About the Organization:
Root Capital is a nonprofit social investment fund that is pioneering finance for grassroots businesses in rural areas of developing countries. It provides capital, financial education, and market connections to small and growing businesses that build sustainable livelihoods and transform rural communities in poor environmentally vulnerable places. Root Capital’s clients include associations and private businesses that help create sustainable livelihoods. It is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has associated offices in Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Kenya.
About the Job:
Root Capital is looking for an Impact Assessment Senior Associate. S/he will support the impact assessment officer in designing and implementing a portfolio of qualitative and quantitative impact assessment studies.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Impact assessment studies (70%):
- Establishing and building partnerships with universities and research institutions in Central America and Mexico;
- Managing recruitment, training, and oversight of research consultants, with substantial support on contracts, payments and accounting, logistics (travel, housing, insurance, etc.), and tracking of deliverables;
- Active on-site monitoring of research consultants and partners to ensure consistent implementation of study methodology and to verify data quality;
- Accompanying consultants in field, auditing their work, and regularly liaising with client enterprises and Root Capital staff;
- Submitting regular progress reports based on field visits and identifying potential challenges related to study content or logistics.
- Quantitative analysis (15%):
- Analysis of Root Capital’s database of historical data on the financial and social performance of clients;
- Analysis combining data about Root Capital’s clients with external datasets on poverty levels, weather and environmental conditions, and other issues;
- Other analyses to be determined.
- Writing (15%):
- Work collaboratively with other members of the strategy, knowledge & Innovation department, and the communications department to develop original content for Root Capital’s publications and presentations.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 4 years in an applied research role in one of the above fields, preferably with some experience in socioeconomic, environmental and/or agricultural research, or 2 years plus a Master’s degree in Economics, Economic Development, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Sociology, Anthropology, or Statistics strongly preferred;
- At least 4 or more years of professional experience in sustainable agriculture, impact investing, social finance, international development, agricultural finance, or a related field;
- Experience with quantitative and qualitative research, data collection, and analysis. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with Stata or other statistical software;
- Superior oral and written communications skills, including experience synthesizing research findings;
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences, including funders, academics, and smallholder farmers;
- Native fluency in Spanish and fluency in English are required;
- Applicants must be authorized to work in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, or Costa Rica.
Closing Date: 30 Nov 2012
How to Apply:
Interested candidates can send their resume and cover letter to jobs+iaseniorassociate@rootcapital.org
Please mention « Impact Assessment Senior Associate followed by your name (Last, First) » in the subject line.
Contact:
Juana Velosa
jobs+iaseniorassociate@rootcapital.org
955 Massachusetss Ave.
5th Floor
Cambridge
MA
02139
United States
Telephone: 6176615792
