Who can apply?

Anyone with dedication to - and experience in regard to - the human rights of persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics who meets the requirements set out below.

Overview

The Research Manager is an integral part of ILGA World, leading the organisation’s research function to inform, strengthen, and support advocacy, policy engagement, and capacity building for LGBTI organisations globally.

The role is responsible for implementing ILGA World’s research strategy as a core contribution to the organisation’s broader strategic goals and priorities, including those set out in the 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. The Research Manager ensures that ILGA World’s research work is timely, rigorous, accessible, and responsive to the evolving needs of advocacy, movements, and decision-makers.

The Research Manager leads the collation, production, and dissemination of high-impact, data-driven research through key resources such as the ILGA World Database and the ILGA World Monitor, ensuring that data and analysis effectively inform advocacy strategies, policy discussions, and public narratives.

The role oversees flagship research initiatives, including Laws on Us and Our Identities Under Arrest, while contributing to the strategic development of ILGA World’s research portfolio and strengthening collaboration with internal programmes, ILGA regions, member organisations, and external partners. Working closely with the Director of Programmes and colleagues across ILGA World, the Research Manager helps strengthen coherence between research, advocacy, and movement-building work, ensuring that research meaningfully informs and reinforces ILGA World’s efforts across intersecting human rights issues.

The Research Manager will manage one staff member and a team of consultants.

Follow this link to read background information about ILGA World's research programme.

Responsibilities

The Research Manager supports and reports to the Director of Programmes, in the implementation of the Research Programme and is part of the organisation´s managers team. Specific to this position, this includes:

• Support the implementation of ILGA World’s research strategy by leading the design, coordination, and delivery of high-quality research and advocacy projects, applying rigorous methodologies and upholding ILGA’s ethical standards, data protection policies, and values

• Develop and oversee annual research operational plans and project plans, including budget management, timelines, and monitoring across multiple research streams, ensuring alignment with ILGA World’s strategic priorities, organisational goals, and timely delivery of impactful outputs

• Oversee and ensure coherence across all areas of the Research Programme, including multilateral, thematic, and national research support, integrating feminist, decolonial, intersectional, and anti-oppressive approaches throughout all research activities

• Lead the production of high-impact, accessible research by analysing complex datasets and leveraging flagship resources such as Laws on Us, Our Identities Under Arrest, the ILGA World Database, and the ILGA World Monitor to inform and strengthen advocacy initiatives grounded in lived realities of diverse SOGIESC communities

• Build and strengthen ILGA World’s research capacity by establishing effective systems, tools, repositories, and best practices, including maintaining and expanding access to research resources for ILGA members and partners

• Collaborate closely with ILGA colleagues across programmes to coordinate activities, contribute to shared organisational objectives, and develop evidence-based materials, briefings, and advocacy tools for policymakers, stakeholders, and allies

• Oversee the translation, formatting, and dissemination of research outputs to ensure accessibility, consistency, and adherence to ILGA World standards across diverse audiences and contexts

• Establish and strengthen strategic partnerships with academic institutions, NGOs, research organisations, consultants, and external researchers to co-design and co-produce research aligned with ILGA World’s priorities, including effective use of the ILGA World Database

• Design and deliver capacity-building initiatives, including workshops and training sessions at ILGA regional and world conferences, to enhance research skills and promote evidence-based advocacy within member organisations and communities

• Contribute to resource mobilisation by conceptualising advocacy-related research funding proposals and preparing high-quality narrative reports for donors and internal operational needs, documenting ILGA World’s research impact and contributions

• Work closely with the communications team to translate complex research findings into clear, compelling narratives for public dissemination, and serve as a spokesperson for ILGA World’s Research Programme by providing expert commentary and analysis to media and other stakeholders

• Lead and manage the Research Team by setting strategic direction, supervising work plans, supporting professional development, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture that delivers consistent, high-quality results

• Represent ILGA World at conferences, coalitions, and key global and regional events, presenting research findings, strengthening alliances, and advancing ILGA World’s leadership within the global LGBTI and human rights sectors

General

• Actively contribute to promoting and achieving the organisation’s objectives

• Engage and collaborate with the management team to strengthen a shared organisational culture and management ethos that reflects ILGA World’s values, balancing organisational priorities with individual and movement needs

• Ensure that all activities are carried out with full regard to ILGA World policies

• Work as a part of the ILGA World staff team

• Perform other duties as required.

