Policy Manager - J-PAL LAC

About J-PAL

J-PAL is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Through partnerships with affiliated professors, governments, NGOs, and donors, J-PAL conducts randomized evaluations to identify effective approaches to reducing poverty and improving lives.

J-PAL organizes its work around three main areas

• Research: supporting rigorous impact evaluations and generating scientific evidence
• Policy outreach: translating evidence into actionable policy recommendations and technical assistance
• Training: building institutional capacity through executive education and learning initiatives

The local grounding of J-PAL is essential to its mission. Regional offices are hosted at leading universities around the world and work closely with governments and partners to adapt evidence to local contexts.

Our Office in Latin America and the Caribbean

J-PAL LAC is headquartered at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) and works across multiple countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to its regional headquarters in Santiago, the office collaborates closely with institutional partners across the region, including in Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico.

We strive for a collaborative, horizontal, and innovative organizational culture where team members can learn from one another and contribute actively to solving complex policy challenges. The office works closely with governments, researchers, civil society organizations, and international partners to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in the region.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential to addressing poverty’s complex causes and consequences. To advance our mission, J-PAL LAC seeks to draw on diverse experiences and perspectives to ask better questions and identify better solutions. We are committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard.

About the project you would be working with

The Social Development Innovations Lab (SDI-LAB) is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), and J-PAL LAC. Housed within MIDES’ Vice Ministry of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (VPPE), the Lab is being created to institutionalize a “test, learn, and scale” approach to social policy design and delivery so that public programs are more effective, better targeted, and more accountable to the populations they serve.

The SDI-LAB will work across key MIDES directorates and operational teams, while also fostering collaboration between government counterparts, J-PAL LAC regional and country teams, researchers, and strategic partners.

Key activities for the project include conducting needs assessments and operational diagnostics, implementing and documenting pilot initiatives, supporting evidence generation and governance processes, and promoting sustainability and long-term institutionalization within government structures.

Summary of the Role

The Embedded Policy Manager will serve as the day-to-day leader of the MIDES SDI-LAB within VPPE. This role combines strategic coordination, policy engagement, and operational leadership. The Manager will guide the Lab’s workplan, coordinate closely with MIDES directorates and program teams, and ensure that evidence from pilots and technical assistance is translated into actionable decisions.

This position requires experience working with government counterparts, a strong understanding of public administration and social protection systems, and the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder processes with rigor, diplomacy, and strong results orientation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day implementation of the SDI-LAB, including annual and quarterly planning, priority setting, milestone tracking, and coordination and submission of deliverables.
• Coordinate directly with MIDES leadership and technical counterparts, particularly across VPPE, DIME, DIPLAN, DIPOL, and relevant program units, to ensure the Lab’s work responds to institutional priorities and is aligned with planning and budgeting processes.
• Lead the needs assessment and operational diagnostic for the Lab, including stakeholder interviews, process mapping, and the identification of bottlenecks and opportunities for innovation across programs with support from a Policy Associate.
• Oversee the implementation and systematization of the Lab’s first pilots, including Beca de Capacitación Productiva and Bono Emergencia, ensuring that lessons from implementation are documented and translated into practical recommendations.
• Translate evidence, administrative data, and pilot learnings into policy briefs, management updates, presentations, and recommendations for decision-makers and external partners.
• Prepare key products for the Leadership Committee and Technical Working Group, including progress briefs, roadmap updates, operational recommendations, and contributions to the Evidence-to-Policy Report.
• Coordinate with J-PAL LAC’s research, training, and policy communications teams, as well as with UVG/OES and affiliated researchers to ensure coherence across technical assistance, evaluation, capacity building, and dissemination.s
• Support the institutionalization of the Lab by helping develop its governance model, operational manual, capacity-building strategy, and transition plan for long-term sustainability within MIDES.
• Represent the Lab in high-level meetings, workshops, and external events with government, donors, academia, civil society, and other strategic stakeholders.
• Supervise the Embedded Policy Associate and coordinate cross-functional workstreams with a high standard of organization, follow-through, and accountability.

Qualifications

• Education: Master studies in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field. A PhD level is desirable; however, a Master’s degree plus relevant experience working on social program delivery will be considered.
• Languages: Full proficiency in Spanish is required. As this role interacts frequently with global and regional teams, intermediate to advanced English is needed. Willingness to communicate with the J-PAL LAC team in Portuguese is welcome, but fluency is not required.
• Experience: Experience working with governments is required. Familiarity leading multi-stakeholder projects, budgetary planning, and social program delivery is essential. Experience related to impact evaluation is desirable.
• Technical skills: Advanced Google Suite and presentation tools proficiency required. Statistical packages are not required.
• An ideal candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal and analytical abilities, excellent organization and communication skills, cultural competency and inclusivity, adaptability to changing circumstances, strong time management, and the ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities simultaneously. Familiarity with Central America, social protection, and livelihoods is highly valued.

Work permissions

This position is open to citizens or foreigners with visas and/or valid work permits in Guatemala at the time of applying for this vacancy.

Location

Guatemala City, Guatemala.