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Ascension is seeking an experienced Research Methods / IRB / Ethics Specialist to provide on-demand expertise supporting international development monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities for U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)-funded programs.

The ideal candidate is a research ethics professional with demonstrated experience supporting human-subject research, evaluation studies, Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, research protocols, informed consent procedures, privacy protections, and ethical data collection practices.

This specialist will support evaluation teams conducting performance evaluations, rapid evaluative studies, and data-driven research activities by ensuring that proposed methodologies comply with applicable ethical standards and human-subject protection requirements. The role is critical to enabling ILAB evaluation activities to produce credible, responsible, and evidence-based findings while protecting research participants and sensitive information.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working independently on intermittent assignments, reviewing evaluation designs, advising technical teams, and providing specialized guidance when research activities require ethical review or approval.

Summary of Contractor Role

The Research Methods / IRB / Ethics Specialist provides specialized research compliance and ethics support across ILAB Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Services activities.

The specialist will advise evaluation teams on appropriate research methodologies, sampling approaches, participant protections, consent processes, privacy safeguards, and IRB or other applicable ethical review requirements. The role supports the development and execution of evaluations involving qualitative and quantitative data collection, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other research activities.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented research professional capable of reviewing complex evaluation approaches, identifying ethical risks, recommending mitigation strategies, and ensuring research activities align with accepted standards for responsible data collection and analysis.

This role requires a self-directed professional who can rapidly support task orders with limited notice, collaborate with multidisciplinary evaluation teams, and provide practical guidance within compressed timelines.

The contractor will support processes and tools including:

• IRB submission packages
• Human-subject research protocols
• Research ethics review procedures
• Informed consent documentation
• Data privacy and personally identifiable information (PII) protection procedures
• Sampling methodologies
• Survey instruments and research protocols
• Evaluation design reviews
• Qualitative and quantitative research approaches
• Data collection plans and participant safeguards

The position supports Ascension’s on-demand MEL specialist bench, which provides evaluation, research, data analytics, visualization, and technical assistance services to government clients. ILAB anticipates maintaining a bench of qualified specialists capable of supporting assignments within approximately six weeks of task issuance. DRAFT_ILAB_RFI_PWS (1)

Position Day-to-Day Activities / Anticipated Responsibilities

• Review evaluation methodologies, research designs, and data collection approaches to identify ethical considerations and compliance requirements.
• Assess whether proposed evaluation activities require IRB review, ethical approval, or additional research protections.
• Develop and review human-subject research documentation, including protocols, consent procedures, and participant protection measures.
• Advise evaluation teams on appropriate sampling strategies and research methodologies.
• Evaluate survey instruments, interview protocols, focus group guides, and other data collection tools for ethical considerations.
• Recommend safeguards for protecting participant privacy, confidentiality, and sensitive information.
• Support preparation of IRB submission packages and related documentation when required.
• Collaborate with Lead Evaluators, Project Managers, data analysts, and subject matter specialists to integrate ethical practices into evaluation activities.
• Review data management approaches to ensure appropriate handling of personally identifiable information (PII).
• Provide technical guidance during evaluation planning, fieldwork preparation, and research implementation activities.
• Document research ethics decisions, assumptions, approvals, and mitigation strategies.
• Participate in virtual meetings with government stakeholders, evaluation teams, and project partners.
• Maintain awareness of current research ethics standards, human-subject protection requirements, and evaluation best practices.