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Statistical Data Analyst Consultant

About Polaris
Named after the North Star, a historical symbol of freedom, Polaris works to reshape the systems that make sex and labor trafficking possible and profitable in North America. For more than a decade, Polaris has assisted thousands of victims and survivors through the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and built the largest known U.S. data set on the crime. With the guidance of survivors, and working with public and private-sector partners, we use that data to understand and improve the way trafficking is identified, how victims and survivors are assisted, and how we can prevent this abuse at the scale of the problem – 25 million people worldwide robbed of the fundamental right to choose how they live and work.

About the Opportunity
Polaris is integrating a complex systems approach into our work. Our goal is to tackle the structures, attitudes, and power dynamics that make hundreds of thousands of people vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking to enable us to shift the energy of the anti-trafficking movement to begin to prevent victimization before it happens. 

Polaris is seeking a consultant with statistical analysis expertise to contribute to a variety of projects requiring analysis of quantitative data. Polaris collects data from the operation of the Trafficking Hotline. In addition, we are in the process of designing and implementing a large-scale mixed-methods study (with multiple languages) that will employ trauma-informed and survivor-focused strategies. In addition, we routinely conduct a variety of data collection activities as part of project implementation or routine monitoring and evaluation of these projects. Finally, we also utilize a number of secondary data sources to answer relevant programmatic questions. The consultant will support the Learning, Innovation and Data Systems (LIDS) team in the statistical analysis of data from all these sources. 

Responsibilities
  • Develop an analysis plan for any analysis project by reviewing existing research protocols or other project documentation and facilitating a conversation with relevant program staff 
  • Perform advanced statistical analysis on data 
  • Oversee the data collection of different ongoing studies including ensuring fidelity to the research protocol
  • Develop materials for the presentation of findings to different stakeholders
  • Write final reports 
  • Other tasks as required
This position does not authorize/require the consultant to have decision-making authority on the final work product.

Requirements
  • Minimum four to five (4-5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in social science research and/or evaluation  
  • Advanced statistical analysis experience 
  • Expert user of statistical analysis software (experience in SPSS is a plus)
  • Experience working with derived data that may be incomplete or have missing information
  • Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills
  • Emotional maturity and demonstrated discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information 
  • BA/BS degree, with a focus in Social Science, Statistics, or related field

 Preferred Qualifications
  • Candidates having lived experience with human trafficking strongly preferred
  • Comfort and familiarity working with relational datasets and complex data structures
  • Academic or professional knowledge of human trafficking, labor rights, or related social issues
  • Experience conducting research with vulnerable populations and/or survivors of trauma
  • Experience in developing sampling strategies for hard to reach populations 
  • Demonstrated project management experience
  • Peer-reviewed publications
  • Experience conducting quantitative research  
  • Masters degree in relevant field
  • Spanish or Mandarin language fluency

Contract Duration
This position requires approximately 20 -60 days Level of Effort (LOE), from June through December 2021. The period of performance may be extended, depending on the need. The consultant can work remotely from his/her location. If conditions allow, occasional short-term travel may be required to Polaris’s office in Washington DC.

To Apply
Please submit a resume, cover letter that includes a daily rate, and an example written product to LIDS@polarisproject.org

Background Check
All offers of employment are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates.

Values Statement
The work of Polaris is grounded in a set of values and organizational beliefs that provide a common starting point for all of our activities. At Polaris, we look for talented individuals who are passionate about combating all forms of human trafficking and who will strive to embody and model these values within the Polaris community and in the anti-trafficking field. Please take a moment to make yourself familiar with these values and our mission statement before submitting your application. You can find a full description of our values here.

Polaris is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity in the workplace. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the fight against human trafficking, we realize and celebrate the fact that human capital is the greatest and most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and the talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but our reputation and our organization’s achievement as well.