Research Assistant with Latin American specialization - FrontlineSMS - Kingdom, NY

Reports to: ICT4COP Project Director

Type: Fixed term contract

Duration: 3-4 months

Location: Flexible, but you must have the legal right to live and work in the United States and be able to extensively travel to the relevant areas.

Deadline for application: We’ll be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, but would like to hire someone as soon as possible.

SIMLab helps people and organizations to use inclusive technology in their social change work to make the systems they operate in and the services they provide more accessible, responsive, and resilient. We work to bring a spirit of experimentation and disciplined scaling to the good we try to do. SIMLab’s project implementation strategy focuses on holistically supporting local agents of change, who we believe are the key to sustainable and lasting social change.

SIMLab treats engagements not as one-off, siloed experiments, but as opportunities to advance the field. We emphasize shared learning, local ownership, and sustainability over scalability. Even for work that isn’t client-facing, we value thoughtful, sustainable, good work.

We’re a small, close-knit team. Over time, you’ll be given a lot of freedom and support, and we’ll expect a lot in return. More than anything else, we’re looking for someone who is excited to build something great, help solve a problem (or problems) you care about, and tell stories about the work we’re doing.

Project Background

SIMLab is seeking a Research Assistant to support us on conducting context assessments in Latin America (El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala) as part of our ICT4COP project, which is part of a larger research consortium broadly focused on the issue of community policing in the following countries: Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. While inclusive technology is a central feature within the research agenda, researchers are also examining cross-cutting issues such as post-conflict security, chronic violence, and the role of formal and informal security providers, amongst other issues.

SIMLab’s role is to understand the inclusive technology context in each country, which will be followed by gathering ‘evidence’ through fieldwork in 2016. SIMLab’s fieldwork for inclusive technologies will be primarily qualitative, but will integrate a mixed-methods approach when possible. Qualitative interviews will be done in all countries to understand the inclusive technology research questions. In some cases, a survey tool will be developed to collect from a larger group of people from the community.

Travel

This position will be required to travel within Latin America (Guatemala and Nicaragua, and possibly El Salvador) to undertake fieldwork and research activities. Travel and expenses will be covered under the project grant.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be equally able to support logistics around fieldwork as well as provide research assistance to both practitioners and researchers. With a wide range of responsibilities within the consortium, the Research Assistant will be responsible for working with academics, local partners, and police experts. They will work in close coordination with SIMLab staff to provide support to local fieldwork. Depending on the candidate, the Research Assistant may directly contribute to the writing of several SIMLab-authored reports which examine ground-level issues around community policing, technology, and human security.

Essential

Demonstrable knowledge and experience of development, aid or policing interventions in contexts of conflict and insecurity in Latin America.

Fluency in English and Spanish is a requirement (communications and writing with local partners is in Spanish). Fluency in other local language(s) and context is highly desirable.

B.A. or equivalent degree in Economics, Communications, International Development/International Relations, or other relevant field.

Experience conducting social science research, including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews or monitoring and evaluation.

Excellent writing and analytical skills. Concise writing sample required (no more than 5 pages).

Enjoys working within a diverse team and able to work with a distributed network of users, partners, and stakeholders.

Strong administration skills, attention to detail, and skilled at balancing priorities.

Commitment to the SIMLab’s values and success, and a demonstrated willingness to personally invest in your projects and your work, above and beyond the call of duty.

Must have the right to live and work in USA, and a valid passport.

Ability to travel to and within Latin America (Guatemala and Nicaragua, and possibly El Salvador).

Desirable

Living or working experience in any of the target countries highly desirable.

Prior experience or interest in inclusive technology issues in developing countries.

Experience working in conflict-affected contexts.

Field experience interacting with vulnerable or at-risk communities.

To apply for this position, send your CV, a cover letter explaining why you are a great fit for the position outlined above, and a concise writing sample (no more than 5 pages), to jobs@simlab.org.