IPA Data Quality & Management Job in Kisumu, Kenya

Manager: Data Quality & Management (DQM)
 

Deadline To Apply: Rolling Basis

Start Date: Immediate

Location: Kisumu, Kenya with domestic and international travel

 

About Innovations for Poverty Action: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit research organization that creates and evaluates approaches to solving development problems and disseminates information about what works and what does not to policymakers, practitioners, investors and donors around the world.

About Evidence Action: 

 Evidence Action is a new organization working in partnership with IPA to scale proven interventions. 

IPA has played in important role incubating technical assistance and service delivery programs, such as the Dispensers for Safe Water program and the Deworm the World Initiative. 

The management and further growth of these “scale up” initiatives is transitioning to Evidence Action. IPA will continue to provide support for these programs during their transition period.

About Monitoring Learning and Information Systems (MLIS) Team

The MLIS team embodies the evidence-based nature of Evidence Action’s work and enables us to be a data-driven organization. 

The team provides services across Evidence Action Africa region in meeting the following outcomes:

• All ongoing program monitoring needs met (including M&E design and quality data collection)
• Programs delivered with access to timely and useful data for day-to-day programmatic planning and decision making
• Analysis and research conducted to support program improvements (including operation research, market research and cost-efficiency analysis)
• Support with timely, useful and clear information for evidence-based decision making (including provide support to connect the dots)
• Support provided to regional leadership for new programs and partnerships for exploration and evaluation
• Standards, systems and processes setup for delivery of all functions (monitoring, analysis, research, information systems and quality data)The MLIS team works towards these outcomes through four sub-teams that work closely together to deliver quality, timely and useful information:
• Learning and Communication (L&C): This team is responsible for supporting the program teams with timely information in innovative, useful and clear ways to translate analysis and research to evidence-based decision making and action.
• Monitoring, Analysis and Research (MAR): This team is responsible for ensuring that all ongoing program monitoring needs are met and analysis and research is conducted to support program improvements.
• Management Information Systems (MIS): This team is be responsible for ensuring that the all programs have access to timely and useful data for day-to-day programmatic planning and decision making through a cloud-based multi-user system.
• Data Quality and Management (DQM): This team is responsible for ensuring access to quality and timely data to meet all ongoing program needs; including monitoring, information systems and analysis and research.

About the Position: Manager - Data Quality & Management (DQM)

The Manager – DQM is responsible for ensuring that quality and timely data is available to meet ongoing program needs; including monitoring, information systems and analysis and research for program improvements. 

A critical part of achieving this will be setting up minimum standards and building systems to ensure that the quality of data for all Evidence Action regional programs meet a high level of standard. 

The Manager – DQM will work with a large field team and also collaborate closely with other sub-team members to achieve MLIS team outcomes.

Goals and Responsibilities

Lead the delivery of timely and quality data for programmatic need:

• Ensure timely, useful and quality data collection, including quantitative and qualitative data, electronic and paper surveys, and scientific data (e.g. water testing, carbon monitoring etc).
• Work with program teams to train and manage all staff collecting data to ensure quality data collection; including tracking all data collection activities and conducting back-checks/spot-checks
• Develop standardized data collection instruments; for electronic data collection (ODK), phone survey and field-based paper surveys.
• Coordinate and plan for efficient and cost-effective data collection for all programs across countries
• Develop databases for data entry and manage data entry, process and clean data using STATA and develop and maintain a system of systematic and secure storage
• Identify and provide recommendations for innovative and cost-efficient methods of improving quality of data for programs and ensure that all DQM activities are budgeted for in close collaboration with AD – MLIS

Build systems and processes for delivery of quality data collection, processing and management:

• Setup minimum standards and best-practices for collecting, processing, cleaning, and organizing data; including conducting back-checks/spot-checks and documentation of field activities.
• Build innovative systems and tools to train staff and plan activities
• Develop management guidelines for task management of program field staff

Develop and manage DQM team:

• Develop DQM team structure and ensure smooth transition of all existing team members to new structure.
• Manage DQM team members, including attracting and retaining excellent DQM team members and ensure the ongoing development of their professional skills and capabilities.
• Ensure that DQM team members uphold and promote a service-oriented and client-driven approach to their relationships with programs.

Collaborate with other teams for improved service delivery to programs:

• Collaborate closely with other sub-team members to ensure that useful and quality data is collected and provided in a timely and cost-efficient fashion
• Provide guidance to IT team on hardware and software requirements to collect timely and quality data.
• Work closely with the procurement team to procure necessary material for data collection (e.g. water testing kits)

Qualifications

The Manager – DQM will have at least two years of experience leading and managing a large team for data collection, processing, and an interest in expanding their horizons within a mission-driven organization committed to impact at scale. 

S/he is excited about the prospect of building a new role and team within an organization which sees learning, innovation and the use of rigorous evidence as central to its mission, and is motivated to actively ensure that this approach is deeply woven into all programs. 

The ideal candidate has experience working in developing countries, including within Africa.
 

The Manager DQM will have the following experience and attributes:

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in a relevant field with strong economics, statistics, or other analytical and quantitative training;
• Strong technical skills and capacity, with at least 2 years of practical experience managing and working directly with large teams and data;
• Knowledge of STATA (preferred), SQL or other statistical data management software; electronic data collection software like ODK, Blaise etc. and data entry software like CSPro and the ability to quickly learn new software for data management
• Strong management skills and capacity to motivate, train and manage a large team of field staff working across multiple offices in the region for multiple programs
• Self-directed and self-motivating personality, with proven ability to manage demands from multiple clients while adhering to deadlines and priorities;
• Demonstrated system building skills to consistently deliver quality data
• Naturally inquisitive, skeptical, intellectually curious, detail-oriented and organized;
• Proven leadership experience in Africa and experience working with a cross-cultural team, ideally in Kenya/East Africa;
• Inspired by Evidence Action’s mission to bring proven interventions to scale, improving the lives of millions;
• A strong commitment to evidence-based practice and policy in the development field; and
• The ability to lead in an innovative organization and quickly-changing environment.
• An ability to operate effectively with ambiguity, and to thrive as a part of a dynamic and evolving leadership team
• A sense of humor and excitement to be part of an engaged and intellectually stimulating work environment

To apply: 

Please send a cover letter and detailed CV, 3 references, daytime phone number(s), and email address. 

Your CV should include details about your academic qualifications and any relevant work experience.

Applications can be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org and jobs@evidenceaction.org with the subject line: “Manager: Data Quality & Management” REF NO: EA-2014-02-02. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by phone and email for an interview. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis