About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role Overview

Confidential Client is seeking a Junior Program Evaluation Specialist to support program assessment, evidence-building, and data-driven decision-making for research, development, test & evaluation (RDT&E) portfolios and related DHS science & technology activities. This early-career role supports senior evaluators and program managers by helping develop logic models, collecting and validating data, and performing entry-level analyses that inform technology transition and operational capability development.

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What You’ll Do

• Assist in developing evaluation plans aligned with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act), DHS evaluation policies, and organizational priorities.
• Support creation of logic models, theories of change, and performance measures for RDT&E programs.
• Conduct foundational data collection and validation (interviews, surveys, literature reviews, document review).
• Perform entry-level qualitative and quantitative analyses under supervision.
• Prepare draft summaries, visualizations, and findings for internal review.
• Track evaluation tasks, timelines, and documentation across multiple projects.
• Ensure compliance with data governance, privacy, and information security standards.
• Contribute to learning agenda activities and maintain evidence inventories.

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Required Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of program evaluation, social science research methods, or performance measurement.
• US citizenship (required).
• Bachelor’s degree with 2–4 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree with 0–2 years of relevant experience.
• Reliable data collection and organization skills.
• Interest in homeland security, science & technology, or applied research environments.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Flexibility to recommend alternative methods when appropriate.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Internship, coursework, or project experience in program evaluation, data analysis, or program assessment.
• Familiarity with Evidence Act principles, DHS mission areas, or federal RDT&E processes.
• Experience producing basic visualizations and written findings for technical or non‑technical audiences.

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Working Conditions

• Remote work with occasional travel to client sites and evaluation locations. Client offices are located at DHS’ St. Elizabeth campus in Washington, D.C.
• Position classified as full-time.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Pay range: $87,000 – $116,000 per year, commensurate with experience and education.
• Confidential Client offers competitive benefits; details available during the hiring process.

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About the Employer

Confidential Client is an organization operating in the Engineering industry that provides applied research and technical support to government and other partners. The organization values employee development, collaboration, and evidence-based approaches to solving operational problems.

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Candidate Attributes

• Thought-provoking and analytical.
• Team player with strong collaboration skills.
• Innovative and eager to introduce fresh ideas.
• Detail-oriented and dedicated to task completion.
• Self-starter motivated by growth opportunities and clear goals.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.