J-PAL is a network of academics who conduct randomized evaluations of poverty programs around the world. Research Assistant positions throughout the network are primarily filled through a common annual recruiting drive which takes place from January-March of each year.
Typical Profile of a Research Assistant
Research Assistants typically have a Bachelor’s Degree in economics, social sciences, or other related fields. Excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills are required along with strong quantitative skills. Knowledge of STATA or other data analysis software is preferred. These positions are ideal for those seeking hands on research and/or development experience and for those planning to go on to graduate studies. Candidates should be independent and self-motivating; experience in developing countries is a strong plus; graduate-level coursework in economics are a strong plus; undergraduate training in microeconomics, development economics, econometrics and statistics is preferred; local language skills are desirable.
Special Note for Students
J-PAL does not take on part-time or short-term research assistants: all of the research assistant positions are full time and for a minimum of one year, although many are for a minimum of 14 months or 24 months. Limited internship opportunities in J-PAL's Cambridge office for students from the Harvard MPP and MPA/ID programs, and from the MIT undergraduate economics program. Two J-PAL partner organizations have specific internship programs: the Centre for Microfinance in India runs a summer internship program, and Innovations for Poverty Action offers limited internships in its field offices. In addition, J-PAL Europe, based at the Paris School of Economics, has limited opportunities on an as-needed basis.
Executive Director SEFC, Chennai, India Posting Date: April 29, 2009 Start Date: TBD (apply by June 30, 2009)
THE CENTRE:
The microfinance revolution has provided micro-entrepreneurs access to finance to start their businesses. But what will allow them to become bigger and better businesses? While large private banks would like to lend to this market, they do not know how to service this segment. The Small Enterprise Finance Centre (SEFC) at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) in Chennai, India aims to fill this gap. The Centre works with top academics from MIT, Harvard, and London Business School, in addition to leading private banks, such as ICICI Bank, and many large microfinance institutions to create innovative ways to lend to small businesses. These ideas are tested through randomized evaluations and experimental designs. The ones which work will be scaled by partner banks to reach millions of entrepreneurs. Through rigorous testing of ideas the Centre will play a role in the development of small business financing in India.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
SEFC is looking to hire an Executive Director of the Centre. The Executive Director will be responsible for managing research projects, research associates, relationships with partner organizations, fundraising, and the Centre as a whole, including internal relations with IFMR. The key responsibilities in this role will be as follows:
Project Management: The research projects running through the Centre are primarily driven by researchers at MIT, Harvard, etc. The Executive Director maintains a close relationship with these researchers, providing the necessary resources and operational support. Specifically, the Executive Director manages and coordinates the logistics for projects, ensures the projects are run in accordance with IFMR policies, and maintains the project budgets.
Research Associate Management: SEFC Research Associates (RAs) are responsible for the implementation of our research projects. The Executive Director provides advices to the RAs at each stage of the research process, trains RAs, guides field operations, works with the RAs on the research budget for each project, facilitates communication flows with researchers and partner organizations, and evaluates the performance of RAs.
Partner Management: SEFC collaborates with multiple stakeholders (Banks, MFI partners, etc), each playing a critical role in the work of the Centre. The Executive Director oversees these relationships to ensure successful communication and collaboration with partner organizations. The Executive Director also liaises with potential partners to initiate project implementation.
Fundraising Management: The Executive Director manages funding opportunities and relationships. This includes searching for new opportunities, coordinating with researchers to ensure successful and timely proposal submissions, and reporting to existing funders.
Centre Management: The Executive Director creates the strategy for the day-to-day operations of the Centre to ensure it runs effectively and efficiently. This includes tracking budgets and cash flows, creating and implementing human resource policies, and building operational infrastructure.
IFMR Relationship Management: The Executive Director plays a key role in representing SEFC within the larger IFMR research community. This includes coordinating with the administration, other research Centres, and the IFMR Trust for events, initiatives, meetings, and joint fundraising. In addition, the Executive Director plans SEFC workshops, seminars, and conferences at IFMR.
THE SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
This unique opportunity to shape the vision and direction of the Centre as it moves forward is competitive, and we are seeking candidates with strong project and personnel management skills.
Must Have-
Graduate degree in Economics, Finance, Development, or related fields
Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience as a manager
Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships and partner organizations
Demonstrated ability to self-manage and thrive in entrepreneurial work settings
Ability to perform high quality research derive key issues
Desire and capacity to work in a multi-function team in a dynamic, developing country context
Strong skills in verbal and written communication, leading and motivating others, planning and execution, and team building
Preferable-
Experience in nonprofit management, applied research, organizational development, finance or consulting
Experience in developing country settings, and experience in India, ideally
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
This position is open to both Indian as well as Foreign applicants. Foreign applicants will be considered only if they have previously lived and worked in a developing country.
