Qualitative Data Specialist – Program To End Modern Slavery (PEMS)

EnCompass LLC is seeking an experienced Qualitative Data Specialist to support qualitative data collection and analysis for a process evaluation of the Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS), with an emphasis on key informant interviews and document review. This position is a remote (home based) part-time consultancy from September 2020 to March 2021, with a total expected commitment of 127 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”). This evaluation will focus on (1) understanding the processes used by the implementing partner (to date) to measure the prevalence of modern slavery, including strengths, challenges, and best practices; and (2) assessing how early sub-award activities have been implemented to serve human trafficking victims or individuals vulnerable to trafficking in priority countries. Evaluation findings will therefore provide insight into lessons learned, programmatic performance to date, and recommendations for future efforts under PEMS.

This position will conduct qualitative data collection and analysis as part of the PEMS data collection team, with a focus on assessing sub-award progress. The Qualitative Data Specialist will work closely with the Senior Technical Advisor to implement the methods proposed in the approved evaluation design, including: developing codebooks for document review and qualitative coding; coding and analyzing relevant documents; conducting and transcribing remote interviews; coding and analyzing qualitative data from interviews and observations; and participating in data synthesis, interpretation, and reporting processes with the broader evaluation team. We are looking for a person who is deeply experienced in qualitative data collection and analysis, highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and has experience in working with a highly dispersed international team.

* This position is remote. However, the Qualitative Data Specialist will primarily work with team members located across North America, and may be asked to join a select number of remote interviews in different time zones.

** 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:

• Participate in project and data collection onboarding and training
• Document review coding and analysis
  • Work with the Senior Technical Advisor to draft, refine, and use a qualitative codebook for Evaluation Question 2 (subawardee progress)
  • Work with project coordinator and implementing partner to ensure set of available documents is complete
  • Conduct coding of key documents in Mendeley
  • Complete summaries of documents
• Conducting interviews
  • Conduct up to key informant interviews (remotely) with different evaluation stakeholders, primarily located in North American time zones
  • Participate in data collection orientation, training, and piloting processes, including sharing feedback on data collection tool revision
  • Transcribe (verbatim), clean, and upload completed interviews in a timely manner
  • Work with Data Collection Manager to identify and resolve any data quality challenges
• Qualitative coding
  • Support Senior Technical Advisor in managing and assigning coding of all interview transcripts and observations notes under Evaluation Question 2 (subawardee progress)
  • Directly complete assigned coding in Dedoose
• Analysis
  • Support Senior Technical Advisor in managing, assigning, and completing analysis summaries under Evaluation Question 2 (subawardee progress)
  • Participate in data triangulation, interpretation, and synthesis processes with broader evaluation team
• Reporting: Support drafting of the final evaluation report and dissemination to the TIP Office

Administration:

• Regularly coordinate with the Senior Technical Advisor and other members of the evaluation team to plan out tasks and assess evaluation progress, as well as any challenges encountered
• Maintain and update relevant trackers to reflect interview, transcription, coding, and analysis completion

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

• At a minimum, a bachelor’s degree and six years of relevant qualitative data experience or a master’s degree and four years of experience

Experience and Skills

• At least four years of direct experience in conducting qualitative data collection and analysis in a range of contexts, including conducting interviews, document/desk review, and qualitative analysis using software such as Dedoose
• Demonstrated understanding of best practices in qualitative data collection and analysis
• Ability to organize, manage, prioritize, and follow through on multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
• Strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently and as part of a diverse team
• Proven capacity to take initiative and willingness to learn new skills as needed
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written English language skills, including strong skills in technical writing
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to interact with individuals at all levels
• Prove track record of successful teamwork
• Nice to have: Specific work experience in counter-trafficking/modern slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, human rights, social work, migration, or related fields