Data Assistant

ABOUT IMPACT\ REACH
IMPACT/ REACH provides humanitarian actors with much needed analysis for use in planning and prioritisation. Evidence-based planning and programming is paramount to ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable are met and that humanitarian/early recovery response is tailored to the realities facing communities. As a global leader in humanitarian research, REACH operates in dozens of countries worldwide.

Greening strategy:
IMPACT/ REACH’s greening strategy aims to tackle environmental degradation and climate change while meeting the needs of the most vulnerable who are often those most affected by the deepening environmental crisis. Each IMPACT/ REACH employee will adhere to these principles through key green programming responsibilities:
•Contribute towards the adherence and development of the greening strategy plan.
•Explore innovative green programming opportunities and/or solutions within your realm of responsibilities and roles
•Encouraging and promoting environmental safeguarding processes and environmental programming standards in accordance with SOPs and technical guideline notes

IMPACT/ REACH PSEAH Policy:
The data Assistant has the responsibility to adhere to the PSEAH Policy (Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment). The data assistant has the obligation to complete all mandatory trainings related to the Code of Conduct and the PSEA policy and report any safeguarding concern such as breaches of organisational policies or codes of conduct according to IMPACT/ REACH’s procedures. The data assistant carries out work duties in a way that does not harm children, vulnerable adults or other staff or volunteers.

LOCATION: Damascus, Syria

Number of the required candidates: 1

JOB PURPOSE
The Data Assistant will support workstreams related to humanitarian planning and prioritisation, markets and livelihoods, durable solutions, and area-based assessments. The role will support data-related aspects of research cycles, including research design, data collection tools and monitoring, data cleaning, quality assurance, analysis, and documentation. The Data Assistant will also contribute to the production of relevant information products, including analytical tables, visualizations, dashboards, and other interactive data products.

OBJECTIVES
Support timely, accurate and reproducible data management, cleaning and analysis across assigned research cycles.
Contribute to high-quality data collection tools, data-quality monitoring systems and analytical outputs in line with IMPACT/REACH standards.
Develop practical skills in R and other relevant data tools, progressively taking greater ownership of routine cleaning and analysis tasks.
Support the production of clear, reliable and user-friendly data products for humanitarian planning and prioritization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Data management and quality assurance
Support the preparation, cleaning, validation and management of quantitative datasets using R, Excel and other relevant tools.
Run routine data-quality checks, identify inconsistencies, missing values, outliers and logical errors, and document issues for follow-up.
Support the maintenance of clear, reproducible and well-documented data-cleaning workflows, scripts, cleaning logs and data dictionaries.
Ensure datasets and scripts are stored and organized according to agreed folder structures, naming conventions and data-protection procedures.
Data collection tools and monitoring
Support the development, testing and review of Kobo/XLSForm data collection tools, including relevance, constraints, calculations and validation checks.
Support data collection monitoring by preparing and reviewing monitoring outputs and flagging potential data-quality concerns to the relevant focal point.
Assist with testing questionnaires and analytical workflows before data collection and analysis.
Data analysis
Support descriptive statistical analysis, indicator calculations, cross-tabulations and aggregation of assessment data according to approved Data Analysis Plans.
Adapt and run existing R scripts and, with guidance, develop simple scripts for cleaning, transformation, analysis and automation of routine tasks.
Conduct basic checks of analytical outputs to ensure consistency with questionnaires, indicator definitions and analysis plans.
Support the preparation of analysis tables and datasets for reporting and dissemination.
Information products and visualization
Support the preparation of charts, tables, maps inputs and other data visualizations for reports, factsheets, presentations and dashboards.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of dashboards and other interactive data products, where relevant.
Check information products for data accuracy, consistency and correct formatting before review and publication.
Coordination, documentation and learning
Maintain clear documentation of completed tasks, methodological decisions and data-processing steps.
Communicate data issues and progress clearly and in a timely manner to the line manager and relevant assessment teams.
Participate in technical reviews, team meetings and relevant trainings, and actively develop skills in R, statistics, data visualization and IMPACT/REACH research processes.

Perform other data-related tasks reasonably assigned by the line manager in support of research cycles and mission priorities.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Assigned data cleaning, quality assurance and analysis tasks are completed within agreed timelines.
Data-quality issues identified during assigned checks are accurately documented and communicated for follow-up.
Cleaning and analysis scripts produced or adapted by the Data Assistant are reproducible, clearly organised and documented according to team standards.
Assigned analytical outputs are consistent with approved questionnaires, indicator definitions and Data Analysis Plans.
Data files, scripts, cleaning logs and supporting documentation are maintained in the correct project folders and follow agreed naming and version-control practices.
Demonstrated progress toward independently completing routine R-based data cleaning, transformation and descriptive analysis tasks.
Information products supported by the Data Assistant are checked for data accuracy and formatting before submission for review.

QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Data Science, Economics, Computer Science, Information Management, with a strong quantitative component, or a related field;
Fluent Arabic and good working proficiency in English (written and spoken);
Strong analytical and numerical skills, with high attention to detail;
At least 1 year work experience with an INGO in an emergency and/or development setting
Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data cleaning and basic data analysis;
Basic knowledge of R or Python is required; practical experience using R or Python for data cleaning, transformation or analysis is a strong asset;
Experience with KoboToolbox, ODK or XLSForm is an asset;
Experience with Power BI, Tableau or other data visualisation tools is an asset;
Knowledge of basic descriptive statistics and quantitative research methods;
Previous experience working with survey, assessment or monitoring data is an asset; experience in the humanitarian or development sector is desirable;
Ability and willingness to learn new technical tools and progressively work independently on routine data tasks;
Good organisational and prioritisation skills and ability to work accurately under pressure in a fast-paced environment.