The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) network is now accepting applications for positions starting inlate spring/early summer 2010, as well as for immediate openings
Most positions are based in developing countries although we also have a handful at the J-PAL headquarters in Cambridge, MA and at IPA headquarters in New Haven, CT. All of the open positions are full time and most are for a minimum of 1 year. Most positions begin in summer, although many of these are still not listed.
New positions are added to this site on a weekly basis.
How to Apply:
Each year, an annual recruitment drive takes place. Applicants are asked to submit a complete J-PAL common application, including submission of transcripts and letters of recommendation, by January 31st 2010. Applicants will not be penalized for late submissions due to technical difficulties.
If you learned about a J-PAL position after the submission deadline, please feel welcome to apply anyway. Applicants who applied by the deadline are guaranteed to receive full consideration, but because of the large number of openings, applications received after the deadline may also be considered.
If you are available immediately, please submit your application as soon as possible. Due to the many immediate openings, your application will be reviewed as soon as it is complete. Do NOT use this application to try to apply for part-time or short-term internships.
What Openings are Available: Job opportunities fall into four major categories (“types”). More than 50 openings are anticipated, 70% of which are Type 1.
Type 1:
Field Project Associate / Research Assistant / Research Associate
Please consult the generic job descriptions for type 1, 2, and 3 positions to determine which types of positions would be a good fit for you. Because type (3) and type (4) positions can vary a bit more in responsibilities and required skills, specific job descriptions for these may also be included below. On the common application, you must select which types of positions you would like to be considered for. You will also be given the opportunity to select three preferences for job locations. If you are very flexible on location, you should also select “any”. Please use the personal statement section to describe the reasoning behind your preference or provide additional information on your preference if necessary.
A suggestive but not comprehensive list of openings of anticipated openings is below. More openings are added each week.
Selection and Interview Process:Applicants will be rated for the types of positions they applied for by February 12th. After that, professors and hiring managers from throughout the J-PAL network will browse applicants by rating, geographic location interest and flexibility, and language skills. They will then contact applicants they are potentially interested in for interviews. J-PAL studies are run by teams of people so interviewing for one position may entail multiple interviews with multiple people. The hiring process within the J-PAL network is somewhat decentralized (though we tend to share notes with each other), and some candidates may also receive interview requests for multiple positions. In a small number of cases, candidates may receive more than one offer and will be able to choose a preferred position. However, in general, competition for these positions is very intense and we receive a very large number of highly quality applications.
Pay: Terms and conditions of employment (including pay) vary with the job and with the candidate’s experience. In general, field based PAs/RAs are paid a salary similar to a small stipend for living expenses but not much more. Airfare, health insurance, visa costs etc are covered.
What does a job at J-PAL lead to?:Many of those who have worked with the J-PAL network in the past have gone on to graduate studies including at MIT (PhD in economics), Harvard (economics PhD, Law school, medical school, MPA/ID at the Kennedy School), Berkeley (PhD in economics), and other top schools. This partly reflects the quality of people who are accepted to these positions but also the fact that our staff and others we work with acquire a range of important skills and experiences on the job.
TYPE 1 Job Description
Field Project Associates/ Research Assistants / Research Associates assist in designing and implementing randomized evaluations. They work closely with academic researchers and other field staff to perform a variety tasks including: designing survey questionnaires, managing survey teams, negotiating contracts with survey firms, checking and analyzing data, and coordinating with local partners running the programs being evaluated. Education/Experience/Qualities Needed: PAs/RAs typically have a Bachelor’s Degree in economics, social sciences, or other related fields. Excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills are required along with strong quantitative skills. Knowledge of STATA or other data analysis software is preferred. These positions are ideal for those seeking hands on research and/or development experience and for those planning to go on to graduate studies. Additional Preferred Qualities: Candidates should be independent and self-motivating; experience in developing countries is a strong plus; graduate-level coursework in economics is a strong plus; undergraduate training in microeconomics, development economics, econometrics and statistics is preferred; local language skills are desirable. Note for Current Employees: If you are currently employed by someone in the J-PAL network, and are hoping to switch to a new project and/or location, please talk with your supervisor(s) about these goals in addition to submitting the common application. Note for Semi-Overqualified Applicants: PA/RA positions can be excellent learning opportunities for people with masters degrees who wish to get hands on experience with field research. Additionally, they are good opportunities for people who are looking for a more limited time commitment of one or two years. (Note that the specific time commitment for each position is noted in the listings below.)
