About LINC

LINC is a mission-driven small business headquartered in Washington, DC dedicated to strengthening local actors and systems. At LINC, we believe that a practical approach to engaging committed, capable local actors increase international development effectiveness and sustainability. The recipient of USAID’s “Small Business of the Year” award in 2017, we are a team of reflective practitioners, passionate and energetic in our work, and committed to locally led development. We have developed ground-breaking tools to map organizational networks, measure social capital, and leverage systems-based approaches to development. We partner with major universities, foundations, local NGOs and consulting firms, USAID, and FCDO among others. Our country experience spans Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. For more information on LINC, please visit www.linclocal.org.

Purpose of Project

This project, funded by USAID, seeks to critically assess the “data enrichment” labor market in the Global South and its role within global AI value chains. The research will investigate the size, demographics, and working conditions of workers, as well as the socio-economic implications of AI-supporting labor. The findings will inform strategies that promote equitable and just conditions for workers in developing regions.

Position Description

We are seeking a qualified Team Lead to oversee and guide this multidisciplinary research initiative. The ideal candidate will combine expertise in labor economics, AI value chains, and research leadership to deliver impactful results. Experience with global value chains, systems thinking, and the tech industry as a whole are desirable. This position will be remote with potential travel to project regions. This is a proposal position contingent upon award.

Responsibilities

As the Team Lead, you will provide:

Project Leadership:

Lead the design and execution of the research project, ensuring alignment with the project goals and deliverables.
Manage the day-to-day operations of the research team, including timelines, budgets, and reporting.

Research Oversight:

Guide the development of research methodologies, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach combining sociotechnical, ethnographic, and economic and political-economic analyses.
Oversee data collection processes, analysis, and synthesis related to AI labor markets in the Global South (multiple countries).

Stakeholder Engagement:

Liaise or collaborate with governments, donors, labor unions, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders to gather insights and ground-truth initial assumptions, hypotheses and findings.
Present interim and final research results to stakeholders through reports, presentations, and workshops.

Team Management:

Oversee a team of researchers across relevant disciplines, including economics, computer science, and social sciences, in order to develop and answer research questions to a novel degree of depth and rigor.
Collaborate with the LINC Technical Director to ensure timeliness and quality of products, and appropriateness of approaches,
Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the team to ensure high-quality output and ensure research integrity, and sophistication.

Ethical and Inclusive Research:

Ensure that the project adheres to ethical research practices, particularly when engaging vulnerable populations.
Promote inclusivity and diversity within the research framework and among the team.

Reporting and Communication:

Deliver regular progress reports to USAID and other stakeholders.
Produce high-quality publications and policy briefs to disseminate findings to academic and non-academic audiences while contributing to the greater scholarly and industry discussion around AI, labor, exploitation, negative and positive externalities, as well as emerging opportunities.

Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Labor Economics, Political Economy, Sociology, Anthropology, Computer Science, Public Policy, or related disciplines).
Minimum of 7 years of experience leading research projects, preferably in topics related to labor markets, AI value chains, or across the Global South.
Strong background in mixed-methods research, including qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Demonstrated expertise in managing multidisciplinary teams and fostering collaboration across diverse disciplines.
Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines.
Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and present findings clearly.
Understanding of the AI industry, particularly data enrichment processes and value chains.
Willingness to travel to project regions if required.
Proficiency in English (required); knowledge of additional languages spoken in the Global South is a plus.

Experience working with USAID and labor research or tech industry preferred.
Publications or thought leadership in areas related to AI labor markets, labor rights, or equitable development preferred.

Application deadline: January 21, 2025

LINC jobs

Team Lead, Research on AI Labor Markets in the Global South