Team Leader, Iraq Youth Assessment, Remote
Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.
Project Summary:
MSI anticipates implementing an Iraq Youth Assessment for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help provide USAID with an analysis to provide a reference document on the current status of youth, along with current challenges faced by youth, in Iraq that will provide guidance for and help to inform the Mission CDCS development.
**Please note: All citizenships are eligible for this position**
Position Summary:
The Team Leader will be on a short-term assignment to serve as the lead researcher and writer for the assessment. The Team Leader will oversee data collection and evaluation conducted by a team including both US/TCN and Iraqi-based experts, providing leadership, supervision, and mentorship. The Team Leader will provide critical technical expertise and will be responsible for producing high-quality deliverables, including a final report. The Team Leader will carry out the tasks in coordination with MSI and USAID/Iraq. The anticipated timeline for this assignment is December 2024 – April 2025.
Responsibilities:
- Help design and/or contribute to the development of the inception report to include final research design and instruments, work plan, timeline, sampling plan, list of potential respondents, and desk research sources while working in coordination with the USAID/Iraq Activity Manager.
- Conduct review of background documentation and synthesize into succinct literature review.
- Support the formulation of interview/research questions for planned semi-structured interviews with key informants (KIIs) and potential focus group discussions to inform local level data collection and complement potential gaps identified through literature review/desk research.
- Provide remote oversight and coordination of in-country research, including interviews/meetings, site visits, and focus group discussions, in collaboration with MSI staff.
- Review and evaluate qualitative data generated by the assessment.
- Write the assessment report, including background, analysis, key findings and recommendations, integrating and consolidating contributions from other team members as relevant.
- Respond to all queries and incorporate all potential feedback and requests for revisions received from USAID to produce a final assessment report and presentation materials to support briefings to USAID.
- Deliver briefings as requested by USAID providing findings, conclusions, and recommendations to USAID/Iraq and/or ME/TS stakeholders.
- Travel to Iraq as necessary to provide final briefings and/or assessment utilization workshops.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required. Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of professional work experience relating to the areas of youth engagement and/or in the civil society sector required.
- Experience conducting research in conflict-affected environments and developing protocols for a Do No Harm approach to assessment required.
- Experience serving as an assessment/research Team Leader/senior researcher managing highly specialized, culturally diverse teams in complex, dynamic international development programs desirable.
- Experience conducting donor funded, preferably USAID, assessments required.
- Experience engaging and/or working in the MENA region required.
- Experience working on/in Iraq highly desired.
- Experience working in the democracy, governance and conflict sector is preferred.
- Familiarity with youth best practices and related topics, and the USAID approach to youth, including the 2022 Youth in Development Policy.
- Strong writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to adapt in meeting the client’s needs and requirements.
- Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of Arabic preferred.
MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.
We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.
Reasonable Accommodations:
MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Project opportunity
U.S. Teams and Clients
Democracy, Rights, and Governance (International Development)
Stabilization (International Development)