Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities

Under a secondment to the Gaza WASH Cluster, the Senior Assessment Officer (SAO) will support the WASH Cluster to implement their assessment strategy with a focus on producing timely and actionable analysis to inform the WASH response. The SAO must demonstrate strong analytical skills, including the ability to critically assess complex datasets, identify key trends, draw meaningful conclusions, and translate findings into clear and compelling insights for humanitarian actors. Strong writing, visualization, and presentation skills are essential, as is the ability to communicate effectively with the Cluster and colleagues inside Gaza, guiding team members in strengthening analytical approaches across research cycles.

The ideal candidate will combine strong technical assessment experience with a solid understanding of WASH issues in crisis contexts, paired with creativity, independence, and critical thinking. They must also be highly adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced, unpredictable humanitarian environment, where flexibility and responsiveness are key to ensuring relevant and impactful research.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Assessment Officer s responsibilities include:

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS LEADERSHIP

• Leading analytical workstreams under the Gaza WASH Assessment Strategy, including a large-scale representative household assessment and light-touch monitoring exercises.
• Managing full research cycles, including research design, tool development, data collection, in-depth analysis, and production of outputs (briefs, factsheets, reports).
• Training over 100 enumerators from WASH partner organizations in data collection.
• Translating complex data into clear, meaningful, and actionable insights for diverse humanitarian audiences.
• Ensuring research integrates both primary and secondary data and is methodologically sound, contextually relevant, and responsive to WASH partner needs.

CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING

• Closely monitoring developments in Gaza to ensure research is adapted to the fast-evolving operational environment.
• Maintaining a strong understanding of local WASH needs, access dynamics, and operational challenges to contextualize findings.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Supporting team members in strengthening analytical thinking and writing skills, including through mentoring, feedback, and training.
• Directly supervising assessment staff working on the WASH portfolio.
• Functionally managing a WASH Field Assessment Officer based in Gaza who will provide on-the-ground support to the WASH workstreams.
• Fostering a collaborative, analytical culture within the team.

STRATEGIC COORDINATION

• Working closely with WASH Cluster coordinators and Information Management staff to ensure continued alignment with WASH cluster priorities.
• Supporting the Research Manager in strategic planning, proposal development, and the integration of analysis across the mission s research portfolio.
• Representing IMPACT/REACH in WASH-related external coordination platforms and technical working groups.
• Leading on the presentation and dissemination of analytical findings to key stakeholders, ensuring engagement with evidence to inform decision-making.

The Senior Assessment Officer will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. They will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

Desired Candidate Profile

3 years of relevant working experience in a humanitarian setting, such as assessments, monitoring and evaluation, research design and analysis, etc.;

Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, with experience interpreting complex data and producing clear insights. Proficient in statistical tools and thematic analysis, with the ability to identify trends, contextualize findings, and communicate them effectively to diverse humanitarian audiences;

Proven experience working on public health-related research, including topics such as food security, nutrition, WASH, health access, and communicable disease risks in humanitarian settings. Familiarity with public health indicators and needs assessments. Ability to interpret data through a public health lens;

Sound judgment and emotional intelligence in high-pressure or sensitive situations. Possesses strong interpersonal awareness and the ability to respond constructively to feedback and shifting priorities;

Good understanding of the aid system and the research community. Prior experience with humanitarian coordination forums preferred;

Excellent verbal and written communication and drafting skills for effective reporting required;

Excellent academic qualifications, including a master s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. international studies, development, humanitarian response, data science, political science, etc.);

Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset

Past experience in the region is desirable;

Fluency in English required, competency in Arabic is an asset.