Research Specialist, Workforce Development and Citizen Security

Introduction

Making Cents International seeks a Research Specialist to support workforce development (WFD) and citizen security-focused research taking place under the USAID Latin America and Caribbean Learning and Rapid Response (LACLEARN) Activity. This research seeks to improve understanding of and generate evidence on the utility of WFD in preventing youth crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Research Specialist will support the development of research questions, recommendations, and approaches on WFD and citizen security to inform the piloting of interventions and research around existing or new WFD interventions specifically designed to prevent crime and violence to understand their effectiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Researcher Specialist will collaborate closely with a Team Lead and Research Assistant on this work.

Role and Tasks

The Research Specialist will support the technical implementation of the activity and the completion of all associated tasks and deliverables. The Research Specialist’s tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Identify priority knowledge gaps related to the design and monitoring of WFD programs that contribute to crime and violence prevention (CVP) outcomes.
• Identify best practices and remaining challenges for collaboration in the design, monitoring, and implementation of past or upcoming WFD and crime and violence prevention activities.
• Help draft and finalize a literature review to identify different theories of change explaining how WFD can affect CVP outcomes and analyze promising methods for measurement of WFD impact on CVP outcomes based on those theories of change.
• Support the organization and management of research logistics using a do-no-harm approach, including submitting study materials for review by external Institutional Review Boards.
• Contribute to the development and finalization of the workplan and research schedule.
• Help conduct, collect, and analyze research data.
• Contribute to efforts to share research findings.
• Contribute to the draft and finalize content for a literature review and public brief.
• Meet regularly with Team Lead and Research Assistant and participate in team meetings.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Level of Effort

Maximum Level of Effort will be 55 days to begin in May 2023 and end August 2023. It is anticipated that there may be a Phase 2 in this scope of work that would include additional LOE that would continue to 2024  including designing and overseeing country-based pilot research activities but these additional tasks and level of effort will be negotiated toward the end of the completion of these tasks.   

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in social science or a related field
• At least 5 years of relevant research and research management experience
• Fluency in English and Spanish
• Experience leading and coordinating research activities, including with USAID and implementing partners
• Demonstrated professional experience in CVP, WFD, or monitoring, evaluation, and learning
• Excellent communication and organization skills

Making Cents International is a certified B Corporation, founded on the principles of social entrepreneurship. Since 1999, we have supported the well-being of youth and adults globally through high-impact programs that bolster those who serve people living in vulnerable contexts in low- and middle-income countries. As a purpose-driven small business, we have implemented more than 130 projects in over 60 countries and are a trusted partner to public- and private-sector clients who benefit from our expertise and broad industry exposure.

Making Cents International is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.