Principal Researcher/Team Leader, Evaluation of the DoS INL ILEA Program

Principal Researcher/Team Leader, Evaluation of the DoS INL ILEA Program, Various Countries 

Social Impact is a global 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 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits. 

Proposal Objective: 

SI is bidding on a proposal to provide mixed-methods evaluation services to the US Department of State (DoS) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)’s network of International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA). This evaluation will include three separate, though complementary, evaluation components:  

• A mixed-methods performance evaluation that examines the ILEA program over the past 10 years;  

• An impact evaluation that quantifies the ILEA program’s effect on various outcomes; and  

• A targeted assessment that examines past participation in the ILEA program and its impact on said participants’ careers.  

The submission deadline is October 31, 2024, and we anticipate work to begin shortly after award.  

Position Description: 

SI is seeking a Principal Researcher/Team Leader consultant for the upcoming evaluation of the DoS INL ILEA program. The Principal Researcher/Team Leader will lead the design and provide oversight of all evaluation methods and tools, in addition they will oversee technical and managerial leadership of the evaluation, and supervision of the evaluation team members. 

Position is contingent upon the award of the contract to Social Impact. Anticipated award is Q4 of 2024.  

Responsibilities: 

• Liaise on a regular basis with DoS INL HQ and other organizations involved in the evaluation. 

• Lead and manage the evaluation team. 

• Ensure deliverables are submitted on time, and any delays are clearly communicated to the COR/PM as soon as they are known. 

• Provide technical oversight of instrument and evaluation tool development, including methodology design.  

• Lead the interpretation of the impact evaluation findings.  

• Ensure quality control of all deliverables being submitted to DoS INL. 

Required Qualifications: 

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in criminology, sociology, international law enforcement, rule of law, or another field directly relevant to this evaluation.  

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in at least one field directly related to the evaluation, including (but not limited to) international law enforcement, rule of law, criminality, narcotics trafficking, PRC/Russian malign influence, and money laundering.  

• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex teams, including prior experience leading evaluations of similar size and scope, preferably US Government-funded activities.  

• Experience designing and implementing evaluations in the international law enforcement sector, particularly with a strong understanding of international crime, criminality, rule of law, narcotics trafficking, PRC/Russian malign influence, and money laundering.  

• Demonstrated ability to translate technical findings into clear, concise results and findings, both orally and in writing. 

• Demonstrated ability to integrate findings from both quantitative and qualitative methods to inform overall evaluation findings and analysis. 

• Strong statistical skills, including experience with detailed, high-level quantitative data analysis and survey sampling. 

• Experience with qualitative data analysis and sampling. 

• Experience with the design and implementation of multi-topic qualitative surveys and longitudinal studies in a developing country context, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions. 

• Full professional fluency in written and spoken English. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working in Botswana, El Salvador, Ghana, Hungary, and/or Thailand, particularly in the following sectors: international law enforcement, rule of law, criminality, PRC/Russia malign influence, narcotics trafficking, and/or money laundering.  

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.