Associate Director Policy - J-PAL Africa

J-PAL Africa seeks a strategic, passionate individual to join our team as Associate Director of Policy. 

The position will be based at J-PAL Africa, the Africa hub of J-PAL Global, which is located in the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) in the University of Cape Town, School of Economics. 

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) consists of a global network of academics who specialise in conducting randomised evaluations of social policies/programmes to generate scientific evidence about what works in the fight against poverty. J-PAL’s policy group analyses and disseminates research results and builds partnerships with policymakers to ensure that policy is driven by evidence, and effective programmes are scaled up. 

This role provides an unparalleled opportunity to lead one of the most influential organizations in the evidence to policy space.

Requirements for the position:

• NQF9 qualification (i.e., masters equivalent) in public policy, economics or related fields including graduate level courses in econometrics/ statistics, microeconomics, or development economics
• 5 years relevant work experience
• Demonstrated ability to analyze rigorous quantitative research
• Experience leading policy outreach including strategically identifying and mobilizing appropriate policymakers and developing and maintaining these relationships
• Experience in identifying, designing, and supporting opportunities for scaling up effective programmes/ policies and using scientific evidence to inform policy decisions
• Demonstrated leadership and programme management experience, including contributing to team strategy, hiring, and training staff
• Experience organising, managing, and presenting at training/ dissemination events, including preparing high quality written materials and presentations
• Proven ability to handle multiple diverse assignments at one time, successfully complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines while producing high-quality outputs
• Experience managing grants, including budget management, proposal/ report writing and donor relationships
• Willingness to travel extensively
• Advanced writing and oral presentation skills in English, particularly the ability to communicate technical research to policymakers in a non-technical manner
• Strong skills in Ms Excel, Ms Word and Ms PowerPoint

The following will be advantageous:

• Professional level of French, both in writing and oral skills

Responsibilities include:

• Setting the vision for the Policy & Communications team at J-PAL Africa, in collaboration with J-PAL Africa leadership and other Policy leaders at J-PAL Global and other Regional Offices
• Identify and support opportunities for evidence-informed policy making and scaling up programmes in Sub- Saharan Africa:
• Questioning and refining ways of working with governments and other partners to increase and improve the use of rigorous evidence in policymaking
• Identifying and cultivating opportunities for evidence use, matchmaking policymakers with appropriate resources or technical assistance
• Fundraising for pilot and scaling projects
• Maintaining relationships with key actors in the evidence to policy space, and J-PAL’s researcher network working on the continent
• Managing the Policy team to deliver on the strategy: recruit, train, onboard and manage for performance
• Managing external relations and communications for J-PAL Africa overall, as well as Policy engagements (events and communication campaigns)

For more information about the details of this position please refer to the attached position description.

The 2022 annual cost of employment, including benefits, is between R906 943 and R1, 066,991 dependent on qualifications, skills, and experience.

J-PAL Africa seeks a strategic, passionate individual to join our team as Associate Director of Policy. 

The position will be based at J-PAL Africa, the Africa hub of J-PAL Global, which is located in the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) in the University of Cape Town, School of Economics. 

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) consists of a global network of academics who specialise in conducting randomised evaluations of social policies/programmes to generate scientific evidence about what works in the fight against poverty. J-PAL’s policy group analyses and disseminates research results and builds partnerships with policymakers to ensure that policy is driven by evidence, and effective programmes are scaled up. 

This role provides an unparalleled opportunity to lead one of the most influential organizations in the evidence to policy space.

Requirements for the position:

• NQF9 qualification (i.e., masters equivalent) in public policy, economics or related fields including graduate level courses in econometrics/ statistics, microeconomics, or development economics
• 5 years relevant work experience
• Demonstrated ability to analyze rigorous quantitative research
• Experience leading policy outreach including strategically identifying and mobilizing appropriate policymakers and developing and maintaining these relationships
• Experience in identifying, designing, and supporting opportunities for scaling up effective programmes/ policies and using scientific evidence to inform policy decisions
• Demonstrated leadership and programme management experience, including contributing to team strategy, hiring, and training staff
• Experience organising, managing, and presenting at training/ dissemination events, including preparing high quality written materials and presentations
• Proven ability to handle multiple diverse assignments at one time, successfully complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines while producing high-quality outputs
• Experience managing grants, including budget management, proposal/ report writing and donor relationships
• Willingness to travel extensively
• Advanced writing and oral presentation skills in English, particularly the ability to communicate technical research to policymakers in a non-technical manner
• Strong skills in Ms Excel, Ms Word and Ms PowerPoint

The following will be advantageous:

• Professional level of French, both in writing and oral skills

Responsibilities include:

• Setting the vision for the Policy & Communications team at J-PAL Africa, in collaboration with J-PAL Africa leadership and other Policy leaders at J-PAL Global and other Regional Offices
• Identify and support opportunities for evidence-informed policy making and scaling up programmes in Sub- Saharan Africa:
• Questioning and refining ways of working with governments and other partners to increase and improve the use of rigorous evidence in policymaking
• Identifying and cultivating opportunities for evidence use, matchmaking policymakers with appropriate resources or technical assistance
• Fundraising for pilot and scaling projects
• Maintaining relationships with key actors in the evidence to policy space, and J-PAL’s researcher network working on the continent
• Managing the Policy team to deliver on the strategy: recruit, train, onboard and manage for performance
• Managing external relations and communications for J-PAL Africa overall, as well as Policy engagements (events and communication campaigns)

For more information about the details of this position please refer to the attached position description.

The 2023 annual cost of employment, including benefits, is between R961 360 and R1, 131 011 dependent on

qualifications, skills, and experience.