Start Date (Earliest): ASAP
Language Requirement: Telugu (strongly preferred) and English
Length of Commitment: 6 months
About the Organization
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of 194 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. J-PAL South Asia, based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in India, leads JPAL’s work in the South Asia region. J-PAL South Asia conducts randomized evaluations,builds partnerships for evidence-informed policymaking, and helps partners scale up effective programs. Over more than ten years of existence, J-PAL South Asia has conducted 193 ongoing and completed randomized evaluations.
About the position
J-PAL South Asia at the Institute for Financial Management and Research seeks qualified applicants for the position of Research Associate to lead impact evaluations in India. The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. The Research Associate will join a team of world class researchers from leading universities in the world and will gain first-hand experience implementing randomized control trials in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. Read more about our work and projects here.
Project Specific Details
Schools with better management practices are associated with higher student learning,particularly during major school disruptions such as COVID-19. But there is limited experimental evidence on the causal effect of improving school management practices on achievement, especially in developing countries. Existing efforts are often limited due to low adoption of the management practices by school leaders, potentially due to training programs that lack follow-up and a structure of accountability. We propose a randomized evaluation of a large-scale leadership training program in India with promising initial results, but no rigorous evidence to date. We will evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of each treatment on school leader management practices and student outcomes, both in the short run and over the 3-year duration of the program. These results will help inform the value and design of school leadership training, which is especially policy-relevant given India’s new National Education Policy (NEP) that mandates 50 annual hours of professional development for principals.
Interventions to improve school leadership practices are especially promising given the instability and uncertainty of direction due to COVID-19.
Key Responsibilities
Research Associates work closely with academic researchers, Research Managers and other field staff to perform a variety tasks including, but not limited to:
Designing survey questionnaires, conducting qualitative research, running pilot exercises, refining study design and survey instruments
Managing teams: Recruiting, training, and supervising both field-based and data operations teams consisting of project assistants, field managers, field-based surveyors, data entry operators and other field and office staff
Supervising data collection and data entry to ensure good data quality during both these phases
Co-ordinating with the Administrative and Finance team on a variety of tasks related to field staff contracting and payments
Overseeing the implementation of the evaluation in accordance to the research design in association with our partner organization
Ensuring that the project complies with IRB and J-PAL data collection and security protocols with the help of the Research Manager
Maintaining relationship with partner organizations at both headquarters and field levels
Assisting with data cleaning and preliminary data analysis
Assisting in preparation of documents and presentations for donor reporting as well as dissemination activities
Reporting to PIs on all of the above-mentioned activities
Any other task as assigned by the Research Manager, AD Research or ED
Desired Qualifications
A Bachelor's/Master’s degree in economics, social sciences, public policy,education or related fields
Experience living in a developing country is a strong plus
Previous experience in development research preferred
Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
Fluency and excellent communication skills in English
Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations
Knowledge of Stata (strongly preferred) or other data analysis software is preferred
Familiarity with randomized controlled trials/clinical trials/quasi-experiments preferred
Ability to deal with unstructured and changing environments
Ability to work independently and in rural field locations
Note on Work Authorizations:
Candidates must have work authorization to work in India.
How to Apply:
Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. After completing a brief registration, choose
the Research job category, then select "________________________” and include a resume,
cover letter, transcripts, and two recommendation letters. Note that applications with
incomplete submissions will not be considered.
You are able to submit your application before your references complete their
recommendation letters; however, you must include their contact information before 
submitting your application. Given the volume of applications received, only short-listed
candidates will be contacted for an interview.

LINK:https://apply.povertyactionlab.org/