Lead Researcher Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Position: Lead Researcher and Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Engagement Type: Short Term Consultancy

Location: Fully Remote

Deadline: Rolling, position is open until filled

McColm & Company (McColm) is a mission-driven and customer-focused professional services firm that equips change makers with the knowledge, skills, and insights they need to succeed in an increasingly complex world. McColm specializes in supporting U.S. federal customers with national security, human services, foreign affairs, and emergency response-focused portfolios by managing bespoke professional training programs, delivering effective capacity building solutions, and providing highly specialized technical assistance and analysis expertise to decision makers.

McColm's Justice and Resilience Practice supports U.S. Government clients working to identify and mitigate forced labor and human trafficking risks globally. McColm seeks a subject matter expert to serve as the Lead Researcher and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for a Strategic Assessment and Gap Analysis project related to force labor and human trafficking in global supply chains.

The Lead Researcher will serve as the methodological lead for this project and is the principal author of study. The project combines structured stakeholder interviews and focus groups, stakeholder surveys, document and policy review, analysis of utilization data, and comparative benchmarking. Findings are triangulated across data sources to characterize operational, technical, policy, content, and capability gaps, and to inform prioritized, evidence-based recommendations on future-state operating, governance, and funding models.

The position is fully remote and requires virtual meetings and briefings with government personnel and stakeholders. The Lead Researcher coordinates closely with the U.S. Government client, a Senior Project Director, a supporting Investigator/SME, and lived experience expert reviewers.

This position is classed as a 1099 Independent Contractor.

Duties

The responsibilities of the Lead Researcher and SME include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following duties:

• Serve as lead researcher and methodological lead for the assessment, drafting the methodology and tool development, including stakeholder mapping, sampling strategy, interview and focus group protocols, survey instruments, and the analytic framework.
• Design and lead all data collection activities, including structured stakeholder interviews and focus groups, stakeholder surveys, document and policy review, and analysis of utilization data.
• Lead comparative benchmarking analysis.
• Triangulate qualitative and quantitative findings across data sources; identify operational, technical, policy, content, and capability gaps; and characterize evidence limitations and confidence levels with methodological transparency.
• Draft substantive sections of the Draft and Final Strategic Assessment and Gap Analysis Reports, including current-state, governance, and sustainability assessments; utilization and comparative value findings; benchmarking observations; gap, risk, and maturity analysis; and future-state operating, governance, and funding options.
• Coordinate closely with the Senior Project Director, a supporting Investigator/SME, and network consultant reviewers, and participate in periodic virtual meetings with government personnel and stakeholders.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master's or higher preferred) in public policy, international relations, human rights, law, economics, social science research, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in responsible sourcing, supply chain due diligence, forced labor risk mitigation, and/or anti-trafficking policy, including familiarity with federal anti-trafficking procurement requirements.
• Proven experience leading mixed-methods research or evaluations, including design of sampling strategies, interview and focus group protocols, and survey instruments, and triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience conducting program assessments, evaluations, gap analyses, or strategic reviews for U.S. Government clients or comparable institutional clients.
• Prior experience supporting U.S. Government clients through research.
• Strong analytical writing skills, with demonstrated ability to produce evidence-based reports and actionable recommendations for senior government decision-makers.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills, including experience interviewing government, private sector, and lived experience stakeholders.
• Experience applying trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches in the overall research approach and when engaging with lived experience expert reviewers and stakeholders.
• Experience with benchmarking or comparative analysis of digital tools or platforms, including governance, sustainability, and funding model assessment.
• Strong experience using AI tools for data analysis.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment and manage competing deadlines across a phased workplan.

Benefits

Compensation is offered according to job requirements, market dynamics, and experience/skills of the successful candidate. Contract and consultant roles are not eligible for benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, gender identity or expression, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Due to the high volume of applications McColm receives and to ensure we comply with our internal hiring policies, we regret we are not able to respond to individual phone calls or emails regarding submission status.