Interested candidates can send in their CVs and motivation letters to application.sefcATgmail.com. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The last date which candidates may apply is June 30th, 2009.
County Director
IPA, Peru Posting Date: July 1, 2009 Start Date: TBD (apply by June 30, 2009)
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is looking for a Country Director to manage operations in Peru. Current research projects in Peru are aimed at increasing policy-relevant knowledge on expanding access to finance. Key topics include the nature of demand for financial services; the extent of impacts of financial access on incomes, businesses, and broader aspects of well being; and mechanisms that can increase impact and scale. We are also expanding our research scope into areas such as education, business regulation, value chain development, and health.
Job Description: The Country Director manages the research activities of the IPA Peru office in the following ways:
Manage a team of Project Associates and their studies, including budgeting, project design and implementation, data collection, data management and analysis, and reports.
Liaise with US-based Principal Investigators and IPA headquarters.
Initiate and manage the development of new research proposals including both the technical design as well as identifying and applying for funding support.
Manage relationships with current and potential IPA partner organizations in the implementation of interventions whose effect we are researching.
Disseminate results via local and international presentations, reports, and publications.
Oversee basic administrative tasks related to the management of the Peru office, ensure compliance with Peruvian legal and regulatory requirements as well as grant reporting and other financial management tasks.
THE SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Must Have-
Graduate degree in international affairs, international public policy, development economics, or field related to international economic development.
Very high level of proficiency in English and Spanish. Strong oral and written communications skills.
Excellent management and organizational skills and ability to work independently.
Experience in conducting field research in developing countries, cultural sensitivity, and demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies.
Experience in economics or social science research, with a background in randomized control trials.
Preferred
Experience with or knowledge of microfinance.
Experience with data management, econometrics, and advanced knowledge of STATA.
How to Apply
Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@poverty-action.org with subject “Peru CD”.
Project Associate Monrovia, Liberia Posting Date: May 12, 2009 Start Date: August or September, 2009
IPA is currently seeking a field-based Project Associate (PA) or Project Coordinator (PC) to coordinate impact evaluations of a suite of post-conflict peacebuilding, democratization, and ex-combatant reintegration programs in Liberia.
Project Associates principally assist in implementing randomized evaluations. They work closely with academic researchers and IPA field staff to perform a variety tasks including: designing survey questionnaires, managing survey teams, negotiating contracts with survey firms, cleaning and analyzing data, and coordinating with local partners running the programs being evaluated. Project Coordinators perform these tasks as well as additional project management and budgeting duties, and more advanced analysis. Strong candidates may also have an opportunity to engage in qualitative and ethnographic field work, and the design and management of the development and peacebuilding interventions themselves.
PAs typically have a Bachelor’s Degree in economics, political science, or other related fields. PCs typically hold a Master's degree or have experience in evaluations or international development. Excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills are required along with strong quantitative skills. Knowledge of statistics and STATA or other data analysis software is strongly preferred, as is prior experience living or working in a developing.
Both positions are ideal for those seeking hands on research and/or development experience and for those planning to go on to graduate studies.
The PA/PC will work closely with Chris Blattman, Professor of Political Science and Economics at Yale University, as well as other principal investigators. The position requires extensive travel within Liberia, with the capital, Monrovia, serving as a (part-time) home base. Living and working conditions in Liberia are basic but secure.
The position is likely to start in the Summer or Fall of 2009. IPA is seeking a minimum one year commitment. An ability to commit for longer periods is preferred.
If you are interested in this position, please go to http://apply.povertyactionlab.org/apply/login, and select "Field Based Research Assistant" as the position you are applying for. Your application should highlight any field experience and training in statistics.
The application deadline is June 1, 2009, but reviews of applications and interviews may begin sooner. Please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Project Associate
TBD, Equador
Posting Date: July 1, 2009
Start Date: August 2009
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating, evaluating, and replicating innovative solutions to poverty and policy problems worldwide. We help reduce poverty by designing, implementing, and testing the effectiveness of innovative new approaches to the problems of development that take into account the latest findings from economic research. Our studies carefully evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches through the use of randomized control trials.
Some of out research projects are aimed at increasing policy-relevant knowledge on expanding poor people’s access to financial products. Key topics include the nature of demand for financial services; the extent of impacts of financial access on incomes, businesses, and broader aspects of well being; mechanisms that can increase impact and scale, and the success of combining microcredit with other services such as business or health education or agricultural support. For more information, please review the Innovations for Poverty Action web site, especially http://poverty-action.org/getinvolved/careers.
