(Senior) Research Specialist

**(SENIOR) RESEARCH SPECIALIST**
USAID Learns Contract
Hanoi, Vietnam

**About Social Impact**:
Social Impact (SI) 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.

**Project Objective**:
SI is implementing the USAID/Vietnam Learns Contract. The scope of the five-year project is to support USAID/Vietnam staff and partners to implement more efficient, effective, and transparent programs by improving: (1) USAID and Implementing Partner (IP) capacity to achieve expected results; (2) USAID’s understanding and tracking of project performance; and (3) collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA).

**Position Description**:
SI is seeking a full-time (Senior) Research Specialist (final title to be based on seniority level in line with SI’s professional development framework) to support the planning and implementation of studies, assessments, and performance evaluations conducted for USAID/Vietnam. This is an opportunity to influence how evidence is used by USAID, its partners, and local stakeholders to improve development programming in Vietnam. While SI’s work typically involves both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this position will have primary responsibility for quantitative approaches and analyses. This position is full-time, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, and reports to the Research Director.

**Responsibilities**:
**_ Conduct and manage studies, assessments, evaluations that employ quantitative methods_**
- Conduct, manage, coordinate, and facilitate studies, assessments, and evaluations across USAID/Vietnam portfolios including:

- Provide quality control on research assignments that involve quantitative methods, including:

- Support development of evaluation/research/survey designs, including developing sampling approaches
- Review and support design of questionnaires/survey instruments
- Set up systems for electronic data collection (preferably using survey CTO or ODK)
- Train and supervise data collection firm/team
- Conduct or supervise data cleaning and analysis, including statistical analysis (preferably using Stata)
- Contribute or supervise report writing
- Recruit consultant teams to conduct the research assignments.
- Manage research workplans and timelines, and the consultant teams to ensure timely and quality deliverables.
- Work with SI Home Office to manage quality control process to ensure that research deliverables meet USAID’s and SI’s standards and expectations.
- Lead communications with and engage USAID, government partners, implementers, and stakeholders for collaborative inputs in the design, implementation, and utilizing research findings and recommendations.
- Develop research briefs and products based on full reports.
- Cultivate long-term relationships with government counterparts, researchers, and stakeholders to foster willingness to engage in research activities over time.
- Ensure high quality of consultant work and mentor to improve quality as needed.
- Identify risks and risk mitigation strategies, and address challenges and obstacles in conducting research assignments.
- Directly participate in or conduct research activities where and when appropriate.
- Other responsibilities as defined by the Research Director.
- Support USAID and Stakeholder Learning and Use

**_Support USAID and Stakeholder Learning and Use_**
- Promote learning and research utilization by planning and organizing after-action reviews and utilization-focused learning events for research assignments, and improving knowledge management.
- Build USAID capacity to link research evidence to decision making, design, and adaptive management.
- Make research results user friendly and easily accessible through the development of learning briefs, knowledge management systems, events, etc.
- Present quantitative analysis and results in intuitive ways that facilitate learning and use
- Track evidence use by USAID and other stakeholders and report on Learns’ performance indicators related to evidence use and collaboration.
- Encourage ongoing learning and reflection in the implementation of research assignments.
- Other responsibilities as defined by the Research Director.

**Qualifications**
- A Master’s degree in international development, statistics, economics, social research, public health, or related fields.
- At least 7 years of experience in conducting and managing research assignments that employed quantitative methods.
- Demonstrated experience in helping clients or stakeholders use research to inform decision-making
- Experience with data management processes: sampl