Position:
Research Manager
Reference
Code:
FK-2012-09-01
Deadline
to Apply:
Rolling, but no later than October 20, 2012
Start
Date: January
2013 or as soon as possible
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.
4:04 PM
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