Policy & Delivery Lead - UJALA Rabat, Morocco - J-PAL Global

Position Overview:

We are recruiting a Policy and Delivery Lead to be based at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Rabat, Morocco. The UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA) generates rigorous, policy-relevant evidence on small-scale agriculture and food security in Africa. The Policy & Delivery Lead will lead UJALA’s policy and communications vertical, and play a cross-cutting role in advancing delivery and execution across all verticals, including research, training, and operations.

About UJALA:

J-PAL and UM6P have partnered to form the UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA). UJALA funds research to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies and practices designed to increase small-scale farmers’ food security, productivity, and profitability. UJALA aims to answer critical questions related to designing and delivering effective food and agricultural subsidies, assessing the value of fertilizer customization to crop needs and soil nutrients, reducing low-income households’ reliance on imported food, alleviating farmers’ constraints to adopting and maintaining new agricultural technologies and practices, and connecting farmers to markets that sell at competitive prices.

About UM6P: 

University Mohammed VI Polytechnic is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation with a focus on Africa. The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. This enables it to consolidate Morocco’s frontline position in these fields, using a unique partnership-based approach, and boost skills training relevant for the future of Africa.

About J-PAL: 

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of over 200 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

Responsibilities:

As Policy and Delivery Lead, you will report to UJALA’s Director and work closely with J-PAL Global and its regional offices; UJALA’s finance, operations, research, and training teams; and key partners across government, private sector, and multilateral institutions. Your responsibilities will include:

Delivery leadership across verticals (30%) 

• Support the Director in translating UJALA’s strategic vision into clear, actionable workstreams across research, policy, training, and operations.
• Coordinate with vertical leads to ensure alignment, timely delivery, and cross-team coordination.
• Lead on lab-wide implementation planning, internal coordination, and progress tracking.
• Serve as the Director’s delegate in cross-vertical meetings and external engagements where needed.

Project development and policy engagement (25%) 

• Lead early-stage engagement with implementing partners and researchers to scope opportunities for new impact evaluations.
• Coordinate proposal development, internal review, and alignment with research and policy priorities.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to embed evaluation components into existing or planned agricultural programs.
• Represent UJALA in relevant meetings, conferences, and workshops

Policy communication and evidence translation (25%) 

• Shape and execute UJALA’s policy engagement strategy across target geographies and institutions.
• Oversee the production of high-impact policy communication materials, including evidence products, tailored to the lab’s audiences.
• Ensure consistency and quality across UJALA’s external-facing communications, including its request for proposals package, web content, policy blogs, and donor reports.

Team management and cross-functional collaboration (20%) 

• Manage Policy Associates and coordinate with other verticals at UJALA to align messaging and activities.
• Contribute to internal strategic planning and annual work plans.
• Lead on donor and leadership reporting efforts.

Supervision:

The Policy and Delivery Lead will report directly to the Lab Director and work in close coordination with the Research Manager, the Finance & Operations Manager and relevant J-PAL Global staff. They will collaborate with the Director on staff supervision, including overseeing their workplans, providing coaching, and ensuring quality and timeliness in output.

Qualifications and Skills: 

• Education:
  • A master’s degree in public policy, economics, political science, international development, or a related field is required. A strong grounding in impact evaluation methods and evidence-informed policy is highly preferred.
• Experience: 
  • A required minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience, including stakeholder engagement, policy advising, or program management roles in government, multilateral organizations, NGOs, or policy-oriented research settings.
  • Track record of managing complex projects or portfolios across teams or functions, ideally in international or multi-stakeholder settings.
  • Experience in managing partnerships or delivering technical assistance to public sector or international development institutions.
  • Proven ability to supervise staff, build and maintain partnerships, and translate strategy into implementation.
• Strategy and Execution:
  • Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and project execution skills. Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and drive initiatives forward with minimal oversight.
• Work style:
  • Strategic and proactive ability to identify policy opportunities and leading complex initiatives. Ability to take ownership of outcomes and thrive in a complex and collaborative environment that values intellectual rigor and practical impact. Comfort working across teams and geographies and adapting to evolving program needs.
• Travel:
  • Willingness and ability to travel internationally required. Position may require travel to events, project locations or J-PAL offices.
• Communication:
  • Clarity, confidence, and adaptability, both in writing and in person. Ability to distill technical research into compelling messages for decision-makers and represent the organization credibly in high-level forums. Proficiency in English and French is required.
• Attention to detail and judgement:
  • High standards across deliverables and presentations, with careful attention to tone, framing, and accuracy. Sound judgment in representing UJALA’s work externally and navigating sensitive policy conversations.
• Cultural competencies:
  • Comfort and adeptness at working in a diverse and multicultural work environment, with colleagues, partners and policymakers from around the world. Sensitivity and inclusivity in your engagement with people from diverse backgrounds and identities.

Benefits:

This position offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, benchmarked among the most comprehensive in the country. It includes life and health insurance, retirement benefits, maternity and parental leave, paid vacation, and more. The role is based at UM6P’s Rabat campus, a well-resourced work environment designed to support staff well-being and work-life balance.