Relationships with colleagues

ILGA values creative and inclusive approaches to work and management that have been achieved through cross-service area working and the participation of staff at all levels in the organisation. Staff have line management arrangements and specific key relationships, which are detailed in their job descriptions, but they will also need to work collaboratively with their colleagues in order to achieve their agreed targets and outcomes to the required standards.

Performance of duties and remuneration and benefits

• ILGA World is working under a flexible workplace regime – this position can be implemented remotely and we do not support the relocation to Geneva, Switzerland

• The successful candidate is required to have the legal authorisation to work in the country they are based in and wish to work from

• The position is advertised at 100% of a full-time position

• ILGA World remunerates under a three-tiered salary matrix structure. The annual salary being offered for the post ranges between 65,800 CHF and 94.000 CHF for the 100% position, depending on location

• In addition, ILGA World offers 32 days between public holidays in the country of work and annual leave and contributions to health care costs

• ILGA World operates under a flexible working system that - among others - includes flexible working hours

• The weekly working time is 40.5 hours on a 100% position.

Requirements

Education & qualifications

• A master’s university degree — or equivalent — in international human rights law or a related field, combined with 10 years of relevant work experience, or

• A first-level university degree in combination with 12 years of relevant and qualifying experience, or

• 15 years of relevant and qualifying experience in lieu of a master’s or first-level degree

Experience

• A minimum 10-year relevant and appropriate experience in research management, preferably within an international multilateral and/or non-governmental organisation, or academic setting

• At least 5 years or more of managing global teams, with a demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and support the work environment in a virtual/online space

• Proven track record in leading research teams and projects, including experience with both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies

• Experience in synthesising and presenting research findings in accessible formats for diverse audiences, such as policymakers, advocacy groups, and community stakeholders

• Demonstrated experience working in multicultural and international programmes

• Managing large budgets and grants partnerships

• Working with a wide range of stakeholders, including academic institutions and think-tanks

• Drafting successful funding proposals for research projects

• Developing and coordinating research network.

Technical requirements

• Advanced skills in legal research, including knowledge of legislative and policy analysis across different jurisdictions

• Demonstrated knowledge of multilateral institutions, including the United Nations human rights mechanisms

• Knowledge in quantitative research, including familiarity with data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS) to support policy research with relevant quantitative data insights

• Proficiency in managing and coordinating research tools. database and platforms

• Working and building partnerships with member organisations, stakeholders, governments, multilateral institutions, and allied civil society movements

• Demonstrate rooted connections with researchers, academic institutions and think tanks

• Knowledge of the research funding landscape and well-networked with funders.

Other requirements

• Strong communication skills, able to communicate clearly and effectively

• Tailoring language, tone, style, and format to the audience

• Ability to work in proficient English (mandatory) and ideally Spanish. Other UN languages - more specifically, French, Arabic, Russian or Mandarin — are also welcome

• Adherence to, and alignment with, the ILGA World Code of Conduct.

ILGA World strongly encourages applications from individuals from, and living in, the Global South, and particularly from candidates who identify as women or non-binary, and/or are lesbian, bisexual, intersex, or trans.

How to apply

The application for this position needs to be submitted online here: https://recruitment.ilga.org/node/76

We recommend you download the application form in Word format from here, prepare your application and copy/paste it into the application form.

Should there be well-founded reasons why this was not possible, you may submit the application form as well by e-mail to recruitment@ilga.org. Rename this file SURNAME_Name_research_manager.docx (for instance: SMITH_John_research_manager.docx) before you submit it. Should you have questions in regard to this call, please reach out to recruitment@ilga.org.