Job Description:
The Project Associate will manage the day-to-day operations of a quantitative research project that evaluates ways to increase poor people’s access to savings. Specific activities will include coordinating with staff of our partner organization, monitoring research activities, and coordinating data entry, cleanup, and analysis. An eight month commitment is required starting August 2009.
THE SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Must Have-
BA in economics, social sciences, or a related field.
Very high level of proficiency in English and Spanish. Strong oral and written communications skills.
Excellent management and organizational skills and ability to work independently.
Developing country experience, cultural sensitivity, and demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies.
Preferred-
Familiarity with Ecuador.
Experience with or knowledge of microfinance.
Coursework in econometrics, proficiency with STATA or experience with data management.
Familiarity with randomized control trials.
To apply, send cover letter and resume to jobs-latinamerica at poverty-action.org with subject line "Ecuador PA."
Senior Policy Associate Cambridge, MA, United States Posting Date: June 15, 2009 Start Date: Fall 2009
Position Background: Since its creation in 2003, J-PAL has been highly successful in promoting the need for better evidence based policy and expanding the knowledge of, interest in, and use of randomized trials of social programs. In only the past three years, our network of professors has expanded from 11 to 33, our completed projects from 20 to 73, and the countries we work in from 10 to 30. As the number of projects grows dramatically so has the need to draw out policy lessons and expand the policy outreach.
Specifically, J-PAL is looking to hire Senior Policy Associates (SPAs) toleadJ-PAL’s policy outreach initiatives, and more generally help J-PAL’s directors build a culture of evaluation and evidence-based policy making. SPAs will report to J-PAL’s three directors who will give the SPAs general direction, but the SPAs will be given broad responsibility over a specific policy outreach domain.
Responsibilities:
SPAs responsibilities will include reaching out to key actors in the policy world to promote evidence-based decision making and programs in response to J-PAL’s research findings. Specifically, this includes the following:
Meeting with and building relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies. Giving presentations on what J-PAL is and does and J-PAL’s research findings, encouraging key contacts to attend J-PAL’s courses, and encouraging key contacts to run randomized trials (whether with us or on their own).
Initiating and leading targeted campaigns to massively expand specific programs and policies that J-PAL finds to be highly cost-effective and replicable. This requires identifying and targeting groups who are suitable for adopting and implementing the program/policy to be scaled-up (e.g. governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies).
Identifying and targeting donors, connecting them to the potential implementers, and securing major gifts.
Reviewing academic literature on randomized evaluations in development economics to draw out policy lessons from these field evaluations, undertaking cross-sectoral comparative cost effectiveness reviews of J-PAL’s randomized evaluations, identifying the most cost-effective policies and programs that are candidates for massive expansion.
Creating policy memos and presentations that “translate” this economic research into policy lessons for dissemination to policy makers around the world (see for example the Policy Bulletins and Briefcases under the Publications section on J-PAL’s website).
Qualifications:
An SPA will typically have a masters or Ph.D. in economics; or a masters or Ph.D. in Public Policy with a concentration in economics.
Between 5 to 20 years of work experience in the field(s) of international development and economics.
Demonstrated strong ability to interact with very high-level contacts in public policy, for example contact with senior functionaries in foreign governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies.
SPAs should ideally have a research background in both international development policy and economics to effectively translate the academic research in development economics to policy lessons.
Experience in leading and managing teams since an important responsibility of SPAs is to lead targeted campaigns to massively expand specific programs and policies that J-PAL finds to be highly cost-effective and replicable.
To apply: Please submit the following documents in PDF format to Tricia Gonwa via email at Gonwa@mit.edu: (1) a cover letter clearly addressing your qualifications for the various responsibilities listed above, (2) Curriculum Vitae (Resume), and (3) transcripts of your undergraduate and graduate courses (including course names and grades). Applicants will be notified in September if they are invited to follow-up interviews.
Please note that this position is not eligible for any type of Visa sponsorship.
Opportunities with Partner Organizations
Innovations for Poverty Action, a partner organization of J-PAL which also does randomized evaluations, is also currently recruiting for a variety of positions in Mali, Mexico, Philippines, and the US. For IPA's job openings and instructions on how to apply, please see http://poverty-action.org/getinvolved/careers
The Centre for Micro Finance, a partner organization of J-PAL which also does randomized evaluations, is also currently recruiting for a variety of positions, all in India. for CMF's job openings and instructions for how to apply, please see http://ifmr.ac.in/cmf/openings.html
