Senior Manager, Right-Fit Evidence (Africa)

Position Summary

IPA’s Right-Fit Evidence (RFE) Unit is seeking a Senior Manager to manage the strategic delivery of an exciting multi-country project focused on scaling effective education interventions. The project will work with a large bilateral to deploy monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) as well as research activities for 10 “scale pilots” to inform scaling decisions and further the evidence on scaling and education. Your initial role will focus on project and technical management for this project, overseeing the pilot MEL activities and coordinating a large internal and external team.

You will also be part of RFE’s management team and contribute to RFE’s strategy, managing 2-3 Advisors and reporting to a Director. You will work closely with other colleagues across RFE and IPA.

Responsibilities

Manage the strategic delivery of a large multi-country project, possibly additional projects, as part of impactful advisory engagements (70 – 75%)

As a key point of contact for a wide range of clients, including implementers, funders, and government agencies, you will often manage multiple project teams to develop tailor-made solutions for their evidence, learning and M&E needs and guide their quality implementation. The main project will be in education though other projects may form part of your portfolio, across multiple sectors. Specific responsibilities may include:

• Manage the design, content, and delivery of a large multi-partner, multi-country project. Serve as the project management function working with a large bilateral funder and a large internal team, oversee MEL/research conducted through our country offices and external partners. Technical leadership for the design and implementation of right-fit MEL activities to inform scaling decision and address evidence gaps, working collaboratively with funders, government stakeholders, and implementers. Technical aspects of the work could include theory of change and learning plan development workshops, mixed methods evaluation design, cost-effectiveness modeling, MEL system technical assistance, data use guidance, evidence reviews, etc.;
• Over time, manage other RFE engagements with various teams across various sectors
• Serve as the point of contact for a wide range of clients;
• Manage RFE Advisor(s) on projects to develop and implement tailor-made solutions for our clients’ MEL needs; and
• Manage project finances, ensuring high-quality outputs are delivered at- or under budget

Contribute to new business development and external relationship management (10-20%)

As a Manager in RFE, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the design of an exciting lineup of new engagements, providing valuable and innovative services to our clients and expanding our impact on MEL practices in development and humanitarian sectors. You will:

• Contribute key ideas to match partner needs for new potential engagements in collaboration with IPA Research, Sector, and Policy teams;
• Coordinate proposal development processes, often managing Advisors on content preparation
• Interface with active or potential funders, occasionally representing RFE and IPA, in conferences and other events; and
• Support RFE thought leadership and global influence through the production and dissemination of public goods

Contribute to IPA & Right-Fit Evidence Unit Strategy & Team Development (10 -15%)

The RFE Management team is key to driving the strategic impact potential of the unit as well as the growth and development of a dynamic, diverse team of approximately 30 staff based in over 10 countries around the world. You will:

• Take a proactive role in the innovation and implementation of various products and services, likely managing the ongoing development of one key RFE product;
• Manage the performance of 2-3 high-capacity Advisors in the team, including professional development and support for sustainability, workload, and well-being;
• Strengthen internal management systems;
• Manage at least one goal within RFE’s annual strategic plan (with specific assignments based on skills and interests); and
• Encourage a positive work environment rooted in IPA values, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as well-being and sustainability.

Qualifications

There are several different profiles that could fit this position well. Here are some examples, but these are not exhaustive so if you do not have these backgrounds but feel like you meet the qualifications below, you are encouraged to apply.

• Consulting professionals with some international development experience who would be excited to apply their skills in an entrepreneurial and impact-focused environment
• Evaluators and M&E practitioners who are passionate about using data for learning and action and are interested in using their expertise for client-focused advisory services
• International development research management professionals who enjoy working closely with funders and practitioners and who would like to expand their experience and skills to all types of data and evidence that can inform decision-making.

Additional Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international public policy, (development) economics, or related fields, with coursework in quantitative methods. MBAs also welcome.
• 5+ years of relevant work experience, including experience in M&E (public sector), education policy or program management (public/non-profit/private sectors), organizational performance/R&D/operational research (private sector), or experience in management consulting/other professional services.
• Exposure to the design and management of evidence, learning, monitoring, and evaluation strategies and systems
• Superior analytical, quantitative, and conceptual thinking skills
• Project and people management experience and demonstration of associated skillsets
• Demonstrated ability to coach and train others on technical matters
• Strong stakeholder management and client-facing communication skills with ability to present information in a structured and insightful way, both verbally and in writing
• Relevant work experience in low- and middle-income countries
• Familiarity with global debates around M&E and the use of evidence for decision-making
• Entrepreneurial self-starter mindset, highly adaptable, and versatile, with strong multi-tasking skills
• Ability to travel up to 20% of your time
• Passion for making data-driven decision-making a reality in the development sector

Preferred

• Prior experience in consultancy or provision of similar professional services
• Expertise in multiple sectors of international development and/or humanitarian work, particularly in education
• Experience working in philanthropy and/or with government stakeholders
• Experience producing, publishing, and/or disseminating public goods for policy influence and advocacy
• Appreciation for the strengths and limitations of various data collection and evaluation methods and the ability to match the appropriate method(s) to a variety of circumstances
• Expertise in specific areas of monitoring, evaluation, and learning
• Familiarity with M&E technology and exposure to Survey CTO, ODK, or similar data collection software
• Experience with qualitative data collection and analysis
• Experience leading project or program evaluations
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
• Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish
• Lived experience in Africa and/or in low- and middle-income countries

Compensation:

IPA’s compensation structure is designed based on the labor market for the specific geographic location where the employee is located. We are offering the following US-based salary ranges for this position:

Senior Manager is classified as “C3” on IPA’s global job structure. For US-based employees, the starting annual gross salary is $93,500 with a maximum of $103,500.

Please note that the salary for locations outside of the US will vary depending on IPA’s salary scale ranges for that specific location. Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location.

Reports to

Associate Director, Right-Fit Evidence Unit

How to apply

Application Instructions

Click here to Apply

Deadline to Apply

October 8th

Location

• To maximize collaboration and yield the best outcomes, the Right-Fit Evidence unit believes it is critical that the individual in this role be located in one of our African-based Country Offices (Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, or Zambia). Candidates who are located within these countries or who are willing to relocate will be strongly preferred. We are open to considering candidates who are currently located outside of these countries, but willing to relocate to an IPA African-based Country Office. If you are currently not residing in an African country where IPA has an office and would require relocation as well as work permits or authorization, please indicate these details as part of your application.
• However, this role may be flexible to US-based hires in exceptional circumstances.

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of the world’s poor. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 900 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Safeguarding at IPA

At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.

IPA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

As an organization, IPA is dedicated to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations through evidence and policy. We also recognize how important it is for our staff to reflect the diversity of the places where we work and the communities we work with. As such, IPA is committed to hiring from a diverse pool of candidates, from a range of backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, and perspectives. We know that this makes our work stronger and more responsive to the challenges faced by those we work with and for and we encourage people from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Click here to learn more about IPA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Innovations for Poverty Action is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected class. IPA will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or to participate in an interview, please contact us at jobs@poverty-action.org or via phone at 1-202-386-6200. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by the specified position. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs@poverty-action.org. Please note that only qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring manager