Research Manager, Evaluation of the DoS INL ILEA Program

Research Manager, 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 Research Manager consultant for the upcoming evaluation of the DoS INL ILEA program. The Research Manager will be responsible for supporting the Principal Researcher/Team Leader on the overall performance of the evaluation, particularly with tasks relating to background research, writing, on-site data collection, and analysis. Additionally, the Research Manager will assist with the management of the evaluation, including the recruitment of participants for qualitative interviews, execution of qualitative interviews, analysis of such data, and writing contributions to reports.  

 They will report to the Principal Researcher/Team Leader and oversee the work of the In-Country Coordinators.  

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

Responsibilities: 

• Support the Principal Researcher/Team Leader on major evaluation activities, including background research, evaluation design, development of instruments, data collection, synthesis of data and formulation of conclusions, and preparation of final report with team contributions.   

• Manage and coordinate data collection activities, including independently leading and overseeing a team of in-country researchers during data collection. 

• Contribute to briefings with relevant stakeholders.  

• Support the desk review and identify additional information required for analysis. 

• Work collaboratively with team members throughout design, implementation, analysis, and report writing to complement each other's areas of expertise. 

• Support the Principal Researcher/Team Leader to ensure the quality control of all deliverables being submitted to DoS INL. 

Required Qualifications: 

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in economics, evaluation, political science, sociology, international law, or another field directly relevant to this evaluation.  

• A minimum of eight years’ experience supporting and/or managing large, complex teams, including prior experience supporting and/or leading evaluations of similar size and scope, preferably US Government-funded activities.  

• Demonstrated expertise of qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methods, preferably on US Government-funded activities of similar size and scope.  

• Full professional fluency in written and spoken English. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Professional experience in fields 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.  

• Experience in impact evaluations, and familiarity with randomized control trials or quasi-experimental designs. 

• 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.  

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