Senior Manager, Economist – Impact Evaluation
1. Summary
Causal Design is an economic consulting firm conducting rigorous program evaluations and analysis for international development organizations. Our evaluations are designed to provide timely and practical information to decision makers working to end poverty and inequality.
We are looking for an experienced social/economic researcher to join our team. While we work collaboratively on all our projects, the Impact Evaluation focused Economist will be expected to work independently as they are often on site with our NGO partners (including in the field). This is primarily a technical role with some client-facing responsibilities. Economist, Senior Managers (Grade-11) are expected to spend 70% of their time directly supporting projects; the remaining time will be spent training/mentoring staff and supporting proposals for new projects.
The Senior Manager, Economist will independently supervise, conduct, and deliver significant evaluation and research products for clients. This position leads small teams of multiple researchers to conduct applied research and evaluation that results in a timely, cost-effective, top-tier research deliverable for diverse clients. The Senior Manager, Economist is already fluent in methods, their tradeoffs, and research designs.
The applicant should be experienced and/or conversant in all of the following evaluation tools: econometric methods for Impact Evaluation, Cost Benefit Analysis, Cost Effectiveness Analysis, Growth Diagnostics, Program Evaluation, and M&E systems more generally. From a technical perspective, this role performs each step of the research process in relation to their assigned area of investigation. The position is expected to participate in all aspects of our business, but the primary role is to manage a portfolio of impact evaluations.
The position is based in the Denver Metro area in Wheat Ridge, Colorado with the possibility of being authorized to work from Washington, D.C. This position has the potential for extensive international travel.
2. Responsibilities
This position will be expected to leverage in-depth and comprehensive technical and managerial expertise to independently complete and oversee all aspects of Impact Evaluation (IE) design and implementation across a range of complexity and client/country context across a large share of Causal Design’s portfolio of IE activity. Additionally, the position will support the development of processes as they relate to management, standardization, quality control and quality assurance.
- Impact Evaluation Design and Management
- Independently develop, lead, and implement impact evaluation process from design through to dissemination
- Lead and manage all aspects of data collection and data quality exercises
- Craft quantitative survey tools, sampling plans, and field manuals
- Ensure implementation of quality assurance protocols and quality control activities
- Lead or oversee enumerator training and management activity
- Carry out econometric analysis approaches including:
- Development of econometric analysis plans, including description and justification for the methods used to explore data
- Impact Evaluation Team Support and Oversight
- Manage and ensure adherence to IE unit standards, processes, and best practices
- Lead and conduct performance reviews of assigned direct reports
- Train, mentor, and manage more junior Economists on all aspects of impact evaluation delivery
- Additional IE unit and General Administrative Functions
- Assist with project proposals, grant applications, or concept notes for future projects
- Lead development, implementation, and standardization of IE unit processes
- Quality control and quality assurance measures
- Technical capacity assessment and development of all technical staff
- Coordinate regularly with management level staff to implement firm-wide initiatives and protocol
In addition to technical expertise, the candidates will be expected to demonstrate a high level of professionalism and organization to support the ongoing technical portfolio of the Causal Design global office.
3. Qualifications
- Masters Degree with 4+ years, or a PhD with 1+ years experience in Impact Evaluation
- Degree in Public Policy, Development Economics, or Statistics
- Supervision – Two years of experience supervising technical staff or teams is strongly preferred
- USAID experience is required. Understanding of the rest of the donor landscape in international development is preferred.
- Quantitative – A strong applicant will have most, but is not required to have all, of the following:
- Extensive experience conducting impact evaluations;
- Experience conducting program performance evaluations;
- Extensive experience leading data collection (survey design, coding, and enumerator management);
- Authored applied research or policy papers where analysis is tied to practical recommendations;
- Experience working in the field with an NGO/implementor.
- Qualitative – You should have enough technical experience to be confident in managing qualitative focused evaluations from start to finish. This means translating a client’s ToR into a meaningful research plan, leading the evaluation, supporting data collection (e.g. leading focus group discussions or key informant interviews), writing in compelling, succinct, and honest language, and delivering a polished report with recommendations tied to analysis and result.
4. Our Team
We are a small firm with an ambitious vision. Our team is passionate about innovating practical evaluation strategies and providing phenomenal support to our clients working to end poverty. You should be excited about being client facing. Our goal is to support implementers – not just do research. We strongly prefer researchers who have a background or experience in implementing projects, so the more you understand and empathize with the challenges of their work the better.
5. Employment
This is a full-time, exempt, employee role with Causal Design. Salary range is between $79,559 to $103,422 and is commensurate with experience. In order to reduce bias in compensation and promote wage transparency, all salaries at Causal Design are determined by our competitive standardized pay scale. Applicants must be authorized to work in the USA for any employer without restriction.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative team environment
- Professional development opportunities
- Eleven paid holidays
- 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually
- Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA) allowance
- Hybrid work schedule, typically Monday through Thursday in the Causal Design office and Fridays working from home
6. Application
To Apply: If you are passionate about international development, possess the necessary qualifications, and are ready to make a meaningful impact in the field, we encourage you to apply. Join our team at Causal Design Inc. and be part of a dynamic environment dedicated to driving positive change through data-driven decision-making. To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant supporting documents to jobs@causaldesign.com by the application deadline. NOTE: Please put “Senior Manager Economist Job Application” and add your first and last name in the subject line of the email. We look forward to welcoming a dedicated Senior Manager, Economist to our team in Denver, Colorado or Washington, DC.
7. Equal Employment Opportunity/Fair Employment Practices
Causal Design is an equal opportunity employer and makes decisions based on merit and business needs. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender (which includes gender identity or gender expression), pregnancy (including childbirth or related conditions and lactation/breastfeeding), marital status, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave or other benefit, or any other characteristics protected by federal or state laws, regulations, and/or any executive order, except as allowed by law. In addition, the Company prohibits the harassment of any individual on any of the bases listed above or any other protected characteristics.
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