Evidence Advisor, Office of the Chief Economist (Evidence Generation)

About the Project

Through the Private Sector Engagement Modernization Contract (PSEMC), Dexis supports the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's) PSE Hub to expand and deepen collaboration with the private sector to achieve greater development outcomes. The PSE Hub's mission is to create the institutional conditions, operating infrastructure, and capacity necessary to expand engagement with the private sector in the United States and partner countries. The PSE Hub works to transform and modernize how USAID does development by institutionalizing USAID's PSE policy and delivering capacity- and systems-building support for PSE across all sectors, operating units, and countries where USAID operates.

About the Position

Dexis is seeking an Evidence Advisor to support the independent Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), which supports USAID in improving the effectiveness of its programming by bringing stronger economic evidence, theory, and tools to bear on the Agency's work. Toward this end, OCE

1. Promotes the use of high-quality evidence of "cost-effectiveness" (i.e., how much impact does an intervention deliver per dollar spent) in Agency decision-making;
2. Promotes the generation of more cost-effectiveness evidence that the Agency is uniquely placed to catalyze;
3. Provides analysis and advice to Agency leadership on pressing macroeconomic issues.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC, with the possibility for remote work. It is currently envisioned to last two years, with the possibility for extension.

Responsibilities

The Evidence Advisor will support OCE efforts to increase the use of evidence in program decision-making at USAID (such as adopting proven, cost-effective interventions for key development outcomes in USAID programs) and supporting USAID to generate more evidence where there are evidence gaps. This will involve exciting opportunities to collaborate with technical teams and Missions across the Agency on specific programs and bodies of evidence as well as to identify opportunities to strengthen processes, policies, systems, and capacity related to evidence use and generation. Essential functions for this role are outlined below:

Engage USAID Stakeholders and Donors on Cost-Effectiveness (45%)

• Coordinate outreach and communication with USAID and external stakeholders to explain and support the use and generation of cost-effectiveness evidence and enhance understanding of cost-effectiveness and randomized evaluations
• Participate in OCE-led efforts to socialize "cost-effectiveness" across USAID, including through internal webinars, conferences, and other fora
• Build and leverage relationships within and outside of USAID to find "right fit" opportunities to use and generate cost-effectiveness evidence into USAID programming to maximize reach and impact per dollar
• Assess opportunities for generating new cost effectiveness evidence through randomized evaluations embedded in USAID activities

Advise USAID Field Missions and Operating Unit (OU)s on Activity Design, Resource Allocation Decisions, and Monitoring and Evaluation (25%)

• Provide high-quality hands-on technical assistance to USAID Missions and other Operating Units on use and generation of evidence, including through virtual and in-person support (requiring overseas travel)
• Lead or assist in the design and development of USAID activities, supporting OUs to bring cost-effectiveness evidence to bear throughout the design process
• Identify opportunities in the activity design process to generate cost-effectiveness evidence, including by integrating randomized evaluations into the design and implementation of activities
• Provide expertise for budgeting of foreign assistance resources, including advising on relatively more and less cost-effective programmatic approaches for achieving development outcomes with limited resources
• Support OUs in the use of cost-effectiveness evidence in adaptive management, and recognize opportunities where OUs can contribute to strengthening the current cost-effectiveness evidence base on interventions
• Advise USAID OUs on bringing a cost-effectiveness lens to monitoring and evaluation of activities, including integrating the generation of cost-effectiveness evidence into the design and implementation of USAID activities

Manage and Coordinate OCE-supported randomized evaluations (25%)

• Make recommendations to Missions and other Operating Units on how they can assess program effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and significantly change their programs through greater use of evidence and generation of evidence
• For OCE-managed randomized evaluations, manage relationships between teams of academic researchers and USAID Field Mission or other OU counterparts, including translating organizational structures, requirements and other needs to both parties
• Work with academic research teams and OU staff to resolve challenges to research design and activity implementation that may arise throughout the duration of an activity
• Assess challenges and successes with using and generating cost-effectiveness evidence through USAID activities to improve OCE internal processes and targeting
• Ensure OCE-supported impact evaluations comply with USAID evaluation requirements

Perform Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least five (5) years of experience in a relevant technical area, such as economics, international affairs, finance, statistics, and public policy, OR Master's degree in a relevant field and three (3) years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of impact evaluation methods (including randomized evaluations) and impact evaluation evidence in development economics, public policy, or a related field
• Experience advising on the feasibility, design, and implementation of randomized evaluations
• Experience synthesizing evidence of impact and cost-effectiveness for practitioner and policymaker audiences
• Excellent communication (written and oral), interpersonal, and collaboration skills
• Ability to communicate technical concepts relating to impact evaluation methods and evidence to both technical and non-technical audiences who are not familiar with randomized evaluations
• Proven experience building personal networks, resulting in securing new opportunities
• Highly developed cultural awareness and the ability to work collaboratively in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Problem solving orientation and ability to manage dynamic workflows and priorities with multiple stakeholders
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Ability to attain and maintain a facilities access or secret-level security clearance
• Ability to travel internationally up to 20% of the time on short notice

Preferred

• Active facilities access or secret-level security clearance
• Experience living/working in developing countries
• Experience working in or with a large development or humanitarian organization
• Prior collaboration with academic researchers, particularly on randomized evaluations

Below is the pay range aligned with this position. When developing a range, Dexis evaluates compensation holistically, triangulating between external market research, our budget for the position, and internal equity to arrive at a figure that is fair and competitive. Offers within this range will be based on an individual candidate's qualification, relevant education and experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.

Dexis pay range for this role:

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today's most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is "find a way or make a way" - that's how Dexis goes "all in." How will you?

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.

As part of a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, Dexis provides healthcare insurance in addition to other staff welfare benefits and perks.

If you are hired for a position that is paid from the Dexis home office, you will be required to submit proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine unless you qualify for a legally recognized medical or religious exception to the vaccine requirement. This does not apply to AL, AZ, FL, KS, MT, NH, ND, or TX residents.