Survey Coordinator - J-PAL South Asia

About the Organization:

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 1300 affiliated professors at 120 universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. J-PAL South Asia, based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in India, leads J-PAL’s work in the South Asia region. J-PAL South Asia conducts randomized evaluations, builds partnerships for evidence-informed policymaking, and helps partners scale up effective programs. Over more than ten years of existence, J-PAL South Asia has conducted 288 ongoing and completed randomized evaluations.

About the position:

J-PAL South Asia at the Institute for Financial Management and Research seeks qualified applicants for the position of Survey Coordinator to oversee project implementation and on-field data collection of research evaluations. The position offers an opportunity to gain end to end field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. The Survey Coordinator will join a team of world-class researchers from leading universities in the world and will gain first-hand experience implementing randomized control trials in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. Read more about our work and projects here.

J-PAL South Asia is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and other attributes protected by law. We strongly encourage people from marginalized communities to apply for this role.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

The Survey Coordinator shall be a part of the Research Operations vertical and lead the survey implementation across multiple projects running in parallel primarily within the states of Punjab, Chandigarh UT and Haryana, and other states, if need arises.

Survey Coordinators work closely with research staff and other field staff to perform a variety tasks including, but not limited to:

• Leading recruitment of field staff across various projects in the states by developing exceptional networks of people through a variety of means including but not limited to networking with NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, colleges and other research institutes. Putting together core teams (Project Associates/Field Manager) and meeting field-level recruitment requirements across projects within the regions.
• Expand and strengthen the regional field staff database for efficient manpower planning and take measures to maintain consistent availability of high-quality manpower to carry out data collection across projects.
• Conduct training sessions for field staff regarding large scale survey work. This would include assisting/ leading instrument training and other Research Operations related training as specified from time-to-time. Play active role in designing and developing training content and high-quality delivery across various training programs at the regional level including but not limited to various project survey implementation training, training programs for mid-level field staff (Project Associates, Field Manager and Field Monitors) as well as regional meets focusing on knowledge sharing within a regional clustering of projects for Project Associates and Field Managers.
• Assist projects in field planning and research implementation. Set up monitoring mechanisms and tracking tools to keep track of daily survey completion ensuring productivity and high-quality data collection. Ensure adherence with J-PAL’s norms and systems for quality management. With guidance from the Research Operations vertical, implement the vision in terms of conducting systematic in-field compliance checks across projects focusing on ensuring the quality of implementation as well as adherence to the organizational, ethical, statutory and research compliance parameters.
• Provide on-field support to studies in the states. On-field support to be carried out for a variety of tasks such as recruitment of field staff, monitoring implementation, troubleshooting etc.
• Closely observe the administrative actions in the district/village which can affect survey operations. Take the lead in troubleshooting issues at the field-level.
• Take the lead in providing administrative support at the field-level across projects. Lead operations across projects for field staff contracting and payments across projects, ensure 100% compliance on the contracting and payments as per organization guidelines. Manage all contracting formalities for field staff across projects in-line with organizational guidelines.
• Supervise Project Associates and Field Managers on their day-to-day activities, develop weekly field plans for them to oversee and monitor implementation of survey activities on the ground and set up monitoring mechanisms with regular check-ins and reporting.
• Set up dedicated lines of communication across Project Associates/ FMs focusing on their development and overall growth on the professional front. Provide them with tasks to support various regional initiatives to strengthen resources for research operations verticals.
• Develop resources and tools to strengthen the field related knowledge by creating guidelines and manuals across various field related topics across various vernacular languages.
• Support the vertical with vertical-level strategic and operational activities such as streamlining the communication and reporting for mid-level field staff, contribute as a thought partner to Research Operations internal systems, assist in organizing vertical level meets and workshops, and be a thought partner to develop best practices for Research Operations across processes.

Desired Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's/Master’s degree in social work, social sciences, economics, public policy or related fields
• Previous experience of managing survey operations (hiring and training field staff, managing large field teams for conducting surveys,/ data collection)
• Excellent field staff management and organizational skills and managing large teams.
• Fluency and excellent communication skills in Hindi and Punjabi.
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with partner organizations/ local stakeholders.
• Knowledge of MS office applications
• Ability to deal with unstructured and changing environments
• Ability to work independently and in rural field locations

Note on Work Authorizations:

Candidates must have work authorization to work in India.