Researcher position at PSI
PSI Research & Metrics (R&M) seeks a Researcher to implement new initiatives, improve quantitative and qualitative research, coordinate research input into proposal writing, and supervise a limited number of staff. Preference will be given to candidates with an excellent understanding of program design and evaluation. Successful candidates will be effective at implementing collaborative research programs, skilled at explaining research to technical as well as non-technical audiences, and motivated by working in a dynamic and multi-disciplinary setting. The position is based in Washington, D.C., will require some travel, and reports to the Director for Research & Metrics.
PSI Research & Metrics increases the ability of the organization to generate and use research that is relevant for programs and strategic for social marketing. For more information, please visit: psi.org/resources/research.
Responsibilities:
Duties include, but are not limited to:
- Launch new marketing research strategies in collaboration with other researchers and departments, including audience segmentation, measuring a total market approach (TMA), testing behavioral models, and improving data quality and utility
- Launch new evaluation research strategies, including developing and testing conceptual frameworks, designing experimental and quasi-experimental studies and assessing the impact of PSI’s interventions
- Coordinate with New Business Development (NBD) and other proposal writers to ensure that monitoring and evaluation plans and the research methods written into proposals are strategic and responsive to the organization’s needs
- Work with Research Ethics Board (REB) coordinator to continually improve the study submission and review process for the protection of human subjects
- Provide technical support to global R&M team on quantitative and qualitative research, including study design, data analysis and report writing, and the customization of existing tools
- Supervise a limited number of R&M staff and consultants; manage key research partnerships; mentor colleagues within the organization in research
- Contribute to the evidence base in social marketing by authoring articles and publishing in peer-reviewed journals; presenting at conferences and meetings; and documenting lessons learned for internal and external stakeholders
- Deliver trainings in PSI’s research strategies and competencies
- Participate in internal and external working groups to improve PSI’s work in new and emerging areas of interest
- Provide technical assistance to PSI stakeholders as requested
Experience:
- PhD with at least 3 years of relevant experience in public health, statistics, health economics, population studies, or a related field strongly preferred; Masters degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience in public health, statistics, health economics, and/or population studies will be considered
- Experience designing and implementing quantitative and qualitative studies; strong program evaluation skills
- Experience conducting research in low- and middle-income countries
- Strong proposal/grant writing experience
- Solid understanding of human subjects protection in research
- Extensive knowledge of quantitative analysis programs (e.g., SPSS, STATA, R); familiarity with qualitative analysis programs (Atlas TI; Ethnograph; NVivo)
- Ability to develop research training tools and materials for a variety of contexts, learning curves and needs
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage own projects
- Highly organized, comfortable working on multiple simultaneous projects; great at meeting deadlines
- Demonstrated ability to communicate with researchers and non-researchers along a variety of learning curves and needs
- Interest in managing other researchers
- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time internationally
- Excellent written, verbal and inter-personal communication skills
Preference will be given to candidates with knowledge of public health issues and social marketing for health, ability to speak French, Spanish, or Portuguese, and/or familiarity with the international donor development community.
For the full job posting and to apply, please visit the PSI website.
