Digital Government Research Consultant

Post of duty: Washington, DC

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About this position

We are looking for a proactive, innovative, and independent Digital Government Research Consultant.

The Digital Government Research Consultant reports to the Data and Digital Government Knowledge Coordinator. S/he will be responsible for supporting the Digital Government knowledge agenda through the production of impact evaluations, cost-benefit analyses, surveys, and qualitative studies.

You will work in Data and Digital Government Cluster within the Innovation in Citizen Services Division, part of the Institutions for Development department. The Data and Digital Government (DDG) cluster promotes government digital transformation throughout the region. One of its key activities is the generation of a knowledge agenda that encompasses research and measurement, preparation of training materials and knowledge management. Among the technical topics included in the operational agenda are interoperability, cybersecurity, digital ID, digital signature, digital skills, data (governance, protection, analytics, and talent), digital justice, and administrative simplification.

What you’ll do

First responsibility: Research and Measurement

Research and measurement activities are pursued through impact evaluations, surveys, case studies and cost-benefit analyses, among other empirical approaches.

• Conduct literature reviews and searches of good practices.
• Conduct consultations and coordination with IDB colleagues, government counterparts and other external partners.
• Prepare research project proposals.
• Design and support the implementation of field experiments, including the coordination with external consultants and government counterparts.
• Design surveys and other collection tools.
• Conduct data cleaning, analysis, and visualization.
• Draft and co-author papers describing the design and results of studies.
• Draft reports for consumption by non-technical audiences.
• Review reports submitted by external consultants.
• Manage publication production, including overseeing the editing, translating and design of reports.
• Prepare of PowerPoint presentations.
• Support the application of the IDB´s development effectiveness vision into Digital Government loan operations.
• Facilitate the incorporation of lessons learned through the execution of our projects into the design of new projects.
• Support the contracting and payment processes of external consultants and firms.

  Second responsibility: Knowledge Management

  Knowledge management activities include the consolidation and sharing of existing resources and the generation of new resources to improve the efficiency of future analytical and operational activities on Digital Government.

  • Support the development and operation of the Regional Observatory of Digital Government, an online repository of Digital Government statistics
  • Compile, categorize and analyze IDB and external material including indicators, survey questions and project components, among others
  • Coordinate with IDB colleagues to enable efficient sharing of the resources generated.

    The activities mentioned above form the principal duties of the position; however, this does not preclude additional responsibilities which may become necessary, to be approved by the IFD/ICS’s Digital Government Knowledge Coordinator.

    What you'll need

    • Education:Master’s Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, or another relevant field. PhD preferred.
    • Experience: At least 5 years of relevant experience in applied research, with a preference for a focus on public administration, Digital Government, or related areas.
    • Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

      Key skills

      • Familiarity with data analysis packages including STATA and Excel. Knowledge of R and/or Python is desirable.
      • Knowledge of applied research methods, including hypothesis generation and testing, literature reviews, assessment of evidence, etc.
      • Knowledge of impact evaluation methods, including experimental and quasi-experimental approaches
      • Experience with project management, including proposal development, component design, definition of deliverables, budget management and results monitoring.
      • Experience with building and maintaining client relationships, in particular with government authorities.
      • Familiarity with the dynamics of public institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
      • Knowledge of Digital Government technical topics is desirable.
      • The candidate must be proactive, independent, organized, detail-oriented, able to simultaneously manage multiple projects, comfortable working on diverse teams, client oriented and eager to take on new challenges.

        Requirements

        • Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries.
        • Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.

          Type of contract and duration

          • Type of contract: International Consultant Full-Time.
          • Length of contract: 12 months.
          • Work Location: On site.

            What we offer

            The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee’s life. These benefits include:

            • A competitive compensation packages.
            • Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender- neutral parental leave.
            • Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance.