Position Summary
Job Title: Research ManagerStart Date: September 1, 2013
Length of Commitment: More than 2 years
Education: Masters
Organization: J-PAL Southeast Asia at UI
J-PAL Southeast Asia, based at the Institute for Economic and Social Research at the University of Indonesia (LPEM)* seeks a qualified applicant for the position of *Research Manager (RM)* for a variety of projects on small business finance in Indonesia. The position offers an opportunity to gain extensive project and research management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research.
*Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): *
*Strong Scientific Participation and Oversight:*
- Coordinate and lead a portfolio of research projects, with significant first-hand field supervision, including to rural locations.
- Facilitate, strengthen and maintain effective and efficient communication as the primary contact point with Principal Investigators (PIs) triaging which elements require feedback from PIs and subject experts.
- Formulate plans for operationalizing field activities conceptualized by PIs, including piloting processes, and working closely with survey and other research partner institutions.
- As appropriate, work with Research Analysts (RAs) to draft protocols, perform power calculations, prepare research instruments, craft reports and/or supervise their work;
- Propose to and, if possible, implement innovations in the different stages of a project in coordination with PIs.
- Build capacities within projects’ teams, by transferring knowledge to RAs and project partners.
- Adapt advances in knowledge (both programmatic and research) from other projects to projects under your responsibility.
- Ensure that project activities are on schedule and prepare project update reports according to agreements with funders and partners.
- Conduct background research on new projects and initiatives.
Team Management:
- Participate in the recruitment of new staff.
- Guide and train new staff, including the provision of logistical support as appropriate.
- Facilitate appropriate and efficient division of tasks across staff, and accurately delegate tasks to RAs and provide strong deadlines for execution.
- Supervise staff. This includes: documenting performance, organizing semi-annual reviews, and making recommendations for promotions or terminations.
Budget Management:
- Plan expenditures to fulfill project obligations within timelines set by funders; update as project design and/or local conditions evolve.
- Work with J-PAL’s administration officer to keep detailed accounts of all activities on these projects, including monitoring expenses in the field and summarizing current expenditures and forecasting expected expenditures on a quarterly basis.
Management of Human Subjects Approvals and Ethics Applications:
- Coordinate application process for all research and other permissions required to conduct project activities.
- Maintain a calendar of deadlines and alert PIs and team leadership of upcoming deadlines in a timely way.
Reporting and communication:
- Facilitate and participate in regular communication among field team and between PIs and field teams as appropriate.
- Provide periodic updates on project activities to PIs and subject experts.
- Participate in the planning and design of any outreach activities.
- Assist with preparation of dissemination materials, including flyers and slides for presentations.
Mandatory Qualifications:
- A Master's degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, or related fields.
- Prior work experience of minimum of 2 years in developing countries (not necessarily confined to development work).
- Proven management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations.
- Fluency and excellent communication skills in English.
- Flexibility, self-motivation, the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently as a team player.
Desired Qualifications:
- Familiarity with randomized controlled trials (strongly desired).
- Interest and experience in microfinance, entrepreneurship, SME development, and innovative business approaches for growth, income generation, and poverty alleviation (strongly desired).
- Knowledge of Stata (strongly preferred), SAS, or any other data analysis software.
- Significant training in and a strong technical understanding of economics and econometrics.
- Experience living and conducting field research in a developing country, ideally in South East Asia.
- Attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills (clear, precise, creative) for communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that policymakers understand.
- Experience with making presentations and liaising with senior officials, including sensitive relationships in government and other large institutions.
- Strong interest in international development policy and research as demonstrated by coursework and/or study or work abroad.
- Knowledge of Indonesian, or least a strong willingness to learn.
We are looking for a commitment period of two and a half years for this position.
How to Apply
- Send an email to Héctor Salazar Salame at hsalazar@povertyactionlab.org, copying jobs@poverty-action.org and jpalseajobs@povertyactionlab.org following these instructions exactly: In the subject line, put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name. Please attach ONLY your CV. In the email body, copy exactly the following position line: 100968 JPALSoutheast Asia, Research Manager - Small Business Loan Programs and SME Finance. Please do not include any text besides the position line(s) in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application.
- Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application<https://apply.povertyactionlab.org/login>indicating that you are interested in applying for a ""Type 3"" position. "
The full job description and application instructions can be found at
http://povertyactionlab.org/jobs/research-manager-j-pal-southeast-asia-100968
http://povertyactionlab.org/jobs/research-manager-j-pal-southeast-asia-100968