TYPE 2 Job Description
Headquarters or office-based research assistants’ primary responsibility is usually working with data sets, cleaning and running checks to spot errors and generally preparing data for analysis. Other responsibilities may include writing survey questions liaising with the field staff running the evaluation, writing grant proposals, and any other number of tasks. These positions are ideal for those seeking research experience before going on to graduate studies. There will likely be openings in Cambridge MA, New Haven CT, and possibly elsewhere. Education/Experience/Qualities Needed: Prior experience working with large data sets and programming in Stata, SAS, or other statistical analysis languages are necessary. Very strong quantitative, organizational, and communication skills are required. Candidates should hold at least a bachelor's degree in economics including training in microeconomics, development economics, econometrics, statistics, and advanced math. Graduate-level coursework in economics is a strong plus.
TYPE 3 Job Description
Various positions throughout the J-PAL network, including Project Coordinator, Project Director, and Country Director, are more senior positions than the PA/RA positions and offer increasing responsibility for both research and management tasks. Some are suitable as promotion opportunities for current PAs/RAs who have at least 2 years of experience. Others are considerably more senior. These positions often involve taking a lead role in coordinating multiple evaluations, taking the lead in the management of relations with a number of different partners, and managing staff. Responsibilities may include designing survey questionnaires, managing survey teams, negotiating contracts with survey firms, checking and analyzing data, and coordinating with local partners running the programs being evaluated. These positions may be based in the field or at the J-PAL or IPA headquarters offices. Some require considerable travel. Nearly all require a minimum commitment of two-years. Education:
Required:
A Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree including training in microeconomics, development economics, econometrics and statistics.
Preferred:
Masters or PhD level degree in development economics, international affairs, international public policy, or field related to international economic development
Experience:
Required:
Several years of relevant work experience
Preferred:
Experience in conducting field research in developing countries
Experience in economics or social science research, with a background in randomized evaluations
Experience with data management, econometrics, and knowledge of Stata
Managerial experience and the ability to present positions to and negotiate with senior officials.
Qualities:
Very high level of proficiency in English. Strong oral and written communications skills.
TYPE 1 Openings
Bangladesh, Type 1 -Empowering Girls in Rural Bangladesh Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rachel Glennerster, Erica Field Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Dhaka, Bangladesh; June 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Bangla preferred
Bolivia, Type 1 -Group vs Individual Liability / Facilitating Savings with Commitment and Reminders Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: La Paz, Bolivia; May 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish a must
Bolivia, Type 1 -Aligning Credit and Cashflows through a Line of Credit Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: La Paz, Bolivia; Mayor June 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish a must Note: Applicants at both the type 1 and type 3 levels are being considered
Chile, Type 1 –Information in Schooling Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Francisco Gallego and others Title, Employer: Research Assistant, J-PAL Latin America Location, Start Date: Santiago, Chile; March 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Fluent Spanish and English required Special Note: Person with previous J-PAL/IPA field research experience preferred.
The application deadline for this position in particular is February 15th. To be considered for other positions, applying by January 31st is recommended.
Chile, Type 1 –TBD, various
Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: TBD, various Title, Employer: Research Assistant, J-PAL Latin America Location, Start Date: Santiago, Chile; June 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Fluent Spanish and English required Special Note: Person with previous J-PAL/IPA field research experience preferred.
The application deadline for this position in particular is February 15th. To be considered for other positions, applying by January 31st is recommended.
