Senior Data and Insights Manager - Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation

Senior Data and Insights Manager - Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation

What the hiring manager says

As Senior Manager, Data and Insights, you will be a key part of the M4H Research and Policy team, leading cutting-edge research across the programme including a focus on data and overseeing the team's MEL capacity. Our team has positioned itself as a thought leader in the sector and this role offers a unique opportunity to expand our expertise on the vital role of data in digital humanitarian action and influence both industry and humanitarian partners through evidence-based research and engagement on this and other important humanitarian themes.

Barnaby Willitts-King, Research and Policy Director, M4H

About the Team

The Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with a mission to accelerate the delivery and impact of digital humanitarian assistance. We have reached over 12 million people with improved access to and use of life-enhancing mobile-enabled services during humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery. We have achieved this by building a learning and research agenda to inform the future of digital humanitarian response, catalysing partnerships and innovation for new digital humanitarian services, advocating for enabling policy environments, monitoring and evaluating performance, disseminating insights and profiling achievements.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a passionate team working at the intersection of the mobile industry and the humanitarian sector, aiming towards an inclusive, impactful digital humanitarian future. The successful candidate will play a leading role in delivering the research and insights agenda within the M4H programme, including specifically expanding our research and engagement on data, as well as oversight of the team's Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning capacity. You will be at the forefront of developing high-quality, innovative and relevant research products to inform the mobile industry and humanitarian community of key trends, insights and analysis that will influence them to contribute to more impactful digital humanitarian assistance. The ideal candidate will be seeking to work in a fast-paced and rewarding environment and have a strong track record in research - with demonstrable qualitative and/or quantitative analytical skills. Previous knowledge of both the mobile industry and the humanitarian sector is desirable.

As Senior Manager, Data & Insights, you will be able to draw on a solid foundation of research and commercial expertise and share a passion for the ways mobile technology can accelerate the impact and delivery of digital humanitarian assistance.

You will:

• Identify, lead and manage high quality research studies across a range of themes, methodologies and markets within budget and to time. This includes creating research proposals; collecting and analysing data; authoring reports documenting industry trends; and engaging with mobile network operators and stakeholders on insights.
• Develop a specific research and engagement strand on responsible data in digital humanitarian action.
• Lead projects independently, managing external consultants and/or other M4H team members in a collaborative manner to achieve high quality deliverables.
• Support the M4H Research and Policy Director to develop a clear research and learning agenda and timescale for insight deliverables and dissemination.
• Disseminate research and learnings through written reports, case studies, blogs, powerpoints, conferences and meetings with relevant stakeholders, tailoring research to the primary target audience.
• Participate in industry events to represent the programme, share insights, and build stakeholder relationships to achieve influence and impact.
• Oversee the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) function within M4H.
• Be a recognised authority on issues related to digital humanitarian assistance, and the role of the private sector in humanitarian contexts with a focus on the use of novel data sets, ethical use of data and related policy issues, helping to position the M4H programme as a thought leader in this space.
• Be a primary point of contact for key M4H stakeholders liaising between them and the wider team.
• Collaborate closely with other members of the M4H team as well as across the GSMA.

About You:

• Prior experience of managing complex externally commissioned research projects from brief to debrief, either client or agency side, either qualitative or quantitative, is essential.
• Track record using a range of research methodologies suited to humanitarian contexts.
• Experience and familiarity with the sectors we work across (Telecommunications, Humanitarian) with specific expertise on the responsible and innovative use of data.
• First rate project management skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time.
• The ability to articulately and concisely summarise large volumes of intelligence into compelling external outputs.
• Experience establishing and managing productive client relationships, including C-level executives.
• Experience in programme and project MEL with a focus on measuring impact.
• A conscientious line manager, able to mentor direct reports as well as other team members, developing their research & MEL skills.
• Experience delivering results both through individual contribution and through culturally diverse, geographically spread-out teams.
• A persuasive and tactful communicator, able to express complex or commercial issues in plain language. Fluent and compelling written and oral communications skills, particularly in English. Other regional language skills (e.g. French) are desirable but not essential.
• A self-starter, highly motivated to develop initiatives and drive through to completion, an individual who works independently, only needing guidance in complex situations.
• A passion to work with key stakeholders to digitise humanitarian assistance, and a keen awareness of the opportunities and risks presented.
• Willingness to travel internationally, including to emerging markets.
• Existing authorization to work in the UK.

FTC until March 2027

What We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.

In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.

Being You at the GSMA

We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The success of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.