Research Consultants (Technical Writers)

Population Services International (PSI) is a global health and development organization working in more than 35 countries to make quality, affordable health care accessible to people where and when they need it. Out of the 7 billion people on the planet, 3.5 billion do not have access to quality essential healthcare. This inequity must change. PSI believes that health equity can only be achieved by drawing on the power of the public and private sectors and putting more control in consumers’ hands and giving them quality affordable health care where and when they need it. PSI works with consumers, at the community level, to understand what they want and need in health resources. We then leverage our global network of experts and our partnership in the public and private sector to fill in gaps in the markets. Join PSI’s efforts to make quality affordable health care accessible to people where and when they need it.  The MERL team at PSI brings together research and learning functions to advance learning priorities, support technical excellence in research, identify and capture insights, and promote research utilization. The MERL team is seeking a pool of scientific/technical writing consultants to support the organization through Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC) – a flexible arrangement for the provision of an indefinite amount of services within a fixed period. Individual Task Orders will be issued under the IQC which state the specific assignment, dates, and timeline.

We will be seeking scientific/technical writing consultants to provide support to some or all of these tasks:

• Lead or support the production of professional quality research outputs (e.g., research reports and briefs, journal manuscripts, technical sections of research grants).
• Provide end-to-end support for peer-reviewed journal manuscripts including providing journal selection recommendations, establishing authorship agreements, coordinating inputs between authors, supporting writing and editing, and supporting submissions and revisions.
• Coordinate inputs from multiple contributors for technical research outputs, synthesize content, and edit content for a single, cohesive voice.
• Provide substantive editing, language editing, and copyediting support for technical research outputs. Support authors in improving written outputs by providing effective written queries, giving input on data selection and presentation, reviewing multiple drafts, and providing verbal feedback and discussion throughout the writing process.
• Lead or support evidence synthesis activities, such as desk reviews and systematic/scoping literature reviews. Roles may include writing review protocols, developing and executing database search strategies, coordinating review and selection of relevant sources, synthesizing sources, and developing review reports, briefs, and slide decks.
• Develop professional quality graphics, infographics, data dashboards, or visual representations of data.
• Lead webinars or virtual workshops for PSI staff on technical writing topics, such as writing peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, use of generative AI, and writing research briefs, policy briefs, or conference abstracts.

• Interested candidates should provide:
  • Cover Letter
  • Daily Rate
  • Curriculum Vita
  • Two writing samples of their work (first author manuscript, research report/brief, grant proposal, or other research output) and an editing sample if candidates wish to be considered for editing assignments.
  • If generative AI tools were used in the writing or editing samples candidates must disclose how they were used.
• Please note that salary expectation should be listed as a daily consultant rate (not annual salary).

• Master’s Degree or PhD in relevant field (e.g., public health, anthropology, sociology, demography, epidemiology, behavioral science, economics)
• Experience writing and/or editing professional quality research outputs on topics relevant to PSI’s work across global health (e.g., women’s health, malaria, HIV, immunization, global health security, One Health, health systems strengthening).
• Previous experience providing consultant services similar to those detailed in the scope of work
• Demonstrated qualifications and expertise to conduct the tasks listed under the selected scope of work
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to independently produce deliverables
• Ability to work across teams, time zones, and groups over whom there is no direct authority to accomplish project goals
• Experience and excellence in working with large, multinational and intercultural teams
• French language skills a plus

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