France, Type 1 – TBD, various Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: TBD, various Title, Employer: J-PAL Europe Location, Start Date: Paris, France; September or October 2010 Commitment: 1 year minimum Languages: Must be fluent in French
Ghana, Type 1 – Ghana Research Cluster Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Chris Udry Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Tamale, Ghana; April 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Ghana, Type 1 – Ghana Research Cluster Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Chris Udry Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Tamale, Ghana; June or July 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Ghana, Type 1 – Teacher Community Assistant Initiative Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: TBD Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Accra, Ghana; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 1.5 years Languages: English
Ghana, Type 1 – Agricultural Finance Evaluation Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Chris Udry, Greg Fischer, Dean Karlan Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Ghana; March 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: English
Ghana, Type 1 -Targeting the Ultra-Poor Posted [Updated]: 2/01/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Robert Osei Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Tamale, Ghana; April 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: English Special Note: Apply by March 1, 2010
India, Type 1 -Using the DOTS model to combat tuberculosis Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Esther Duflo Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Delhi, India; February 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Hindi preferred
India, Type 1 – Improving State Capacity on the Delivery of Public Programs via Unique IDs and Financial Inclusion Posted [Updated]: 01/19/09 [2/1/10] Professors: Karthik Muralidharan, Paul Niehaus, and Sandip Sukhtankar. Title, employer: Research Assistant, J-PAL South Asia Location: Andhra Pradesh, India, and possibly Bihar/Gujarat, India Start date: March 2010 if possible, June 2010 latest Commitment: 2 years Languages: Hindi or Telugu a plus Special Note: For a project description, look under the type 3 job listing for this project.
India, Type 1 -Improving Industrial Pollution Regulations Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rohini Pande, Esther Duflo, Michael Greenstone Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; April 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Hindi and/or Gujarati preferred
India, Type 1 -Drunken Driving Laws Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Esther Duflo Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India; April 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Hindi preferred
India, Type 1 -Empowering Female Leaders and Voters Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rohini Pande, Esther Duflo, Abhijit Banerjee Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Jaipur, Rajasthan, India; June 2010 Commitment: 1 year
India, Type 1 -Migration and Public Goods AND Voter Information Campaigns and the Delhi Municipal Councilors Election Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rohini Pande, Abhijit Banerjee, Michael Walton Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Delhi, India; August 2010 Commitment: 1 year
India, Type 1 -Increasing Voter Turnout in Bihar Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Abhijit Banerjee, Rohini Pande, Anjali Bhardwaj Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Bihar, India; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
India, Type 1 -Access to Financial Services in Rural Tamil Nadu Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Erica Field, Rohini Pande Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
India, Type 1 – Weather Insurance and Price Information in India Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Shawn Cole, Petia Topalova Employer: Centre for Microfinance Location, Start Date: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
India, Type 1 – Andra Pradesh School Choice Posted [Updated]: 02/01/10 Professors: Karthik Muralidharan, Michael Kremer Employer: Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Andra Pradesh, India; June or July 2010 Commitment: 1-2 years Languages: Hindi or Telugu helpful Special Note: Please email aprest.data@gmail.com to let us know that you’ve applied for this position through the J-PAL common application.
Indonesia, Type 1 –Two Evaluations of Education Programs: (a) doubling teacher salaries and teacher training on student outcomes, and (b) an early childhood development program. Posted [Updated]: 01/19/10 Professors: Karthik Muralidharan and Menno Pradhan Title, Employer: Research Assistant, World Bank Location, Start Date: Jakarta, Indonesia; January 2010 or as soon as possible Commitment: 1 year Languages: Indonesian preferred Special Note: Please apply through the J-PAL common application. Also, please email Indonesia.education@gmail.com to let us know that you’ve applied for this position through the J-PAL common application.
Indonesia, Type 1 – Self-Targeting in Indonesia Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Ben Olken, Rema Hanna, Abhijit Banerjee Employer: Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Jakarta, Indonesia; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
Kenya, Type 1 -Vocational Education Voucher Delivery and Labor Market Returns in Kenya AND Kenya Life Panel Survey Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Edward Miguel, Isaac Mbiti, Michael Kremer Title, Employer: Evaluations Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia, Kenya; May or June 2010 Commitment: 1 year required; 2 years strongly preferred Lanauges: Desire to learn Swahili preferred
Kenya, Type 1 -Contract Farming, Technology Adoption and Agricultural Productivity Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Michael Kremer, Sendhil Mullainathan, Lorenzo Casaburi Title, Employer: Evaluations Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia, Kenya; March 2010 Commitment: 18 months minimum Lanauges: Desire to learn Swahili preferred
Kenya, Type 1 – Multiple rural water treatment strategies Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Michael Kremer, Ted Miguel, Vivian Hoffman, and Amrita Ahuja Title, Employer: Evaluation Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia Kenya, June 2010 Commitment: 2 years preferred Special note: This project is a scale-up of a previous study, described here.
This position includes significant outreach to local, national, and international policymakers to encourage adoption of a new safe water technology.
Kenya, Type 1 – Health benefits of sanitation, hygiene, and household water treatment Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Michael Kremer, Vivian Hoffman, Amrita Ahuja Title, Employer: Evaluation Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia Kenya, June 2010 Commitment: 2 years preferred
Kenya, Type 1 – Barriers to Fertilizer Adoption Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Esther Duflo, Michael Kremer, and Jonathan Robinson Title, Employer: Evaluation Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia, Kenya, June 2010 Commitment: 1 year minimum Languages: English; Desire to learn Swahili preferred
Kenya, Type 1 – Measuring Impact of Financial Access Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Pascaline Dupas and Jonathan Robinson Title, Employer: Evaluation Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia, Kenya, June 2010 Commitment: 1 year minimum Languages: English; Desire to learn Swahili preferred
Kenya, Type 1 – Education, Fertility and HIV Prevention Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Esther Duflo, Pascaline Dupas Title, Employer: Evaluation Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia, Kenya, July 2010 Commitment: 1 year minimum Languages: English
Lesotho, Type 1 – Short-term financial incentives and Sexual Behavior and HIV Incidence Among Young Women Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Martina Bjorkman, Lusia Corno, Damien de Walque, Jakob Svennson Title, Employer: TBD Location, Start Date: Lesotho, February 2010 Commitment: 1 year minimum
Malawi, Type 1 – Savings and Social Networks in Malawi Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Yang, Xavier Gine, Dan Silverman Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Lilongwe, Malawi; February 2010 Commitment: 6-12 months
Mexico, Type 1 -Impact of Microcredit for Women Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Jonathan Zinman Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Nogales, Arizona (traveling almost daily to Sonora Mexico); February 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: Spanish required Special Note: This is a replacement for one person on a two-person team; the other team member has already been working on the project for 1 year.
Morocco, Type 1 -Impact of Enterprise Support Program Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Bruno Crepon, Elise Huillery, Wiliam Parienté Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Rabat, Morocco; August 2010 Commitment: 14 months Languages: French required
Mozambique, Type 1 -Savings, Subsidies, and Sustainable Food Security Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean yang, Michael Carter Employer: University of Michigan Location, Start Date: Chimoio, Mozambique; February 2010 Commitment: 6-12 months Languages: Portuguese required (or willingness to learn quickly)
Pakistan, Type 1 -Monitoring Patient Compliance with Tuberculosis Treatment Regimes in Pakistan Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rachel Glennerster, Aamir Khan, Adnan Khan Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Pakistan; June 2010 Commitment: 1 year
Pakistan, Type 1 -Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rachel Glennerster and others Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Pakistan; June 2010 Commitment: 1 year
Pakistan, Type 1 -Increasing Voter Turnout Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Abhijit Banerjee, Rohini Pande, Asim Khwaja, Ali Cheema Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Pakistan; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
Peru, Type 1 -Third Grade Science Pilot Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Eric Bettinger Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Lima, Peru; February 2010 Commitment: 18 months Languages: Fluent Spanish required
Peru, Type 1 -Information Communication Technology and Financial Literacy Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Martin Valdivia Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Cusco, Peru; January 2010 Commitment: 9 months Languages: Fluent Spanish required
Peru, Type 1 -Business Training for Microfinance Clients Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Martin Valdivia Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Lima, Peru; February 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish required
Peru, Type 1 -Targeting the Ultra-Poor Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Bram Thuysbaert Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Cusco, Peru; April 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish required
Philippines, Type 1 -Evaluating the Impact of Access to Mobile Savings Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Pascaline Dupas, Jonathan Robinson, Dean Karlan Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Visayas, Philippines; February 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Philippines, Type 1 – Returns to Small-Scale Mango Farmers Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Jeremey Shapiro, Jonathan Zinman Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Cebu, Philippines; February 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Philippines, Type 1 – Evaluating Credit Scoring, Impact of Credit, and Financial Literacy Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Jonathan Zinman Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Cagayan de Oro or Manila, Philippines; February 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Sierra Leone, Type 1 -Roads and Agriculture Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rachel Glennerster, Tavneet Suri, Lorenzo Casaburi Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Sierra Leone, January 2010 if possible Commitment: 1 year
Sierra Leone, Type 1 -Roads and Agriculture Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rachel Glennerster, Tavneet Suri, Lorenzo Casaburi Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Sierra Leone, June 2010 Commitment: 1 year
Uganda, Type 1 -Gates Savings Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Pascaline Dupas, Dean Karlan, Jon Robinson Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Kamuli, Uganda; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 years Special Note: This project is a replication study of this study.
