Job Summary

IPA's Right-Fit Evidence (RFE) Unit is seeking a Senior Manager to manage the strategic delivery of an exciting multi-country project focused on scaling effective education interventions. IPA is working with FCDO and implementing partners to deploy research and scaling support for multiple 'scale pilots,' to inform scaling decisions and further the evidence on scaling and education.

The Senior Manager will also be part of RFE's management team and contribute to RFE's strategy, managing 2–3 Advisors and reporting to a Director. They will work closely with colleagues across RFE and IPA.

Responsibilities

Managing Strategic Project Delivery and Advisory Engagements (70–75%)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a wide range of clients — including implementers, funders, and government agencies — managing multiple project teams to develop tailor-made solutions for their evidence, learning, and M&E needs.
• Lead the design, content, and delivery of the large multi-partner, multi-country FCDO SCALE project; serve as the project management function working with a large bilateral funder and internal team.
• Provide technical leadership for the design and implementation of right-fit MEL activities to inform scaling decisions and address evidence gaps, working collaboratively with funders, government stakeholders, and implementers.
• Oversee MEL and research conducted through IPA country offices and external partners.
• Manage project finances, ensuring high-quality outputs are delivered at or under budget.
• Over time, manage additional RFE engagements across multiple sectors.

Contributing to New Business Development and External Relationship Management (10–20%)

• Contribute ideas to match partner needs for new potential engagements in collaboration with IPA Research, Technical, Sector, and Policy teams; work could include theory of change and learning plan development, mixed-methods evaluation design, cost-effectiveness modeling, MEL system technical assistance, data use guidance, and evidence reviews.
• Coordinate proposal development processes, often managing Advisors on content preparation.
• Interface with active or potential funders and occasionally represent RFE and IPA at conferences and other events.

Contributing to IPA and RFE Strategy and Team Development (10–15%)

• Support RFE thought leadership and global influence through the production and dissemination of public goods, likely managing the ongoing development of one key RFE product.
• Manage the performance of 2–3 Advisors, including professional development and support for sustainability, workload, and well-being.
• Strengthen internal management systems.
• Manage at least one goal within RFE's annual strategic plan (assignments based on skills and interest).
• Encourage a positive work environment rooted in IPA values, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and well-being.
• Take a proactive role in the innovation and implementation of RFE products and services.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in international public policy, development economics, or related field, with coursework in quantitative methods; MBAs also welcome.
• 5+ years of relevant work experience, including in M&E (public sector), education policy or program management, organizational performance/R&D/operational research (private sector), or management consulting/professional services.
• Expertise in specific areas of monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Experience designing and managing evidence, learning, monitoring, and evaluation strategies and systems.
• Experience leading quantitative project or program evaluations.
• Superior analytical and conceptual thinking skills.
• Project and people management experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and client-facing communication skills, with the ability to present information in a structured and insightful way, both verbally and in writing.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter mindset; highly adaptable and versatile with strong multitasking skills.
• Passion for making data-driven decision-making a reality in the development sector.
• Familiarity with M&E technology including SurveyCTO, ODK, or similar data collection software.
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and associated skillsets. (preferred)
• Working knowledge of French. (preferred)
• Lived experience in Africa and/or in low- and middle-income countries. (preferred)
• Prior experience in consultancy or similar professional services. (preferred)
• Expertise in international development and/or humanitarian work. (preferred)

Location

This position has a preference for candidates based at IPA country offices in Africa; a US East Coast-based option is also possible.

Reports To

Director, Right-Fit Evidence Unit

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a wide range of clients — including implementers, funders, and government agencies — managing multiple project teams to develop tailor-made solutions for their evidence, learning, and M&E needs.
• Lead the design, content, and delivery of the large multi-partner, multi-country FCDO SCALE project; serve as the project management function working with a large bilateral funder and internal team.
• Provide technical leadership for the design and implementation of right-fit MEL activities to inform scaling decisions and address evidence gaps, working collaboratively with funders, government stakeholders, and implementers.
• Oversee MEL and research conducted through IPA country offices and external partners.
• Manage project finances, ensuring high-quality outputs are delivered at or under budget.
• Over time, manage additional RFE engagements across multiple sectors.
• Contribute ideas to match partner needs for new potential engagements in collaboration with IPA Research, Technical, Sector, and Policy teams; work could include theory of change and learning plan development, mixed-methods evaluation design, cost-effectiveness modeling, MEL system technical assistance, data use guidance, and evidence reviews.
• Coordinate proposal development processes, often managing Advisors on content preparation.
• Interface with active or potential funders and occasionally represent RFE and IPA at conferences and other events.
• Support RFE thought leadership and global influence through the production and dissemination of public goods, likely managing the ongoing development of one key RFE product.
• Manage the performance of 2–3 Advisors, including professional development and support for sustainability, workload, and well-being.
• Strengthen internal management systems.
• Manage at least one goal within RFE's annual strategic plan (assignments based on skills and interest).
• Encourage a positive work environment rooted in IPA values, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and well-being.
• Take a proactive role in the innovation and implementation of RFE products and services.

• Expertise in specific areas of monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Experience designing and managing evidence, learning, monitoring, and evaluation strategies and systems.
• Experience leading quantitative project or program evaluations.
• Superior analytical and conceptual thinking skills.
• Project and people management experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and client-facing communication skills, with the ability to present information in a structured and insightful way, both verbally and in writing.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter mindset; highly adaptable and versatile with strong multitasking skills.
• Passion for making data-driven decision-making a reality in the development sector.
• Familiarity with M&E technology including SurveyCTO, ODK, or similar data collection software.
• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and associated skillsets. (preferred)
• Working knowledge of French. (preferred)

• Master's degree in international public policy, development economics, or related field, with coursework in quantitative methods; MBAs also welcome.
• 5+ years of relevant work experience, including in M&E (public sector), education policy or program management, organizational performance/R&D/operational research (private sector), or management consulting/professional services.
• Lived experience in Africa and/or in low- and middle-income countries. (preferred)
• Prior experience in consultancy or similar professional services. (preferred)
• Expertise in international development and/or humanitarian work. (preferred)