Position: Research Manager
Reference Code:FK-2012-09-01
Deadline to Apply:Rolling, but no later
than October 20, 2012
Location: Kisumu
Length of Commitment: Minimum of two years;
ability to make a longer commitment is preferred
Introduction Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a rapidly
growing, global organization, and operate in almost 40 countries.
We design innovative, cutting-edge approaches to solving
development problems, rigorously evaluate these programs and promote the
adoption of those with proven impact.
This occurs both through the dissemination of results to policy
makers, practitioners, and donors, as well as through supporting the
large-scale implementation of evidence-based programs.
IPA-Kenya (IPAK) is IPA’s oldest country office, and the site of
many of its most influential projects, including seminal studies on de-worming,
clean water promotion, bed-net usage and fertilizer subsidies.
IPAK employs more than 300 contracted staff working on 20 different
projects across offices in various locations around Kenya. IPAK project staff
work closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), researchers who are affiliated
with elite academic institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of California, Berkeley.
IPAK is in the process of restructuring its project oversight
design, and is creating an in-country Research Manager position to provide an
additional layer of project support. The Research Manager will be given a
portfolio of 4 to 5 projects to supervise.
These projects will be based around a specific geographic area,
and might include both evaluation and interventions components. They could span
a range of technical areas, such as agriculture, health, governance and
micro-finance.
Possible examples might include: a project studying the
comparative health benefit of water, hygiene, sanitation and nutrition
interventions; a project measuring the impact of IT systems on sugar-cane
farmer productivity; and a project testing methods of selecting and
incentivizing community workers.
As part of their supervisory role, the Research Manager will
work closely with the country office to ensure effective support is being given
to projects, and projects are working within the relevant policies and
procedures.
The Research Manager will also participate in IPAK senior
management discussions and contribute to IPAK research policy development and
capacity building.
This position will be based in Kisumu, focusing on projects in
Western and Nyanza (travel required).
The Research Manager will be responsible for the following
tasks:
- Keep
Country Director, or his/her designated representative, appraised of all
developments on the projects in their portfolio, and serve as key link
between the country office, project staff, and Principle
Investigators.
- Ensure
project adherence in the field to general research design, sample
selection, data management and analysis, and overall project
management.
- Oversee
project financial management, including creation and monitoring of program
budgets, and ensuring smooth integration of projects into IPA financial
systems.
- Work
with country office staff to ensure sound human resource and operational
management of project.
- Directly
supervise project research assistants (Project Associates or Project
Coordinators), and help with transitions when new research staff come on
board; maintain “institutional memory” of project activities.
- Lead
training on data management and general project management for
new/incoming project research staff.
- Promote
inter-project best practices and take a lead in sharing best practices
with projects through formal and informal training opportunities.
- Attend
regular meetings with local government officials and partners to ensure
success of programmatic activities.
- In
select cases, support the dissemination of results via presentations and
reports to academic and non-academic audiences.
Desired Qualifications
- Masters
in development economics, or a field related to international economic
development or health. Undergraduates with at least 5 years of field
experience will also be considered.
- Extensive
experience conducting social science or economic field research.
Background in randomized control trials is strongly preferred.
- At
least two years of project management experience. Extensive experience
supervising data collection, teams of field workers, and survey design and
implementation.
- Experience
with data management, econometrics, and advanced knowledge of Stata or any
statistical packages preferably SPSS and or CSPro.
- Cultural
sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse
constituencies required. Experience in conducting field research in
developing countries required.
- Strong
budgeting and financial management skills.
- Experience
with presenting research findings at public forums, including to
non-research focused audiences, is preferred.
- Strong
written and oral communication skills and complete fluency in English is
required. Kiswahili proficiency is preferred.
How to Apply
To apply:
Please send a cover letter and detailed CV, 3 references,
daytime phone number(s), and email address.
Your CV should include your scores or grades and other measures
of academic achievement, and details about any relevant work experience.
Applications can be submitted to any of our branch offices,
or by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org,
or by post office using P.O Box 373, Busia area code 50400
Kenya.
If you submit by email, please ensure that the subject line
reads: “RESEARCH MANAGER.”REF NO: FK-2012-09-01.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by email for an
interview.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will
be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature
and level of the work being performed by the Research Manager.
The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all
possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to
amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as
necessary.
Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from
an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above
with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the
organization.
Please direct questions to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org.