About the job

Creative Associates International (Creative) is a fast-growing, social impact company that specializes in the areas of education, economic growth, democratic transitions, and stabilization in crisis settings and post-conflict environments. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this global development organization has a field presence in more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

The purpose of the Ethiopia Sustainable Peace (SP) Activity is to create a platform where USAID/Ethiopia can assist Ethiopian stakeholders demonstrate greater resilience to prevent and respond to destabilizing manifestations of conflict.

The Director of Analysis, Research and Learning will be responsible for overall research for the project, designing and managing all research and analysis activities. S/he will have an expert understand strategic areas of interest in Ethiopia, with a specific focus of drivers of conflict. S/he will be responsible for high quality analytic reports to help assess the impact of the operating environment on program implementation for external distribution. S/he will be a focal point for information, theory, best practices for USAID.

The Director of Analysis, Research and Learning reports directly to the COP and will manage monitoring, learning and evaluation (MEL) and communications project staff and external technical consultants.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the context inside Ethiopia and provide analysis of evolving conflict developments, as well as the impact of external actors and events on program;
• Supervise and mentor Communications and MEL Team, providing technical support and leadership in developing timely and high quality reports;
• Formalize research methods and processes in order to effectively conduct situational assessments/atmospheric research and analysis in Ethiopia;
• Lead the development of impact reports assessing the impact of programming on beneficiaries;
• Provide updates and analysis on situational changes at weekly client meetings;
• Develop weekly analytic reporting products to help assess how the situational climate affects program implementation and impact, partner progress, and geographic area development;
• Develop quarterly analysis of situational changes affecting programming for submission with the project quarterly report;
• Provide daily situational updates to program team with analytics on possible program impact;
• Create maps, charts and other products to accompany situational updates in a simple and easy to understand format;
• Translate project materials from English-Amharic-English and provide interpretation as requested.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in research related to conflict, peacebuilding, and/or stabilization;
• Master’s degree in International Relations/Development, History, Political Science, or a related discipline that includes development, design and participation in research activities and the presentation of research products to a peer reviewed event or journal;
• Demonstrated experience in the solicitation, design, and dissemination of research to a broad community of stakeholders;
• Strongly familiar with best practices, approaches, and methodology in programming related to conflict and peacebuilding;
• Demonstrated experience drafting policy briefings tailored towards policy-makers;
• Experience advancing equity and inclusion of women, youth, and other marginalized groups;
• Professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English and Amharic ;
• Local nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.