Overview

Cooper/Smith is hiring an innovative and driven self-starter to join our Washington, DC-based team.  We are currently in need of a performance and efficiency data specialist to support a recently awarded, 4-year grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  The grant is intended to provide technical assistance to the Government of Malawi to improve HIV and health outcomes by strengthening the supply and use of high-quality, routine data in program planning, performance management, and service delivery.  Principle project activities include:

  • Strengthen the national data systems architecture for collection, transmission, analysis, and presentation of high quality data
  • Improve the use of data by building capacity for data analysis and interpretation, building tools and processes that facilitate use of data, and identifying effective incentives for data use
  • Strengthen governance mechanisms to take informed and binding decisions on national data systems and data use practices, and to coordinate inputs from multiple partners and stakeholders

The performance and efficiency data specialist will report jointly to the Managing Director and Technical Director for Cooper/Smith.  S/he will be asked to design routine performance measurement structures, focusing on quantitative analysis of program efficiency and effectiveness; assess operational and technical challenges to increasing data use in field settings; and design ad hoc evaluation protocols for special studies to test innovative approaches for improving data quality, service quality, and program management. S/he will also be asked to routinely document project findings and promote dissemination to program stakeholders as well as a global audience. Throughout the life of the project, the specialist will be expected to help build the capacity of Government counterparts, particularly in data management, data visualization, and analytic methods.   

Who we are

  • A young, dynamic team – with extensive experience in strategic planning, results management, expenditure analysis, resource projections, research design, and program evaluation
  • Innovators, solutions specialists, champions of collaboration, and global citizens with professional experience in over 25 countries
  • Lovers of hard work, good laughs, and passionate about delivering solutions and results to our clients that have broader social impact

Who you are

  • A critical thinker who is self-motivated and results oriented, can deliver on tight deadlines, and wants the opportunity to help grow a new organization
  • A person who enjoys a challenge, is able to describe nuance and complexity, and ultimately driven to produce creative solutions rather than focus on obstacles
  • Someone who seeks to frame their work in the the big picture (the ‘why?’), but cares equally as deeply about getting the details right (the ‘how?’)
  • Someone passionate about the use of measurement and data to improve management, performance, and program effectiveness
  • Someone who thrives in a flexible work environment, is able to manage competing demands and adapt to shifting priorities, uses good judgments working in stressful situations, and enjoys working with a diverse, global team

Desired Skills

  • Strongly analytical, comfortable working with quantitative and qualitative data to establish and track program performance and efficiency metrics
  • Ability to rapidly develop custom monitoring, evaluation, and/or operational research solutions to inform challenges in practical program settings (e.g., rural health clinics in Malawi)
  • Ability to effectively document successes and challenges and translate complicated results for a non-technical audience
  • Solid understanding of research design, methods of describing efficiency, and performance evaluation
  • Strong writing skills, including ability to draft protocols, policy briefs, peer-reviewed articles, and reports for a diverse audience
  • Intermediate to advanced skills using one or more statistical software packages for data analysis (STATA, SPSS, SAS, R, etc.)
  • Intermediate to advanced skills using Microsoft Excel; proficient in other Microsoft products (Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Sites)

Preferred Background

  • Minimum education at Masters level or equivalent in a field emphasizing measurement, quantitative skills, and/or research design, including: economics, business intelligence, data science, monitoring/evaluation, epidemiology, policy analysis, etc.
  • At least 5 years of professional experience, preferably including work in public health or healthcare, management consulting, or operational research
  • Experience working with multidisciplinary teams in international settings and familiarity with commonly encountered organizations in international development (donors, multilaterals, consulting firms, etc.)
  • Basic knowledge of disease burden in economically developing countries and response efforts (e.g., programs designed to address HIV, TB, malaria, clean water and sanitation, etc.)
  • Track record authoring publicly available materials and/or peer-reviewed publications

Practical Requirements

  • Currently residing or willing to relocate to Washington, DC (relocation benefit not provided)
  • Willing to travel internationally 25-30% (approximately 6 trips a year, often for 2 weeks at a time)
  • Eligibility to obtain a visa for the Republic of Malawi

What we offer

  • Flexible work hours and locations
  • Dedicated desk space and 24-hr membership to WeWork Dupont Circle (shared office space and start-up incubator)
  • A benefits package exceeding industry standards
  • The opportunity to help build a new organization from the ground up
  • Salary commensurate with skills and experience

 

Please submit your resume/curriculum vitae and cover letter to contact@coopersmith.org by no later than February 8th, 2016.