Centre for Innovation in Parliament: Senior Researcher

Organizational setting and reporting relationships

The consultant will play a lead role in the research activities of the Centre for Innovation in Parliament. The Centre is a partnership between the IPU and parliaments to support parliamentary innovation through improved use of digital tools. It focuses on maximising the potential that parliaments can derive from the use of digital tools in their business processes, communication and citizen engagement. By mobilizing the skills and expertise available in the parliamentary community, it delivers direct and tangible value to parliaments by:

1. creating and sharing good practices on the innovative use of digital tools and services in parliaments;
2. producing practical guides for parliaments;
3. providing expert advice and access to networks of expertise.

The consultant will report to the Programme Manager, Parliamentary Standards and Knowledge Sharing in the IPU’s Division of Programmes. This works comes under the activities related to the first strategic objective in the IPU Strategy 2017-2021, “Build strong, democratic parliaments”, as well as targets 16.6 and 16.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Accountabilities

Within delegated authority, the consultant will be entrusted with the following:

• Provide strategic advice about the development and implementation of the research programme for the Centre for Innovation in Parliament,
• Plan, research and draft key research products on behalf of the Centre
• Contribute to the planning of research products by the Centre’s hubs and provide feedback on drafts
• Contribute to the dissemination of the Centre’s research products, including through social media, and present the research products at suitable events
• Identify opportunities for co-operation with relevant entities and projects and propose relevant steps to implement such opportunities;
• Provide, as requested, assistance in other areas of the Centre’s work.

Deliverables

The following key deliverables have been identified at this stage. Additional deliverables will be identified in the Centre’s annual workplanning process

• Social media guide for parliaments and parliamentarians
• World e-Parliament Report 2020
• Preparatory research for World e-Parliament Report 2022

Requirements

Candidates for the consultancy need to be able to demonstrate:

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field, and 10 years’ professional experience at increasing levels of responsibility
• Successful experience in planning and leading large-scale research projects
• Deep knowledge of current issues about parliaments and technology
• Deep knowledge of parliamentarians’ use of digital technologies and parliamentary innovation processes
• Excellent research and analytical skills, including experience in designing survey instruments and analyzing survey data
• Experience in soliciting and managing input from experts and project partners
• Ability to write clearly and concisely in English for print and online publications
• Ability to read other languages is highly desirable

Duration

The consultancy is for the period January 2020 to December 2021. During that period, the consultant should carry out up to 200 days of work, based on a 7.5 hour day.

Subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds, the consultancy may be extended to cover other research activities developed by the Centre for Innovation in Parliament.

Location

The consultancy will be home-based. The work is likely to involve occasional travel, the costs of which will be covered by the IPU.

Employment conditions

The External Collaborator is an independent contractor, is not considered to be an official or employee of the IPU and is not subject to the IPU Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. The External Collaborator is not entitled to recover from the IPU any income tax payable in respect of the fee provided under this contract and shall be solely liable for the payment of any national income tax due in respect of the emoluments payable under this contract. The External Collaborator will not be included in the IPU pension scheme.

Recruitment principles

Our guiding principle in selecting candidates is to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. We do not discriminate on any grounds and are committed to promoting diversity in our workforce. 

Particular attention is paid to candidates from developing countries and to achieving gender balance. We strive to provide an environment where the contribution of each individual is valued.

All our employees are expected to possess the following qualities:

• Motivation and a strong commitment to our principles
• Ability to work well in a multicultural team
• High level of technical knowledge relevant to the post
• Work experience at national and/or international level
• Fluency in at least one of our official languages (English, French) and a working knowledge of a second language. Additional languages are an asset

We ask all our staff to agree to our  Code of Conduct for personnel and our Fraud and Corruption Prevention and Control Policy.

The work of the IPU is based on the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments that describes a series of fundamental principles for the planning and implementation of programmes aimed to strengthen the capacity of parliaments. The Consultant will be expected to factor the Common principles into his/her tasks.