Uganda, Type 1 -Payments for Ecosystem Services Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Joost de Laat, Seema Jayachandran Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Hoima, Uganda; May 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Uganda, Type 1 -Rainwater Storage Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Mushfiq Mobarak Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Kamuli, Uganda; May 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Ukraine, Type 1 – Agriculture in Ukraine Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Luc Behagel Title, Employer: TBD Location, Start Date: Ukraine, Springor Summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: French
Yemen, Type 1 -Targeting the Ultra-Poor Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Aden, Yemen; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 years Languages: Arabic required
TYPE 2 Openings
Ghana, Type 2 – Examining Underinvestment in Agriculture Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan, Chris Udry Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Tamale, Ghana; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 years
United States, Type 2 – Various Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Various Title, Employer: Project Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: New Haven, CT, US; August 2010 Commitment: 1 year
United States, Type 2 – Assembling a dataset of micro-level price data from developing countries Posted [Updated]:02/01/09 Professors: Dean Karlan and David Atkin Title, Employer: Research Assistant/Programmer, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: New Haven, CT, US; Summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year required; 2 years preferred Special Note: Email gdesai@poverty-action.org to alert her that you’re interested in this. Please write “US based Research Assistant/Programmer” in the subject line.
United States, Type 2 – Various Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Rachel Glennerster Employer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Location, Start Date: Cambridge, MA, US; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
United States, Type 2 – Various Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Rohini Pande Employer: Center for International Development, Harvard Kennedy School of Government Location, Start Date: Cambridge, MA, US; summer 2010 Commitment: 1 year
United States, Type 2 - Conditional Community Cash Transfers Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Ben Olken Employer: TBD Location, Start Date: Chicago IL or Cambridge MA; fall 2010 Commitment: 1 year
TYPE 3 Openings
Bolivia, Type 3-Aligning Credit and Cashflows through a Line of Credit Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan Title, Employer: Project Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: La Paz, Bolivia; Mayor June 2010 Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish a must Note: Applicants at both the type 1 and type 3 levels are being considered.
Colombia, Type 3 -Expanding Agri-Business Access to Finance AND other projects Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Antoinette Schoar Title, Employer: Project Associate, Ideas 42 Location, Start Date: Bogotá, Colombia; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish a must
Ghana, Type 3 – Ghana Research Cluster Director Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Reports to: Ghana Country Director and various principal investigators Title, Employer: Research Cluster Director, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Accra, Ghana or US-based with frequent travel; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 year minimum To Apply: Please email Gonwa@mit.edu to let us know that you’ve applied for this position through the J-PAL common application. Please write “Ghana Research Cluster Director” in the subject line. Job Description: The Ghana Research Cluster will be a large experimental site where development interventions will be designed, implemented and evaluated, alongside a long-term data collection effort. The Director will set up a research infrastructure in Ghana, establish and supervise ongoing impact evaluations, and work to generate a body of evidence on the comparative impact and cost effectiveness of a variety of poverty alleviation programs. The Director will be responsible for the following tasks:
Build data collection infrastructure, supplementing ongoing panel data sets
Initiate the development of new research proposals including both the technical design as well for funding support
Plan, set up and manage numerous impact evaluations
Oversee project design and implementation, data collection, data management and analysis, reports and budgeting
Supervise Project Associates, Project Managers and Surveyors
Liaise with US-based Principal Investigators, IPA Ghana staff and IPA headquarters
Disseminate results via local and international presentations, reports, and publications, to academic and non-academic audiences
Special Note: This is a senior position that requires both strong technical and management skills. In addition to having the education, experience, and qualities of a successful type 3 applicant, as described under the type 3 generic job description, successful candidates for this position will have:
Masters or Phd degree (PhD strongly preferred) in development economics, international affairs, international public policy, or field related to international economic development
Ability to represent IPA in public forums and to present the work of the Research Cluster to partners, donors, and policy makers.
Excellent management and organizational skills.
Excellent writing and communication skills.
Exceptional attention to detail
Flexibility, self-motivation, and an ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently
India, Type 3 -Double-Fortified Salt Scale-Up in Bihar, India
Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Esther Duflo Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Bihar, India; April 2010 Commitment: 1 year Languages: Hindi preferred Special Note: Scale-up of previously evaluated program, in partnership with the government.
India, Type 3 -Increasing Child Immunization Rates in Orissa, India Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Esther Duflo Employer: J-PAL South Asia Location, Start Date: Orissa, India; January 2010 if possible Commitment:1 year Languages: Hindi preferred Special Note: Scale-up of previously evaluated program, in partnership with the government.
India, Type 3 – Improving State Capacity on the Delivery of Public Programs via Unique IDs and Financial Inclusion Posted [Updated]:1/19/09 Professors: Karthik Muralidharan, Paul Niehaus, and Sandip Sukhtankar. Title, employer: Project Manager, J-PAL South Asia Location: Andhra Pradesh, India, and possibly Bihar/Gujarat Karnataka, India Start date:March 2010 if possible, June 2010 latest Commitment: 2 years Languages: Hindi or Telugu a plus Special Note: This project examines the effect of improving state capacity on the delivery of public programs. Specifically, it aims to measure the impact of introducing biometrically verified unique identity documents as well as secure methods of payments on targeting and leakage in large public programs in India. These “Unique IDs” (UIDs) and “No-Frills Bank Accounts” (NFAs) will be randomly phased in at the sub-district level, allowing us to construct scientifically valid measures of impact. As UIDs are issued they will be integrated into the operation of three key social programs: the National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes (NREGS), the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), and old age pensions. To quantify the impact of UIDs we will combine administrative data from official program records with original household surveys. Administrative data will let us estimate the impact of the UID’s on program outlays (especially through de-duplication of beneficiaries). Household surveys let us construct precise measures of targeting (whether the neediest households are most likely to receive benefits), as demonstrated by Atanassova et al (2009) on the TPDS. The combination of official records and surveys let us measure leakage (whether resources expended actually reach the poor) as in earlier work by Niehaus and Sukhtankar (2009). In addition, our surveys will capture measures of overall well-being (household consumption and investments) that will let us describe the ultimate return on investment in welfare terms. These may capture additional benefits of the policy package delivered – for example, no-frills bank accounts may benefit households by improving their access to formal financial services. We expect to conduct 6 waves of surveys over the 3 year length of the project.
India, Type 3 – Executive Director Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Employer: Small Enterprise Finance Center Reports to: Principal Researchers at Ideas42, which is based at Harvard, who also serve on the advisory board of SEFC Location, Start Date: Chennai, India, with occasional travel within India; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 year minimum To Apply: Please email application.sefc@gmail.com to let them know that you’ve applied for this position through the J-PAL common application. Job Description: This position provides a unique opportunity to have important managerial responsibilities, while being involved in cutting-edge research led by leading academics in the field. The ED will play a key role in the dissemination of SEFC’s research findings to local practitioners and policy makers, as well as building local research capacity. The ED will interact with key players in development organizations, donors, and government agencies. The ED will manage the activities of SEFC in the following ways:
Initiate and manage the development of new research proposals, including both technical details and policy relevance, in addition to report to existing funders
Manage relationships with current and potential SEFC partner organizations in the implementation of interventions whose effect we are researching
Disseminate results via presentations, reports, and publications at workshops, seminars, and conferences
Oversee a team of Research Associates, including advising project design and implementation, data collection, data management and analysis, and research reports
Liaise with US-based Principal Researchers and Staff to report on progress of SEFC activities
Perform administrative tasks related to the management of SEFC, such as tracking budgets and cash flows, creating and implementing human resource policies, and building operational infrastructure
Represent SEFC within the larger IFMR research community, including coordinating with the administration, other research Centres, and the IFMR Trust for events, initiatives, meetings, and joint fundraising
Mexico, Type 3 - Country Director Posted [Updated]:1/26/09 Employer: Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Mexico City, Mexico; approximately June2010 Commitment: 2 years minimum
Philippines, Type 3 -Returns to Management Consulting for Small and Medium Enterprises Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: Dean Karlan and TBD Title, Employer: Project Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Manila (but TBD), Philippines; March 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Philippines, Type 3 -Take-Up of Clean Tricycle Technology Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Professors: TBD Title, Employer: Project Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Manila, Philippines; April 2010 Commitment: 2 years
Sierra Leone, Type 3 - Country Director Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Employer: Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Sierra Leone; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 years minimum Special Note: A large part of the job will be interacting with and managing relations with the government, including helping build an M&E team within the Ministry of Finance, and working on evaluations with and giving input on policy to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health. The country directorwill be overseeing quite a number of randomized evaluations (most of which are new). These include several in agriculture and others in health management and delivery. For someone who wants to mix rigor and research with policy advice to the most senior levels of government, this should be a really exciting opportunity.
