Evidence Specialist, SMEs, Office Of The Chief Economist

Position description

Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.

Dexis embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.

At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.

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 Specialist 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; and
3. Provides analysis and advice to Agency leadership on pressing macroeconomic issues.

One key area of OCE’s engagement is the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), providing stable employment and economic opportunities in low- and middle-income countries. This position is expected to spend at least a portion of the time encouraging the use of evidence on effective strategies to support and grow SMEs.

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 Specialist 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 support 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:

Support the Synthesis of Global Evidence and Provide Actionable Insights from Evidence to Support USAID Decision-Making (40%)

•  Conduct specific analyses to feed into syntheses of cost-effectiveness evidence related to specific development outcomes, particularly in the area of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), following standard operating procedures. This will include reviewing specific academic papers on impact evaluation evidence and compiling external program cost data to complement impact evaluation evidence.
• Collaborate with colleagues in other offices to co-create syntheses of cost-effectiveness evidence related to specific development outcomes.
• Stay abreast of the latest external randomized evaluation evidence from academia and other research institutes, particularly in the area of small and medium enterprise support, and apply insights to USAID’s work.
• Compile and communicate information to USAID colleagues about the relative cost-effectiveness of different development interventions—and the strength of underlying evidence—in user-friendly, actionable ways to help guide decision-making.

Build Capacity through Supporting the Development of New Tools, Guidance, and Products (25%)

• Plan and carry out the development of tools and guidance that can support USAID colleagues in using cost-effectiveness evidence and/or generating new evidence as part of program design and implementation.
• Support strategies to strengthen the knowledge and abilities of Agency staff in using evidence from randomized impact evaluations and cost-effectiveness analyses.
• Periodically seek input on tools, guidance, and/or products from expert individuals or groups outside of USAID.
• Support the development of internal and external communication products about cost-effectiveness evidence and OCE’s work on evidence generation and use.

Provide Technical Assistance to USAID Operating Units (35%)

• Identify and follow up on opportunities for 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. 
• Understand the challenges that colleagues face in using cost-effectiveness evidence in their programming and in integrating high-quality randomized impact evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis into program evaluation.
• Carry out 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).

Perform Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least two (2) years of experience in a relevant technical area, such as economics, international affairs, and public policy
• Applied experience synthesizing and applying research and evidence for decision making
• Track record of user-focus in evidence generation or uptake
• Skills and experience in research and evidence communication
• Effective communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills 
• Eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Ability to attain and maintain a facilities access clearance
• Ability to travel internationally up to 20% of the time on short notice

Preferred

• Professional and updated knowledge of SMEs, or familiarity with impact evaluation evidence on approaches to support SME growth, profits, and employment in low- and middle-income countries
• Active facilities access clearance
• Experience living/working in developing countries
• Experience working within large donor agencies or with implementing partners

Min. Salary $65,000—$75,000 USD 

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.

Application instructions

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