🇸🇱 Job Vacancies @ Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) – Research Associate

Position Summary

Sierra Leone is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual with outstanding project management, data analysis, people management, and communication skills as a (Senior) Research Associate to support the implementation of the scale up of the social incentives for child immunization (SICI) program. This project is lead by CO-PIs Anne Karing (University of Chicago) and Shana Warren (IPA) and seeks to build off past research illustrating the impact of the SICI program and develop a genuine pathway to scale and governmental ownership. The (Senior) Research Associate position is a unique opportunity to combine significant project management experience with involvement in cutting-edge development research on a growing and passionate IPA Sierra Leone team.

As an ideal candidate, you not only have a solid technical foundation in impact evaluation methodology, but you can also independently guide and direct the activities that happen both upstream and downstream of any rigorous, randomized evaluation. You enjoy contributing to high-performing teams that drive the production of the highest quality research for our clients and partners. You excel in solving problems using clear, strategic, and creative thinking. You have a strong social acumen and are excited about the opportunity to broaden, deepen, and manage meaningful relationships with high-level clients and partners across the public, academic, non-governmental, and multilateral sectors.

Responsibilities

Research & Data Tasks (45%)

• Coordinate research and implementation efforts with all relevant stakeholders;
• Recruiting, training and supervising field-based teams;
• Refining and piloting survey questionnaires
• Supervising and monitoring data collection to ensure high-quality of the data;
• Supporting data quality checks and fixing issues with data collected during data collection;
• Assisting in data cleaning and preliminary analysis and ensuring ready access to all data for researchers and/or supervisors;

Communication Responsibility (30%)

• Documenting in detail all activities related to the project;
• Maintaining accurate records of interviews, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary;
• Preparing high-quality progress and results reports to Principal Investigators (PI), research partners, and funding agencies, and sharing them timely;
• Providing timely updates and responses to partner organizations, and participating in meetings with key stakeholders;
• Handling day to day PI and partner communications;
• Keep the Country Director and Associate Research Manager apprised of all developments in the project and serve as the key link between the field staff, research team, and Principal Investigators.

Staff Oversight (10%)

• Providing training and direct supervision for research project staff (Field Manager);

Project Management (15%)

• Managing project finances including budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting;
• Ensuring that all team members follow necessary protocols and procedures;

Qualifications

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, or other quantitative social science disciplines;
• Quantitative Skills: Strong technical understanding of economics and econometrics. Demonstrated proficiency in Stata, and experience with data management, data cleaning, and regression analysis
• A minimum of 2-year of work experience is required.
• Ability to collaborate among geographically and culturally diverse teams to drive common goals
• Interculturally-versed to build capacity, work with, and live in Sierra Leone;
• Excellent management and organizational skills;
• Ability to successfully completing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines;
• Communication Skills: Attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills;
• Language: English fluency required;
• Experience with public health interventions a plus.

Preferred

• Master's degree in economics, public policy, or other quantitative social science disciplines
• Experience managing field staff in developing countries strongly preferred;
• A roll-up-your-sleeves and ‘get it done’ attitude: maintains focus, measures progress and outcomes, and ensures accountability
• Great communicator: clearly and succinctly conveys information and ideas in a variety of situations, communicating in a focused and compelling way that drives others’ thoughts and actions
• Entrepreneurial spirit: takes calculated risks, offers fresh ideas and approaches to create greater value, impact and differentiation
• Positive approach: demonstrates a poised, credible, and confident demeanor that reassures others, commands respect, and conveys an image that is consistent with IPA’s core values even when faced with difficult situations
• Quality orientation: accomplishes work by considering all areas involved, no matter how detailed, shows concern for all aspects of the job, accurately checks processes and tasks, and ensures high-quality outputs

Travel Requirement

Occasional trips to field to monitor data collection

Reports to

Associate Research Manager

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so early submissions are encouraged.

Anticipated Start Date

March 1st, 2025

Location

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Working Model

On-site, 5 days per week at the IPA Office in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Remote work is not feasible for this position

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. Please note that only qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring manager.

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