International Research Analyst position at Mathematica
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ANALYST
Position overview
Mathematica seeks research analysts committed to contributing to the evidence base of what works to improve a range of outcomes in developing country contexts. We welcome analysts with experience conducting research and/or implementing impact evaluations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and/or Latin America who want to be part of our rapidly growing team of international evaluators and who are passionate about helping to identify programs that result in better development outcomes. Analysts will join our research team and work as part of Mathematica’s Center for International Policy Research and Evaluation (CIPRE) and to contribute to CIPRE’s rapidly growing portfolio of impact evaluations of interventions in education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure in various countries across the globe.
Candidates should have strong quantitative and/or qualitative analysis skills and be able to help design and implement rigorous evaluations of international programs, conduct analyses, write reports, and present findings to policy and research audiences. We provide extensive support for staff engagement in professional activities, including journal publications and conference participation. Candidates should have some field experience working in developing countries, and have worked closely with stakeholders, including implementers, local researchers, and local data collection firms.
Candidates should enjoy working in a collaborative environment that emphasizes quality, rigor, critical thinking, teamwork, and professional development. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. The position may be filled in any of our offices located in Cambridge, Chicago, Princeton, Oakland, or Washington, DC.
Responsibilities
• Assist with developing and implementing rigorous evaluations of development programs across sectors and in a variety of environments
• Conduct literature reviews and desk research
• Develop data collection instruments
• Support the efforts of local partners to recruit sites for large-scale evaluations
• Travel to the field to train local partners for data collection and oversee data collection quality
• Support researchers and programmers to conduct quantitative and/or qualitative analyses
• Write chapters of analytic reports or papers, and proposals for new projects
• Track financial progress of projects, prepare reports for monthly project reviews, assist with budget revisions and contract proposals
• Contribute to the growth and development of Mathematica’s Center for International Policy Research and Evaluation
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in public policy, public health, economics, statistics, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Strong knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Experience in impact evaluation design and implementation, preferably experience with quantitative and qualitative methods, data collection, and ability to strike balance between rigor and feasibility of implementation
• Working knowledge of current international policy issues in one or more of the following areas: education, public health, agriculture, infrastructure, labor/employment, nutrition, poverty reduction, or other relevant areas
• Two or more years of experience conducting international research or implementing international programs, with a focus in Asia, Africa, Latin America, or Eastern Europe.
• Strongly prefer candidates with professional experience working closely in the field with local colleagues, implementers, or data collection firms in developing countries, including collaborating and communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and cultures
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to convey complex technical issues to a broad and diverse audience.
• Highly motivated and self-directed, with strong interpersonal skills
• Fluency in Spanish, French, or Hindi highly preferred but not required
To apply for the position
• Visit our website and review our posting for International Research Analyst. Applications must be submitted online.
• Questions may be addressed to HumanResources@mathematica-mpr.com.
As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer we strongly encourage applications by researchers of all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups.
Company overview
Mathematica is an internationally recognized nonpartisan research organization that conducts social policy studies in the areas of health, education, nutrition, child development, and related topics in the United States and in developing countries. Our mission is to improve public well-being by bringing the highest standards of quality, objectivity, and excellence to bear on the work we do for government agencies, private foundations, and other private sector organizations. Mathematica has a rapidly growing portfolio of impact evaluations across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, democracy and governance, and a variety of other fields. In addition to hundreds of impact evaluations conducted domestically, Mathematica has conducted randomized and quasi-experimental studies in over 20 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and former Soviet Republics in the past five years alone. In February 2013, we established the Center for International Policy Research and Evaluation (CIPRE) to house and expand this rapidly growing body of work.
Selected examples of the kinds of evaluations we’re conducting include:
Early grade reading, in Latin America and the Caribbean: examining the impact of teacher training, curriculum development and other education reform efforts on early grade reading and access to education in countries receiving USAID basic education funds, using a mix of experimental and quasi-experimental designs. (Client: USAID)
International scholarship and support services: examining the effectiveness of scholarships and support services to youth, with a focus in Africa, to expand access to education and to build a new cohort of leaders prepared to support equitable socioeconomic growth. (Client: MasterCard Foundation)
Girl-friendly schools program, Burkina Faso: conducted an impact evaluation of school construction in rural villages with low female enrollment rates, using a randomized design. (Client: Millennium Challenge Corporation [MCC])
Farmer training program, Armenia: examined the impact of farmer training and improvements in irrigation infrastructure using a clustered random assignment and matched comparison group designs respectively. (Client: MCC)
Family health initiative, Bihar, India: leading the evaluation work to assess the effects of a variety of interventions aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality and improving child health, using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. (Client: Gates Foundation)
Dropout prevention, India, Tajikistan, Cambodia, and Timor Leste: examining the impact of school dropout prevention programs across four countries, using a randomized design. (Client: USAID)
Mathematica provides staff with a stimulating, team-oriented work environment, with our strong commitment to quality, analytic rigor and focus on meeting our clients’ needs. As a research analyst, you would join our staff of research professionals focused on international policies and programs, receive training and mentorship from senior researchers in the fields of public policy, social sciences, and economics, and collaborate closely with other researchers, analysts, research assistants, and programmers. We offer our employees competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits package, as well as the advantages of employee ownership
