Position: Senior Policy Manager

Organization: J-PAL South Asia

Apply: http://apply.povertyactionlab.org/

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic support to J-PAL’s Policy Team in its mission of promoting evidence-informed scale-ups: This will include providing support to AD-Policy on overall strategy for scale-ups and independently working with both internal and external stakeholders like government, civil society partners, and donors to promote scale-up of evidence-based programs:
•  Identification of evidence-based solutions ready to be scaled up: Spearhead the identification of evidence-based solutions that meet the contextual needs of the Government partners and policy priorities, cultivate buy-in from governments, coordinate with partners and donors, and actively fundraise for technical support.
• Support scale-ups:
  • Lead engagements with gov't and non-government partners, research projects on scale-ups and researchers to identify ways in which the scale-up team can support the different partners and inform the pipeline of solutions emerging from new research.
  • Design and lead the execution of developing frameworks and models for supporting governments and other partners to implement an evidence-based policy or program, including implementation toolkits and technical assistance partnerships.
  • Oversee the conceptualisation of communication material including presentations, strategy notes, funding proposals and development of reports, and be comfortable in analysing and interpreting data (especially data related to monitoring and evaluation of programs).
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Independently lead and manage the relationships with key partners including governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies in the region.
  • Knowledge Management: Collaborate closely with the J-PAL SA, Global and other regional offices to further scale-up agenda by conceptualising and executing development of new knowledge products and content to share lessons and knowledge. 
• Others:
  • People Management: Manage and mentor Policy Managers, Senior P&T Associates and/or P&T Associates, giving them support to perform better and prioritizing their learning and skill development. Provide advisory support to the team members as needed.
  • Cross-vertical collaboration: Represent the team in cross-vertical collaboration opportunities such as capacity building of internal staff, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Master's degree (preferably in economics, public policy, business, finance/financial services, or international development). A strong technical understanding of economics and/or evaluation is necessary to ensure that J-PAL SA’s findings are translated into general policy conclusions in a way that is both simple to follow but also accurate and undistorted.

Experience:

• This position requires at least seven or more years of relevant experience in addition to a relevant Master's degree. Experience working with implementing organisations or on scaling up of tested programs is highly preferable. Experience of working with state/central governments in India, and previous managerial experience, will be an added advantage.
• Understanding Randomized Evaluations: Demonstrate a keen understanding of the value of randomized evaluations and their usefulness for policy decisions 
• Skills and Competencies
  • Communication: Ability to develop high-level relationships with partners, including governments, donors, and academic researchers. Exceptional writing and presentation skills and mastery of key principles for communicating academic research, with accuracy, in ways that non-technical audiences can understand.
  • Strategic thinker and committed leader: Manage multiple projects efficiently, develop strategies for successfully executing projects and meeting deadlines.
  • Managing and mentoring teams: Proven track record of successfully managing teams with multiple members
  • Strong interest in international development policy, South Asia development, and/or programme evaluation as demonstrated by coursework and professional experience.
  • Language: Fluency in English (written and oral)