Research Associate Jobs

Social Impact (SI) is a Washington, DC-area international development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over one hundred countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Social Impact strives to be a great place to work. We are proud of our diversity and actively seek to expand it as a way of improving our employees’ experience, our collective professional breadth and the quality of the work we do. We seek to promote equity and inclusion through our policies and practices and build a culture of belonging for everyone where differences and authenticity are honored and embraced. We work hard to create opportunities for growth and ensure that our staff are fulfilled and engaged. We believe we are better when we collaborate, learn from one another and have fun while working hard.

Position Description :

The Research Associate (RA) will support projects in the Evaluation, Research, and Analytics (ERA) Division. The Associate’s portfolio may be split between manager roles on small to medium-scale projects and assistant roles on projects of all sizes, depending on the skill and interest of the RA and the needs of the division. With oversight by Project Directors and technical team members, the Associate will support project teams in both an administrative/managerial and technical capacity. The Associate reports to a Senior Research Manager in the ERA Division as their supervisor.

This is a full-time position authorized to be fully remote within the United States.

Responsibilities :

Service Delivery (80%):

· Support a portfolio of research/evaluation contracts throughout the project lifecycle, carrying out management and technical tasks as appropriate, with oversight and guidance by Project Directors, Research Managers, and other senior technical project staff. Specific responsibilities may include:

Technical Assistance:

• Conduct data cleaning and support quantitative data analysis and de-identification in Stata as directed by senior project staff.
• Travel to data collection locations will be rare at first and will be graduated to match level of proficiency and skill.
• In collaboration with the project team, support the work of local data collection contractors through enumerator training and field oversight of data collection as appropriate.
• Conduct background research or literature reviews to inform the development of evaluation designs and data collection instruments.
• With oversight from senior project staff and in accordance with SI’s standard quality control processes, conduct regular data quality assurance on quantitative and qualitative datasets using Stata and other software.
• Contribute to qualitative data analysis through qualitative coding.
• Program and test surveys using SurveyCTO and other applicable platforms, ensuring correct survey logic, skip patterns, and constraints are in place to support high quality data collection.

Contract Management:

• Assure high quality deliverables including copyediting reports and ensuring Section 508 compliance.
• Serve as a responsive point of contact for team members on administrative items including procurement, contracting, travel, logistics, and invoicing.
• Support project teams to monitor work plans and track contract deadlines.
• Assist in identifying, recruiting, onboarding, and building project teams .
• Monitor project budgets and work with the Finance Department to ensure compliance and that financial reporting requirements are met
• With oversight from senior project staff, monitor project budgets and work with the Finance Department to ensure that financial reporting requirements are met.
• Serve as a point of contact for team members on administrative items including travel, logistics, and invoicing.

Business Development/Revenue Generation (10-15%):

• Contribute to technical writing, research support, and/or budgeting support, with oversight from the proposal technical lead and business development coordinator(s).
• Support marketing, business and proposal development related to new opportunities and, as time permits, other evaluation-related new bids.

Other Functions (10-15%):

• Participate in SI and ERA division meetings.
• Participate in internal initiatives as opportunities arise, and as availability allows.

Qualifications :

• Experience and ability to conduct replicable and transparent data cleaning and analysis using Stata.
• A commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive work and learning environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in econometrics, international development, development economics, data science, public policy, or related field.
• Willingness to travel on assignment up to 10% of time depending on the needs of the portfolio.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to oversee and manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously.
• Two years of experience in applied quantitative data analysis and report writing, including familiarity with survey research and statistical data analysis methods (training and/or experience in qualitative methodology a plus).

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in econometrics, international development, development economics, data science, public policy, or related field.
• Working proficiency in a foreign language, especially Spanish or French .
• Experience with data science, machine learning or GIS.
• Experience supporting government contracts (with USAID, MCC, State and other development agencies).

Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.