Country Director at Innovations for Poverty Action

Job Description

Position Summary

IPA seeks a Country Director to oversee its operations in Zambia. The Country Director will be based in Lusaka. The Country Director will work with IPA Global and

key stakeholders to set the strategic direction for IPA in Zambia and oversee multiple simultaneous impact evaluations in a variety of sectors, including education,

public health, social protection, governance, and agriculture. The position provides the opportunity to oversee research and policy programs, spend time in the field,

direct in-country operations and to interact closely with academic researchers, local government agencies, donors, and other NGOs.

The Country Director, assisted by his/her management team and more broadly a team of permanent staff and large teams of short term field staff at any given time,

will provide overarching oversight to all project and office operations in Zambia, lead strategic planning for the country programs, oversee finance and operations

teams, build and strengthen systems for high quality data collection, provide capacity building of local staff and partners, and lead the dissemination of results to local

practitioners and policy makers. The Country Director will also contribute to IPA’s continued expansion by initiating new partnerships and projects and be a key player

in the growth of the office.

Responsibilities

Oversee high-quality research 30%

Oversee and manage a team composed of (Associate) Research Managers, (Senior) Research Associates, and Field Managers, whose responsibilities include project design, management of data collection, data management and analysis, and writing of research reports, all in close collaboration with the Principal Investigators;
Build systems and structures to ensure that the implementation of research activities follows IPA’s research quality standards and processes and the Principal Investigator’s directions;
Spearhead skills training and resource/information sharing for staff; and work to incorporate best practices and lessons learned in research and operations by other IPA offices and research affiliates.

Policy impact and external relations 30%

Oversee and manage a team composed of an Associate Embedded Lab Manager (with partial support from Research Associate(s));
Represent IPA to national and local government agencies and partner organizations. Manage relationships with current and potential IPA partner organizations and donors;
Develop and maintain relationships with implementing partners, the government, and academia for the country offices to maximize their impact;
Engage government partners and other stakeholders to identify research questions of interest and cultivate potential research projects in those areas;
Oversee capacity building of local development partners in evidence-based policy making and rigorous impact evaluations;
Manage relationships with academic institutions and researchers;
Develop and expand collaborations with local researchers; and oversee targeted dissemination, encourage scale up of successful interventions.

Ensure sound operations and finances 25%

Provide supervision and support to administrative staff, overseeing human resources, IT, procurement, operations, and finance.
With support from the Global Finance and Grants team, ensure compliance with financial procedures, approve expenditures, and make accurate spending projections .
Oversee the management of project budgets and donor reporting, with support from the Research Managers, Research Associates, and administrative staff, and in coordination with IPA’s global grants team.
Ensure that country office structures are supported by incoming revenue through country office budget planning and management.

New project development 10%

In dialogue with potential partners and Principal Investigators, identify and develop potential projects with meaningful research and policy implications;
Participate in project design and lead budgeting during the proposal stage to ensure evaluations meet IPA standards and follow- IPA’s policies and procedures and coordinate fundraising for project proposals.

Mitigate and manage risks 5%

Set security standards and parameters for work to ensure staff safety and security;
Monitor security concerns for IPA operations in country, review project-specific security plans before the start of field work, and act as primary contact in crisis management;
Oversee and guide the work of the security focal staff;
Take steps to mitigate risks and to safeguard the organization’s reputation;

Qualifications

Required

A minimum of 5-7 years of relevant work experience, including 3 years in a management position; preferably experience in research and npolicy engagement
Experience in developing research projects, experience with budgeting and project planning
Experience living and working in Africa
Master’s degree in development economics, international affairs, international public policy, or a field related to international economic development

Preferred

Demonstrated ability to lead large teams and multiple projects
Strong quantitative skills and familiarity with randomized controlled trials is an added advantage
Passion for connecting rigorous research to policy makers and practitioners and communicating what works in development
Commitment to leading a diverse team in a multicultural environment and building staff capacity
Ability to communicate effectively across cultures with multiple stakeholders including international and local academic researchers,
government officials, NGO partners, enumeration teams, and study participants
Significant exposure to human resources and financial management
Experience in grants and contracts management, preferably in a research setting
Excellent management and organizational skills and ability to work independently
Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player
Experience in managing social unrest or volatile countries
Strong oral and written communication skills

Reports to

Emmanuel Bakirdjian – Regional Director, East Africa and Asia

Deadline to Apply

December 13th, 2024

Location

Zambia

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of the world’s poor. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 900 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Safeguarding at IPA

At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.

IPA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

As an organization, IPA is dedicated to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable populations through evidence and policy. We also recognize how important it is for our staff to reflect the diversity of the places where we work and the communities we work with. As such, IPA is committed to hiring from a diverse pool of candidates, from a range of backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, and perspectives. We know that this makes our work stronger and more responsive to the challenges faced by those we work with and for and we encourage people from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Click here to learn more about IPA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.