• Join our evidence-driven, value-based social enterprise dedicated to advancing gender equality and ending violence against women and girls (VAWG).
• Take the helm on impactful and ground-breaking VAWG research projects, with opportunities for international travel, fieldwork, and collaboration with global partners who are at the forefront of VAWG research and practice.
• $105,000 - $115,000 – per annum, excluding superannuation. Dependent on skills, experience and location.
• Full-Time (1.0 FTE) permanent position with hybrid working arrangements. Open to 0.8 or 0.9 FTE.
• Enjoy flexible working arrangements that cater to your lifestyle, underpinned by a generous Employee Value Proposition (EVP) that supports your well-being and professional growth
• This is a Melbourne-based (Naarm, Wurundjeri Country) role. Highly experienced candidates based outside of Melbourne may be considered.

Role Summary

The Equality Institute (EQI) is seeking a highly experienced violence against women and girls (VAWG) researcher and program evaluator who is adept at working collaboratively with clients and partners in diverse contexts across Australia, the Asia and Pacific regions, and beyond. Reporting to the Director of Research and working closely with EQI’s research team, the Research & Evaluation Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of projects and partnerships, ensuring that research and evaluations are designed and delivered safely, ethically, and effectively and any risks associated to project delivery are mitigated.

Playing a key role in building the evidence base on what works to prevent VAWG, the Research & Evaluation Manager applies intersectional-feminist and decolonising approaches to EQI’s VAWG research projects and partnerships.

Who you are (required)

• A highly experienced Violence Against Women (VAW) Researcher and/or Evaluator (7+ years’ relevant professional experience), adept at conducting safe and ethical VAW research in the Asia-Pacific Regions, African Region, and other Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMICs) contexts.
• Holds tertiary qualifications in relevant fields (social sciences, gender studies, public health, etc.) and possess a strong understanding of the global evidence around what works to prevent VAW.
• Have a demonstrated understanding of intersectional-feminist approaches and decolonising research methodologies and is adept at working collaboratively with partners and clients across diverse contexts.
• Have a proven ability to lead research projects and evaluations, working both autonomously and as part of a team, with minimal supervision. You also have experience facilitating training and workshops.
• Flexibility, agility, and resilience are key words which describe your working style; you are comfortable with some levels of uncertainty and change.
• An excellent communicator possessing strong writing skills, including in report writing, producing research publications for academic audiences, and developing research products that provide actionable insights.
• You are adept at utilising qualitative and/or quantitative research software (eg: Nvivo, Stata, etc.)
• You have knowledge and skills using the Microsoft suite of programs and project management systems (eg. Asana).

Please note: Ability and willingness to travel to low- and middle- income countries for field work are an essential part of this role. As our research projects involve collaborating with partners across different timezones, meetings outside of regular business hours are occasionally required.

Who you might be (highly desirable, but not essential)

• You have experience leading and/or conducting any of the following: prevalence studies, perpetrations studies, Participatory Action Research (PAR), systematic reviews, and Randomised Control Trials (RCT).
• You have experience conducting VAWG research with partners in Australia.
• You have experience conducting VAWG research/evaluations in conflict-affected and humanitarian contexts.
• You are fluent (have working proficiency) in languages other than English.
• You have grant writing experience.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised folks tend to only apply when they check every box. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, that’s okay, we would still love to review your application!

Women, people from First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQI+ people, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and implementation of rigorous VAWG research and evaluations. This may include:
• Preparing research proposals and protocols;
• Developing program Theories of Change and log-frames to guide program evaluations;
• Applying for research ethics approval;
• Developing research tools;
• Managing fieldwork set-up and implementation; and
• Recruiting local enumerators; collaborating with in-country partners.
• Ensure all research and evaluation activities comply with ethical standards and prioritise safety.
• Promote and practice intersectional-feminist and decolonising research approaches.
• Develop and deliver training for in-country enumerators and researchers.
• Conduct and support quantitative and qualitative data collection (including surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, etc.) and analysis.
• Prepare research and evaluation reports, journal articles, project briefs, policy and advocacy papers, and program materials.
• Conduct desk-based research on violence against women (VAW) and gender equality, including literature reviews, systematic reviews, and rapid reviews.
• Coordinate writing and review processes for reports, communication products, publications, and other deliverables for a wide range of external audiences and for the organisation.
• Manage research project budgets and resourcing. This includes: managing and supporting local research teams, effective delegation of tasks, ensuring clarity on team roles and responsibilities, and regular monitoring of project budget.
• Maintaining existing, and developing new research partnerships with clients, funders, sector stakeholders, and community stakeholders.

Please see the attachment for the position description.

Who we are

The Equality Institute is a global feminist agency working to advance gender equality and end violence against women and girls. Our vision is a world in which diversity is celebrated, all people are respected, and power and resources are shared equally. We are values-driven and underpinned by intersectional feminist principles in the ways we work and how we conduct ourselves. We believe that how we work matters as much as what we do.

We are a team of 20 passionate and dedicated people located across Australia & Timor-Leste.

What we do

Our purpose is to transform unequal power structures and support violence prevention efforts to thrive in a rapidly changing world – through research, learning and transformation, creative communications and policy advocacy.

Learn more about The Equality Institute and what we do in this video.

What we offer

• True flexibility and a strong focus on agility in the workplace; we prioritise making flexible work arrangements possible for all employees.
• A diverse team, dedicated to fostering a positive workplace culture and making meaningful impact in the world.
• We offer a staff profit-sharing scheme which aims to distribute a percentage of any remaining surplus funds on an annual basis to eligible employees.
• Gifted five additional days of annual leave.
• Gifted three additional days of personal leave.
• As an organisation striving for equality, we offer 20 days (pro-rata for part-timers) paid family and domestic violence leave per year to support those affected by family violence.
• Policies and procedures which promote diversity and intersectionality; building upon our strong feminist foundation.
• Continuous learning and development opportunities with an organisational-wide Learning and Development Calendar as well as a personal professional development budget of $1,500 AUD each year.
• In-person staff retreats where we connect as one team.
• Employee Assistance Program, giving employees free access to capped confidential counselling from qualified psychologists or counsellors.
• A psychologically and physically safe working environment where your wellbeing is prioritised.

How to apply

To express your interest, submit an online application through this portal and include a professional resume (max three pages); we will not accept cover letters as part of our application process. All applicants must provide brief responses to the application questions (230 word limit) that are included as part of the online application.

Applications they will be reviewed upon receipt, so don’t delay your application.

If you require additional adjustments, or would like to discuss any access needs as part of the application and recruitment process, then please contact us via email [email protected]

The Equality Institute is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone’s individual perspectives and background is not only supported but genuinely celebrated. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and aim to foster a culture where all team members have a sense of belonging.