Data Collection Manager – Program To End Modern Slavery (PEMS)

EnCompass LLC is seeking an experienced Data Collection Manager to provide management and coordination for a process evaluation of the Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS), with an emphasis on qualitative research methods. This position is a remote working (home based) part-time consultancy from September 2020 to December 2020, with a total expected commitment of 47 days.

The Program to End Modern Slavery—which is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office)—features a series of programs and projects designed to substantially reduce the prevalence of human trafficking/modern slavery among key targeted populations, including in parts of Vietnam, the Philippines, and India. In September 2019, the TIP Office contracted EnCompass to conduct a mixed methods and multi-country process evaluation of the first tranche of PEMS funding (“PEMS 1”). The evaluation design has been approved by the TIP Office, and features document review, key informant interviews, and potentially focus group discussions and observations. The design is currently undergoing IRB approval in all countries. In light of COVID-19, modifications for remote data collection and safety protocol development are also anticipated.

As our evaluation moves towards the data collection phase, this position will focus on coordinating and supporting qualitative data collection teams in India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. This will include establishing effective data collection processes and systems, supporting data collection training and piloting, providing data quality assurance, working with country evaluation managers to troubleshoot challenges, and other measures to ensure that data collection is completed in a timely, high-quality manner. We are looking for a person who is deeply experienced in project management and qualitative data collection, highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and has experience creating effective data collection systems and processes and in working with a highly dispersed international team.

* This position is remote; however, the Data Collection Manager will need to communicate and coordinate with team members located across North America and Asia (India, Vietnam, and the Philippines).

** The above statements describe the general nature and level of work that the individual assigned to this position will perform. These statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

Technical:

• Manage and track qualitative data collection process and progress across all three countries (India, Vietnam, and Philippines) and European/U.S.-based settings
  • Establish consistent and appropriate data collection processes and systems, including field guides and protocols, building on best practices and materials developed by EnCompass as part of this evaluation
  • Work closely with country evaluation managers and other evaluation team members to monitor progress of data collection, as well as support troubleshooting of any challenges that may arise
• Lead, prepare for, and coordinate data collection orientation and training across country teams
• Coordinate and support piloting of all existing qualitative data collection tools across countries, including tracking subsequent tool revisions
• Design and implement key data quality assurance (DQA) systems and processes for qualitative data collection
  • Conduct and track regular quality checks of data collection completed in each country, and support country evaluation managers in troubleshooting any problems that arise
  • Monitor and communicate any data collection challenges that require further action and/or IRB notification
• Support evaluation team and country managers with any other data collection and coordination-related issues that may arise, as well as establishing consistent practices across country teams

Administration:

• Regularly coordinate with country evaluation managers to assess progress of data collection and challenges encountered
• Work with country evaluation managers to maintain and update data collection work plans, level of effort (LOE) trackers, and budgets for each team
• Set up and maintain trackers to ensure timely completion and quality of data collection and track overall evaluation progress
• Coordinate and communicate with key headquarters staff on progress, needs, and next steps

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

• At a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of 8 years of experience, of which at least 3 years should have been directly managing qualitative data collection teams in a range of contexts
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to organize, manage, prioritize, and follow through on multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
• Strong experience with qualitative data collection and management processes and best practices
• Demonstrated knowledge of qualitative data quality assurance processes
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills
• Proven capacity to take initiative and willingness to learn new skills as needed
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently and as part of a diverse team
• Creative and proactive problem solver
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to interact with individuals at all levels