Uganda Type 3 - Country Director Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Employer: Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Kampala, Uganda; approximately June2010 Commitment: 2 years minimum
United States, Type 3 – Research Manager Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Reports to: Shawn Cole Title, Employer: Research Manager, Harvard University Location, Start Date: Cambridge, MA, US; Summer 2010 Commitment: 2 years minimum
United States, Type 3 – Outreach and Research Support Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Reports to: Managing Director Delia Welsh and Research Network Director Annie Duflo Title, Employer: Project Coordinator, Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: New Haven, CT, US; January 2010 if possible Commitment: 2 year minimum Job Description: The PC will assist in initiating and managing new research partnerships for the organization as well as in other strategic management tasks. This position will provide a unique opportunity to interact with top academics and cutting-edge practitioners and to have significant management responsibility in a growing organization. The PC would be responsible for the following responsibilities and tasks:
Interact and follow up with development organizations interested in research partnerships
Assist in the development of and fundraising for new research initiatives
Assist in vetting new research opportunities, and matching researchers with potential partners and projects
Assist researchers in setting up field research involving randomized trials, including coordinating with IPA’s network of country offices
Maintain a comprehensive database of IPA Research Network, researchers’ publications and research interests
Develop public outreach materials for potential partners, funders, media, and the general public
Participate in the development of funding proposals
Assist in building extensive support services for researchers who conduct rigorous evaluations and field studies
Qualifications: In addition to the qualifications described in the Type 3 Job Description, applicants should have excellent management and organizational skills; excellent writing and communication skills; exceptional attention to detail; flexibility, self-motivation, and an ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently. To Apply: Please email Gonwa@mit.edu to let us know that you’ve applied for this position through the J-PAL common application. Please write “Delia and Annie Outreach and Research Support” in the subject line.
TYPE 4 Openings
Chile, Type 4 -Capacity Building and Operations Manager Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 (01/19/10) Reports to: J-PAL Latin America Executive Director Employer: J-PAL Latin America Location, Start Date: Santiago, Chile; June 2010 or earlier Commitment: 2 years Languages: Fluent Spanish and English Job Description: This is a senior position that involves 2 roles: capacity building (60% of time) and financial and grant management (40% of time). Capacity Building: The design, organization and implementation of J-PAL Latin America products and services for capacity building in the Region. (i.e. organizing executive and academic education courses, seminars, workshops and staff training). Financial and Grant Management: Financial management, grant management, supervision of J-PAL acountant, coordination with PUC finance department, and management of routine human resources issues. Qualifications: In addition to the qualifications described in the Type 3 Job Description, applicants should have:
Experience with financial management and grant management
Experience developing curriculum for and coordinating the logistics of courses, seminars, and workshops
Very high level of proficiency in English AND Spanish, including strong oral and written communication skills.
To Apply: Please apply through the J-PAL common application, and select “type 3” as the type of position you are applying for. Also, please email Gonwa@mit.edu to let us know that you’ve applied for this position through the J-PAL common application. Please write “LatAm Capacity Building and Operations Manager” in the subject line. The application deadline for this position in particular is February 15th; to also be considered for other positions in the J-PAL network, applying by January 31st is recommended.
Kenya, Type 4 -Deputy Operations Manager Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 (01/19/10) Reports to: Kenya Country Director and Kenya Operations Manager Employer: Innovations for Poverty Action Location, Start Date: Busia, Kenya; As soon as possible Commitment: 2 years Special Note: This position involves significant financial management, grant management, and management of routine human resources issues To Apply: Please submit the following documents in PDF format to Tricia Gonwa via email at Gonwa@mit.edu, as soon as possible: (1) a cover letter clearly addressing your qualifications for the various responsibilities listed above and (2) Curriculum Vitae (Resume). Please put “Deputy Operations Manager Kenya” in the subject line.
