Research Associate at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

Reports to: Country Director
Desired Start Date: ASAP

Job Description

• We are seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual with outstanding project management, data analysis, people management, and communication skills as a Research Associate to support the implementation of a rigorous impact evaluation.
• The Research Associate position is a unique opportunity to combine significant project management experience with involvement in cutting-edge development research on a dynamic and passionate IPA Nigeria team.
• As an ideal candidate, you not only have a solid technical foundation in impact evaluation methodology, but you can also independently guide and direct the activities that happen both upstream and downstream of any rigorous, randomized evaluation.
• You enjoy contributing to high-performing teams that drive the production of the highest quality research for our clients and partners. You excel in solving problems using clear, strategic, and creative thinking.
• You have a strong social acumen and are excited about the opportunity to broaden, deepen, and manage meaningful relationships with high-level clients and partners across the public, academic, non-governmental, and multilateral sectors.

Responsibilities
The Research Associate will perform a variety of tasks related to managing day-to-day research activities, from planning to implementation, and monitoring quality. These include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating research and implementation efforts with all relevant stakeholders;
• Recruiting, training, and supervising field-based teams;
• Refining and piloting survey questionnaires;
• Supervising and monitoring data collection to ensure high-quality of the data;
• Supporting data quality checks and fixing issues with data collected during data collection;
• Assisting in data cleaning and preliminary analysis and ensuring ready access to all data for researchers and/or supervisors;
• Documenting in detail all activities related to the project;
• Maintaining accurate records of interviews, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary;
• Preparing high-quality progress and results reports to Principal Investigators (PI), research partners, and funding agencies, and sharing them timely;
• Providing timely updates and responses to partner organizations, and participating in meetings with key stakeholders;
• Providing training and supervision for research project staff (Field Manager);
• Managing project finances including budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
• Ensuring that all team members follow necessary protocols and procedures;
• Handling day to day PI and partner communications;
• Any other task as assigned by Country Director.
• Keep the Country Director apprised of all developments in the project and serve as the key link between the field staff, research team, and Principal Investigators.
• Support the country office in project and policy development as needed.

Qualifications 

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Public Policy, or other quantitative Social Science disciplines (Master’s Degree preferred);
• Quantitative Skills: Strong technical understanding of economics and econometrics required. Demonstrated proficiency in Stata, and experience with data management, data cleaning, and regression analysis
• A minimum of 2-year of work experience is required. Experience managing field staff in developing countries strongly preferred;
• Ability to collaborate among geographically and culturally diverse teams to drive common goals;
• Interculturally-versed to build capacity, work with, and live in Nigeria;
• Excellent management and organizational skills;
• Ability to successfully complete assigned tasks and meeting deadlines, required;
• Communication Skills: Attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills are required;
• Language: English fluency required;