Research Manager at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

Position Summary

• Join our dynamic team as a Research Manager to lead innovative research on digital connectivity and gender equality in West Africa. Based in Nigeria, you'll drive evidence-based solutions through rigorous research methods while building strong partnerships across the region. 
• As a key member of the Nigeria Senior Management Team, you'll shape research initiatives that combine local expertise with global insights to improve digital access for underserved communities.
• You will work closely with senior country office management as well as the Global Research and Data Science and Right-Fit Evidence units to oversee a portfolio of projects on gender gaps in digital connectivity. 
• You will play a crucial role in IPA's OneIPA approach to project engagement through Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), partnership development, coordination with a scientific advisory group, and management of novel impact evaluations to measure the effect of digital connectivity interventions. 
• Your work will span both evaluation, data science, and implementation components and will likely span a range of topical areas that relate to digital connectivity, such as health, education, social protection, agriculture, and others.
• You will work closely with the country office and the scientific advisory group to IPA's Digital Connectivity and Gender project to ensure effective support is being given to partnership engagement, donor reporting, and research management.

Responsibilities
50% Research Leadership, Team Management, and Technical Oversight:

• Coordinate directly with the Scientific Advisory Group for the Gender and Digital-Connectivity project to ensure timely and accurate discussions about project milestones, deliverables, and research development are met.
• Lead 2-3 research studies focusing on digital connectivity and gender gaps
• Oversee research design, sampling strategies, and data management protocols
• Provide technical leadership in quantitative and qualitative research methods.

30% Partnership Development and Stakeholder Management:

• Build and maintain relationships across West Africa with potential and active partner organizations in the Gender and Digital Connectivity project
• Coordinate with and contribute to the Right-Fit Evidence unit digital connectivity engagement strategies
• Guide partners in developing and strengthening Theories of Change (ToCs)
• Supervise research staff and manage project finances
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality deliverables
• Monitor project budgets and donor compliance
• Manage project workplans and documentation
• Support staff transitions and maintain institutional knowledge
• Support partners in developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• Guide partners in data collection and analysis methods.

20% IPA-Nigeria CO Management and Support:

• Keep the Nigeria Country Director apprised of all developments on the projects in their portfolio, and serve as key link between the field office, project staff, and Principal Investigators
• Contribute to country office initiatives and policy development
• Promote best practices across projects
• Drive adoption of research results through various channels
• Identify opportunities for systematic improvements
• Support organizational learning and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications
Required:

• A Bachelor’s or Master's degree (Master’s preferred) in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, International Development, Social Science, or related fields.
• At least 3 years of project management experience, with a focus on research management
• At least 3 years of experience conducting social science or economic field research
• Experience supervising data collection, teams of field workers, and survey design and implementation
• Understanding of West African digital ecosystem
• Experience with ICTD and digital inclusion initiatives in West Africa
• Strong written and oral communication skills and complete fluency in English
• Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies.

Preferred:

• Expertise in international development and/or humanitarian work
• Appreciation for the strengths and limitations of various data collection and evaluation methods and the ability to match the appropriate method(s) to a variety of circumstances
• Familiarity with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and M&E frameworks
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (Stata, R, Python, Excel)
• Experience with data collection platforms (SurveyCTO or ODK)
• Strong understanding of research methodologies
• Strong budgeting and financial management skills
• Expertise in business development
• Experience with policy engagement and advocacy.