Social Impact (SI) is a Washington, DC-area international development management consulting firm. SI’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of international development programs in improving people’s lives. We provide a full range of management consulting, technical assistance, and training services to strengthen international development programs, organizations, and policies. We provide services globally in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, project and program design, organizational capacity building, and gender and social analysis. SI services cross-cut all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth.
Social Impact is a trusted provider of independent, rigorous impact evaluations, working closely with clients such as USAID, MCC, and DFID to ensure evaluations inform their critical policy questions. SI’s Impact Evaluation (IE) practice emphasizes methodological rigor, while realizing that each evaluation occurs in a unique operating environment. We customize every impact evaluation to meet client needs and to align with programmatic realities. SI frequently employs mixed-methods approaches, building on the strength of both quantitative and qualitative techniques, rather than relying on a narrow set of design options. Utilizing the range of impact evaluation methodologies, including randomized control trials (RCTs) and a suite of quasi-experimental designs (QEDs), we draw from deep expertise with up to date, effective, and innovative methodologies and data collection techniques. SI IE staff possess in-depth knowledge of emerging and innovative evaluation trends.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Technical Director (TD) has senior level technical service delivery responsibilities on projects and is qualified to serve in a one of the following roles at the project level: project director, team leader, Principal Investigator, and/or Senior Technical Advisor when appropriate. He/she also plays a significant role in proposal development and in creating and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders among SI’s clients and partners. The Technical Director is a thought leader in the company bringing state of the art expertise, methodology (quantitative and qualitative) and experience to bear on SI projects. He/she is a recognized expert in impact evaluations as well as in a particular sector/content area in which SI works such as democracy and governance, economic growth, conflict and crisis, education, etc.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Direct Service Delivery:
- Serving as Principal Investigator/Team Leader in leading SI evaluation teams, providing technical quality assurance, introducing and infusing new technical approaches and methods to SI’s IE department, and representing SI in the wider development community.
- Being engaged throughout the evaluation cycle, with responsibilities including: conceptualizing evaluation designs, leading scoping trips, designing sampling strategies, developing instruments, overseeing data collection, designing and carrying out analysis, and disseminating results through written reports and conference presentations.
- Troubleshoot, coordinate, and enhance the technical quality of the work of SI’s staff in the above listed areas, including provision of support and on-the-job learning for SI staff across SI’s entire portfolio of evaluation projects.
Business Development:
- Serves as the technical lead or as a technical writer on multiple proposals a year.
- Applies advanced technical knowledge and skills to develop winning technical approaches for SI proposals.
- Identifies technical experts and team leaders to be included on proposals. Interviews and assesses technical capacity of the proposed staff.
- Provides guidance on the development of a budget in terms of time needed to carry out particular technical tasks.
- Contributes to the identification of new opportunities for Social Impact, and monitors upcoming initiatives carried out by various international donors.
Thought leadership:
- Is a recognized technical expert in the industry in impact evaluations (applying both qualitative and quantitative methods) and in a sector in which SI works, and applies that expertise to SI projects and proposals.
- Develops knowledge assets and new technical approaches to differentiate Social Impact in the marketplace.
- Participates in relevant external communities of practice and represents Social Impact at technical conferences, meetings, and with clients.
Other:
- Serves as a coach/mentor to junior technical staff (Technical Specialists, Senior Technical Specialists). While the Technical Director is not the supervisor of these staff (who will be typically supervised by a Program Director), the technical coaching provided by the TD is an important aspect of the junior staff members’ professional development. This relationship may be represented as a dotted line relationship on the company’s organizational chart.
- Supports internal initiatives at the departmental and company level as time permits.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Academic training and practical experience in quantitative research/evaluation & statistical analysis
- Ability to travel overseas for short-term assignments
- Fluency working in Stata or similar statistical software package
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one technical sector related to SI’s work
- Demonstrated ability to write clearly under deadline
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, entrepreneurial, management, and writing skills required.
- Able to work effectively under tight deadlines.
Preferred:
- Familiarity with qualitative and participatory evaluation designs/methods
- Proficiency in a foreign language, such as Spanish or French
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- A minimum of a Masters, plus 12 years of relevant professional experience or a Ph.D. with 8 years of professional experience in relevant subject area (economics, statistics, public policy, development, etc.)
- Demonstrated experience leading/conducting impact evaluations or research on donor projects/activities
- Demonstrated experience managing and providing technical guidance for impact evaluations including both experimental and quasi-experimental designs
- Field experience in managing large-scale data collection activities and surveys
- Experience working in developing countries
Preferred:
- Experience working with USAID, MCC, DOS, USDA, DFID and other donors
- Demonstrated experience in developing, updating, and delivering training on impact and performance evaluation
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, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.
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