Associate Program Manager, Social Protection (INTERNAL ONLY)

                Job Summary

The Social Protection Program (SPP) at Innovations for Poverty Action partners with governments and other implementers working to move households out of extreme poverty by creating economic opportunities for the poor. IPA has a growing body of research on identifying and scaling effective social protection programs, including cash transfers, graduation programs, and job training. The program does this through investing in research project development with researchers, implementing partners, and IPA country offices; providing technical assistance to research projects; and interacting with implementing partners and policymakers to disseminate evidence and equip them to make use of emerging research.

Responsibilities

Coordination and management of the New Wave Graduation Research Fund

- Under the direction of the SPP Director, process awards to individual research projects, including communicating with research teams, managing the proposal review process, and supervising the development of grant agreements
- Manage and track the status of grants and projects funded by the SPP through the detailed review of grant deliverables and regular communication with research teams
- Liaising internally with relevant IPA teams such as Research Support, Programs, Grants, Legal, Finance, Global Operations, Policy and Communications to ensure work is carried out effectively and efficiently
- Under the direction of the SPP Director, coordinate financial management of the research fund, including tracking funds committed to individual research projects and donor reporting
- Lead the development of 3-5 policy briefs or research outputs for evaluations in the portfolio

Business development

- Identify and cultivate at least 5-8 opportunities annually to expand IPA’s work on social protection through new research projects, ideas and partnership development
- Coordinate with principal investigators and IPA country program teams to develop viable research project opportunities with governments and stakeholders in-country, develop budgets and project documentation, resulting in at least 2 funded projects annually.
- Contribute to fundraising efforts by identifying funding opportunities, prospecting donors, and supporting the development of 3-5 concept notes and proposals.

Project management of social protection projects

- Contribute to research design, research oversight, data analysis, and writing of policy briefs, research papers, slide decks, and other research outputs as needed
- Ensure adherence to work plans, the achievement of goals and outputs as outlined in project documents and timelines, and conduct periodic reporting to the donor
- Under supervision of the SPP Director, work with IPA country offices to develop and implement research projects, including but not limited to identifying clear areas of responsibility between IPA Global and the country offices, developing efficient channels of communication, monitoring budgets and timelines, providing technical / social protection input where required.
- Contribute to building systems that improve the efficiency and internal management of the SPP.

Policy outreach and communications

- Conduct policy outreach activities, including support to planning 2-4 policy events annually, and creating and disseminating knowledge products that synthesize research results, working closely with communications and policy teams
- Lead communication activities for the program internal to IPA, such as outreach to country offices and management of SPP’s Salesforce and internal resources
- Create 4-6 original content pieces per year via blogs, policy briefs, or other materials
- Other tasks as needed

Qualifications

- Master’s degree in economics, political science, public policy, or related fields
- At least four years of work experience in international development/development research, with a preference for previous work in social protection or a related sector
- Demonstrated project management skills, including attention to operational and research detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects efficiently with minimal supervision
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and clearly with internal and external stakeholders using cogent, precise, non-technical language
- Ability to present information in a structured and insightful way, both in writing and orally
- Flexibility, self-motivation, ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently, willingness to learn, and a team-oriented attitude
- Must be willing to accommodate meetings outside of regular, local business hours occasionally, with notice, to accommodate colleagues in other time zones

Location

Any IPA Country Office

Reports to

Director, Social Protection Program

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. 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 people living in poverty. 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 1,000 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 the 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.