters
• Work in close collaboration and ensure ongoing communication with partner chapters in target countries to support the design and implementation of research, policy and capacity building activities
• Provide quality control of project outputs and oversee the development of relevant knowledge materials by chapters
• In collaboration with software developers, support bilateral and collective consultations with involved chapters to discuss the shape and functionality of their domestic platforms throughout the project, from their planning (adjusting where necessary to ensure compliance with the budget and timeline) through the design, development, testing, target-user feedback integration, piloting, deployment, and updates
• Support the assessment of political integrity regulatory frameworks (laws, bylaws, rules) and their implementation in the target countries, to identify best practice, regulatory and practice gaps, and recommend reforms to strengthening political integrity systems in the region
• Support involved chapters in engaging prospective and target users of Integrity Watch platforms through user-driven participatory workshops, investigations or hackathons
• Together with the regional advisors, collaborate on capacity building, network management, integration with regional and global work on political integrity, and regional advocacy efforts related directly or indirectly to the project
• Support day-to-day work implementation of research activities, including providing support in the preparation of relevant project management tools, coordinating the work planning, budget management, monitoring, and reporting of TI-S deliverables under this project and striving for high-quality, gender-responsive research outputs and the greatest possible impact of project activities together with other TI-S teams including Research & Knowledge, Global Movement, Projects, Policy and Advocacy, and Communications
• Contribute to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning by documenting relevant developments and challenges and providing regular narrative reporting on the activities conducted
• Contribute to fundraising efforts to ensure the sustainability ofthis area of work
• Stay abreast of developments relating to political integrity and be available to respond to on-demand internal and external stakeholder needs
• Represent the organisation at relevant fora within area of expertise as needed; build relationships and form alliances with external counterparts, communities of practice and stakeholders
• Contribute to the overall functioning of the Research & Knowledge Team by providing proactive and ad hoc support where necessary, and regularly coordinate with the Political Integrity Policy Lead

In order to succeed in this role, candidates will need to meet the following: 

• University degree in a relevant field of the social sciences, such as political science, sociology, economics, public administration or a related field, with an academic emphasis on research
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in social research with a track record of developing tools and methodologies and producing operationally and policy relevant research
• Solid understanding of political corruption issues, and integrity-related areas such as campaign finance, use of state resources in elections, conflicts of interests, lobbying, public consultation, parliamentary oversight, or similar
• Substantial experience in research coordination in a multi-country/international setting
• Experience managing donor-funded projects in the civil society field and familiarity with donor rules and regulations (in particular European Commission) is advantageous
• Solid understanding of monitoring and evaluation, and particularly results-based management approaches
• Understanding of relevant regional (EU, Western Balkans and Turkey) context a strong advantage
• Experience providing training, technical assistance and quality control on applied research projects, preferably in a multi-country/comparative context, with excellent attention to detail
• Strong knowledge and experience in the design, customisation and roll-out of accountability and anti-corruption practical knowledge resources
• Experience in gender mainstreaming and incorporating inclusive approaches in project management
• Experience in organising major events with diverse international partners, in-person and remote
• Excellent writing, editing and communication skills
• Professional language proficiency in written and spoken English, additional languages (in particular languages spoken in the Western Balkans or Turkish) an asset
• Proven commitment to social justice issues and the values of Transparency International

Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and cover letter in English, merged into one PDF file, via the online recruitment system clicking on the button ‘Apply Online’. 

Closing date for internal applications is Friday, January 19th.

Only applications duly completed and received through the online recruitment system will be considered.

Transparency International is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued and where there is equality of opportunity. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and therefore welcome and strongly encourage applications from qualified candidates of all regions, countries, cultures and backgrounds. Existing permission to work in Germany is not a selection criterion and TI-S supports successful candidates in the process for applying for a work permit, if needed and eligible.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis and we do not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, colour or ethnic background, religious belief, sex, gender identity and expression or sexual orientation, marital or family status, age or ability. We kindly ask applicants to refrain from including in their application information relating to the above as well as from attaching photos.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that Transparency International does not charge any fees at any stage of its recruitment and selection process (whether at application, processing, testing, interviewing, traveling or otherwise), nor does Transparency International require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants. Transparency International will also not ask you to join any group or account on social media or elsewhere.

FURTHER INFORMATION

To learn more about Transparency International please visit our website and follow us on social media:

Website:       https://www.transparency.org

Twitter:          https://twitter.com/anticorruption

LinkedIn:       https://www.linkedin.com/company/transparency-international/

Instagram:    https://www.instagram.com/transparency_international/

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/TransparencyInternational