Principal Investigator, EMSRIE, Remote at Management Systems International, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia

Job Description:

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project Summary:

The Evidence Mapping, Systematic Review, and Impact Evaluation (EMSRIE) activity supports the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) and buy-in clients across the agency with systematic reviews, evidence gap maps, and impact evaluations (IEs). USAID engaged Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech company, to implement EMSRIE in partnership with a major subcontractor the International Initiative for Impact Evaluations (3ie). The contract's five-year period of performance is from September 14, 2023, to September 13, 2028.

**Please note: U.S. work authorization is required for this position.**

Position Summary:

The Principal Investigator will be the technical lead for an expected evaluation consisting of a Ex-post Quasi-experimental Impact Evaluation and Sustainability Study. The primary focus of the evaluation will be a follow up on households surveyed in a baseline survey conducted in July 18 to August 22, 2018. Feed the Future Ethiopia Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) Learning Activity Impact Evaluation Baseline Report (and subsequent endline in Oromia Livelihoods for Resilience Oromia Impact Evaluation ) used a population-based sampling approach for households in the PSNP. From that baseline survey we have identified a set of households out of the "treatment" households which were actually identified as L4R households, and an additional households that were once L4R households but dropped out by the end of the project. This leaves a significant number of the total baseline sample which might be able to be used as comparison households. EMSRIE must collect follow up surveys for the households identified as treatment and a large enough sample of the remaining baseline sample to be sufficiently powered for measuring some of the key outcomes of interest, particularly food security as measured by the FIES. In addition, the expected evaluation will integrate a qualitative sustainability inquiry, which will follow up with enterprises and groups established and supported by L4R. It is anticipated that this evaluation will run approximately from 10/24-4/24.

Responsibilities:

• Use pre-existing protocols and L4R materials in designing the impact evaluation, including refining the research questions, selecting appropriate methodologies, and developing a detailed evaluation plan.
• Ensure compliance with USAID ethical standards and institutional review board (IRB) requirements is required.
• Ensure that the study minimizes risks to participants, obtains informed consent, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of data.
• Oversee the data collection process and ensure that data is collected systematically and accurately, and that it is managed and stored securely per the protocol documented in the Inception Report.
• Lead the research team, delegating tasks as necessary while maintaining ultimate responsibility for the study's conduct, including reporting to the EMSRIE Chief of Party (COP) as necessary on performance issues, risks and progress.
• Responsible for the technical oversight of all analysis, including using statistical methods to determine whether the level and type of resiliency achieved using USAID Resiliency Measurement Approach.
• Prepare reports and disseminate/present findings to stakeholders at the discretion of EMSRIE.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a relevant field, such as impact research, international development, etc., is required.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in drafting deliverables, reports, leading presentations and participating in or leading larger discussion around the technical details of research and evaluation activities with relevant stakeholders is required.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in conducting impact research, particularly in the methodologies and techniques relevant to impact evaluations is required and should include leading impact evaluations.
• Experience in conducting research, particularly resiliency research, in Ethiopia for USAID or other bilateral or multilateral donor is preferred.
• Experience in leading impact evaluations for USAID is preferred.
• Familiarly of USAID Resiliency Measurement methodologies preferred.
• Fluency in written and verbal English required.

At MSI Tetra Tech, health and safety play a vital role in our success. MSI Tetra Tech's employees work together to comply with all applicable health & safety practices and protocols, including health orders and regulations related to COVID-19 that are mandated by local, state and federal authorities.

MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.

Pay Transparency Statement:

We are committed to taking a thoughtful, compliant, and equitable approach to employment compensation. We commit to providing a holistic comprehensive salary analysis, including reviews of individual skill sets and compensable factors related to qualifications, business needs, internal compensation data, and industry and labor market surveys. The anticipated daily pay rate for this position is $650 USD.

Reasonable Accommodations:

MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech's Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Additional Information

• Organization: 216 MSI