Innovations for Poverty Action Country Representative - Jobs in Malawi
Innovations for Poverty Action Country Representative - Jobs in Malawi
IPA seeks a Country Representative to oversee its Malawi office.
The Country Representative will be based in Lilongwe with travels across the country as required.
The CR will work with IPA Global and key stakeholders to set the strategic direction for IPA in Malawi to develop and oversee multiple simultaneous impact evaluations in a variety of sectors, rural development, financial inclusion, governance, education, and public health.
The position provides the opportunity to guide the research program in Malawi, 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 Representative, supported by the IPA Regional Director, will provide overarching oversight to all project and office operations, lead strategic planning for the country program, 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 policymakers.
The Country Representative will also contribute to IPA’s continued expansion by initiating new partnerships and developing new research projects in Malawi.
The Country Representative will supervise a team comprising human resources, finance, operations, and field research staff, including both local and international employees, as well as up to hundreds of short-term field enumerators at any given time. IPA Malawi is also supported by finance and administrative staff from the IPA Kenya team.
Responsibilities
Ensure high-quality research (40-60%)
Work closely with project staff to ensure that projects meet all of IPA research and administrative protocols as well as the quality standards of the independent researchers (Principal Investigators)
Oversee project design and budgeting during the proposal stage to ensure evaluations meet IPA standards
Build systems and structures to build staff capacity and ensure overall data quality, including developing computer-assisted interviewing (CAl) capacity in the office
Directly supervise project research staff, and help with transitions, on-boarding of new research staff and maintaining institutional memory of project activities
Promote inter-project best practices and take the lead in sharing best practices with projects through formal and informal training
Oversee finances and ensure sound operations of IPA Malawi (20%)
Manage a team of Research
Associates/Coordinators, whose responsibilities include project design and implementation, data collection, data management and analysis, and reports;
Hire and supervise additional support staff, as needed
Oversee basic administrative tasks related to the management of the Malawi office, create and manage
project budgets, participate in grant reporting, and other financial management tasks
Ensure proper compliance with financial procedures, approve expenditures, make accurate projections and ensure overall compliance
Lead Country Program development and manage external relations (20-40%)
Build IPA's presence and portfolio of research studies in Malawi
Work with IPA Global, researchers and partners to initiate and manage the development of new research proposals, including both the technical design as well as identifying and applying for funding support.
Identify priority research questions and key concerns for policymakers in Malawi
Build and manage relationships with current and potential IPA partner organizations in the implementation of interventions whose effect we are researching
Develop new relationships with researchers, government agencies, local organizations, and others to explore opportunities for collaboration
Represent IPA at national and regional conferences and events
Liaise with internationally based and local Principal Investigators, IPA headquarters and other country programs
Disseminate results via local and international presentations, reports, and publications
Lead IPA's policy impact efforts in Malawi, by ensuring that policy impact plans of Malawi are in strategic alignment with IPA's overall policy strategy of impact.
Mitigate and manage risks (5-10%)
Set security standards and parameters for work and ensure that the IPA staff follow security measures.
Monitor security concerns for IPA operations and act as the primary contact in crisis management.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in international affairs, international public policy, development economics, or a field related to international economic development;
A minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience, including 3 years in a management position;
Strong quantitative skills and familiarity with randomized controlled trials;
Experience in developing research projects, experience with budgeting and project planning;
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 living and working in Africa;
Fluency in English is required; strong oral and written communication skills.
How to Apply
For more information and job application details, see; Innovations for Poverty Action Country Representative - Jobs in Malawi
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