Portfolio Evidence Lead - VERITAS UKR

Job Description

Background 

SoCha is currently bidding to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to deliver the Verification and Technical Assurance Programme-Ukraine (VERITAS-UKR). This flagship programme will provide demand-led independent third-party monitoring (TPM) and portfolio-level evidence services across FCDO’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) portfolio in Ukraine. The programme will also pilot an innovative Civil Society Organization (CSO)-led monitoring model, designed to strengthen accountability and ensure aid is responsive to the needs of Ukrainians.

As part of our proposed core team, SoCha is recruiting a Portfolio-Evidence Lead to design and deliver high-quality, cross-cutting research and evidence products that inform FCDO’s strategic decision-making. The Portfolio-Evidence Lead will work with FCDO, think tanks, academic institutions, and NGOs to generate comparative evidence, syntheses, and analyses on emerging and priority issues across the ODA portfolio.

This position is contingent on contract award and is expected to commence on or around 30 November 2025.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of research and analysis assignments commissioned under the Portfolio-Evidence workstream;
• Develop and manage a pipeline of evidence products in consultation with FCDO programme teams, ensuring relevance to strategic and operational decision-making;
• Conduct high-quality, multi-disciplinary research that addresses cross-cutting themes, emerging issues, and comparative learning across FCDO’s Ukraine portfolio;
• Produce syntheses of existing evidence from FCDO programmes and other relevant sources, ensuring findings are accessible and actionable;
• Propose and pursue innovative research topics that reflect contextual changes and evolving donor priorities;
• Engage with Ukrainian think tanks, academic institutions, and NGOs to leverage local expertise and ensure research reflects diverse perspectives;
• Coordinate with programme-level evaluators and researchers funded under FCDO projects to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication;
• Ensure all research adheres to ethical standards, safeguarding principles, and data protection regulations;
• Disseminate research findings through briefs, reports, and presentations tailored to FCDO and other stakeholders;
• Contribute to programme-wide learning by linking evidence generation to TPM findings and strategic portfolio-level insights.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Advanced degree in political science, economics, social sciences, public policy, or a related discipline;
• Professional Experience: Experience conducting applied research and analysis in international development, humanitarian, or governance contexts;
• Technical Expertise: Proven capacity to design and implement multi-disciplinary research projects, using both qualitative and quantitative methods; familiarity with complexity-aware methods, such as Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), social network mapping, outcome harvesting, etc. would be an asset;
• Sectoral Knowledge: Deep understanding of the range of sectors in donor-funded portfolios (e.g., humanitarian assistance, governance, recovery, reconstruction, economic reform);
• Local Engagement: Familiarity with the Ukrainian research and civil society landscape, including think tanks, academic institutions, and NGOs;
• Languages: Strong professional proficiency in English (oral and written); Ukrainian language skills preferred;
• Analytical Skills: Demonstrated ability to produce concise, high-quality research outputs for donor and policy audiences;
• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience collaborating with donors, governments, research institutions, and civil society;
• Innovation: Track record of proposing and delivering research on emerging or cross-cutting issues;
• Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple research streams in a dynamic, high-risk operating context.

How to apply

To submit your application, kindly provide your CV using the form provided below. 

To apply before 26 September 2025. 

About the Organization

About SoCha 

SoCha is an international monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) firm that delivers evidence-driven insights to help development and humanitarian actors make adaptive, impactful decisions. We bring experience from diverse regional contexts, including fragile and conflict-affected environments, combining technical rigour, trusted local partnerships, and innovative approaches to address complex challenges. Our expertise spans third-party monitoring, mixed-methods and complexity-aware evaluations, systems strengthening, and capacity-building, ensuring that programmes remain responsive to local realities and deliver meaningful results for vulnerable populations. Guided by principles of inclusion, equity, and learning, SoCha partners with donors, UN agencies, and implementing organizations to improve outcomes and maximize impact.