IPA Busara Center Analyst Job in Nairobi Kenya

Vacancy: Analyst

Start Date: Immediately

Location: Nairobi

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 Busara Center: The Busara Center for Behavioral Economics is a project under IPA that strives to understand and identify behavioral barriers intrinsic to human decision-making, both in the lab and the field. 

Busara has worked with a variety of researchers and policy-makers across multiple sectors, working to unpack mechanisms in the lab, apply them in the field, and ultimately inform policy to make programs more effective.
 

Position Overview: The Analysts will synthesize, summarize, and perform complex analysis on information collected from potential and existing partner organizations. 

The role will require analysis of institutional publications and survey data, independently led secondary research, and systematic documentation of the analytical efforts used to reach the evidence-based recommendations. 

S/he will contribute to developing appropriate measurement, sampling, and survey strategy and the design of survey instruments to gather quantitative and qualitative data. 

The ideal analyst will be extremely intellectually curious, service-oriented, and able to conduct, document, and explain complex analysis and research geared towards real-world improvements.
 

This position will be a critical piece of Busara’s research team, identifying viable interventions, targeting potential partners, preparing proposals, and managing relationships. 

The analyst will play a large role in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment, with opportunities to work in multiple sectors and regions.

Goals and Responsibilities
 

The Analyst will provide support and guidance to Busara’s research and consulting services in the following ways:

• Conduct extensive background research and prepare internal working documents for potential consulting and research project.
• Engage in client interactions and identify viable new partnerships in behavioral economics.
• Prepare budgets and proposal documents for potential client engagements.
• Monitor and mange existing research projects, as well as design and set up systems for new engagements.
• Conduct data analysis and prepare internal progress reports.
• Extract meaning, through analysis that provides insightful interpretations of data
• Provide inputs to drafts of Concept Notes detailing the research process for individual inquiries
• Support operations research (e.g. supply chain and design oriented), market research (e.g. community sensitization) and cost-efficiency related projects using quantitative and qualitative methodology for improvements in program and to aid programmatic evidence-based decision making
• Ensure robust documentation of all systems, design, and indicators for existing engagements.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics, statistics or another quantitative field
• Work experience in a fast-paced, analytical and quantitative role
• Familiarity with statistical software packages such as Stata and Excel or similar languages such as R, MatLab, SAS etc. with the ability to learn and adapt to new programs (experience with Stata preferred)
• Strong interest in research on psychology, economics, and behavioral sciences
• Experience building infographics and/or using design and infographic software (e.g. Gapminder, StatSilk, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop, Omni Graffle etc.)
• Familiarity with behavior change literature, operational analytics, supply-chain analytics, and/or market research principles
• Work experience in entrepreneurial or start-up environments in Africa
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills to work effectively with a team that is geographically dispersed
• Self-directed/self-motivating personality, with proven ability to manage demands from multiple supervisors while adhering to program deadlines and priorities
• Strong critical and analytical thinking skills
• Intellectual flexibility and willingness to form and adjust opinions based on evidence
• Quick to learn, motivated to self-teach and capable of independently translating new knowledge into practice
• Willingness to travel

Note: Please specifically illustrate the above desired qualifications in your cover letter by giving examples from your experience.

In addition, this position requires a candidate to:

• Have a strong commitment to evidence-based practice and policy in the development field
• Be enthusiastic to develop personally and professionally as part of a growing global team
• Possess a strong attention to detail and a genuine love of working with data

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted by email to jobs-kenya@poverty-action.org 

Please ensure that the subject line reads: “Analyst.” REF No: Busara-2014-07-03. 

Attach CV with filename YOURNAME_CV and Cover Letter with YOURNAME_Cover. 

Deadline to Apply: 15th August 2014

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 Analyst. 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.