United States, Type 4 – Policy Associate Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Reports to: J-PAL’s Director of Policy Employer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Location, Start Date: J-PAL headquarters in Cambridge, MA, US; June or July 2010 Commitment: 2 year minimum Special Note: This position is not eligible for any type of Visa sponsorship. Job Description: As the number of projects grows dramatically so has the need to draw out policy lessons and expand the policy outreach. Specifically, J-PAL is looking to hirea Policy Associate (PA)tosupportJ-PAL’s policy outreach initiatives. The PAs responsibilities will include reaching out to key actors in the policy world to promote evidence-based decision making and programs in response to J-PAL’s research findings. Specifically, this includes the following:
Creating policy memos and presentations that “translate” this economic research into policy lessons for dissemination to policy makers around the world (see for example the Policy Bulletins and Briefcases under the Publications section on J-PAL’s website).
Reviewing academic literature on randomized evaluations in development economics to draw out policy lessons from these field evaluations, undertaking cross-sectoral comparative cost effectiveness reviews of J-PAL’s randomized evaluations, identifying the most cost-effective policies and programs that are candidates for massive expansion.
Meeting with and building relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies. Giving presentations on what J-PAL is and does and J-PAL’s research findings, encouraging key contacts to attend J-PAL’s courses, and encouraging key contacts to run randomized trials (whether with us or on their own).
Qualifications: In addition to the qualifications described in the Type 3 Job Description, applicants should have the following:
A very strong technical understanding of economics, as it is necessary to ensure that the findings are translated into general policy conclusions in a way that is both simple to follow but also accurate and undistorted.
Between 3 to 10 years of work experience in the field(s) of international development and economics.
Significant policy writing experience.
Communication skills: This person must exhibit attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills for communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that policymakers understand. This requires clear, precise, non-technical writing, and creativity in presentation. Experience in designing effective web pages is a plus, but not required.
To Apply: Please submit the following documents in PDF format to Tricia Gonwa via email at Gonwa@mit.edu by February 28th 2010: (1) a cover letter clearly addressing your qualifications for the various responsibilities listed above, (2) Curriculum Vitae (Resume), and (3) transcripts of your undergraduate and graduate courses (including course names and grades). Applicants may be asked to complete a policy analysis and writing exercise.
India, Type 4 – Head, Sector Wide and Policy Unit (SWAP) Posted [Updated]:12/20/09 Reports to: CMF’s Executive Director Employer: Centre for Micro Finance (CMF) Location, Start Date: CMF headquarters in Chennai, India; TBD 2010 Commitment: 2 year minimum About CMF: CMF is a young, fast-growing organization focused on improving access to financial services for the poor through cutting edge research, knowledge dissemination and outreach to policy makers and practitioners. CMF aims to facilitate a process where research questions emerge from the local policy context and policy and programmatic decisions are guided by research outcomes. Job Description: This position provides a unique opportunity for those who are interested in research and policy issues in the Indian microfinance sector. The SWAP Unit aims to develop deep expertise on issues involved as well as the skills and materials required to influence policy at regional, national and international levels. The SWAP head will work closely with the CMF Executive director and with a team of SWAP policy analysts and knowledge management professionals on the following activities:
Conduct sector wide and policy studies
Institutionalize CMF’s microfinance and financial inclusion policy expertise
Work on select studies and provide guidance/ leadership to others
Responsible for monitoring budget and fund raising for specific studies
Responsible for systematically understanding the regulatory and policy context
Knowledge dissemination and outreach
Disseminate CMF’s impact evaluations and research knowledge to relevant stakeholders
Ensure and manage team involvement in KM initiatives and sustenance
Contribute to proposal development and project management with research ideas
Qualifications:
Masters degree or undergraduate with compensatory relevant work experience of 3+ years
Education and research background should be in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies/ Finance, International Development or disciplines of equal distinction.
3 plus years of experience in International Development with focus on developing countries
Excellent communication, formal English writing skills, documentation and budgeting skills
Demonstrated ability to set ambitious and achievable medium to long term targets
Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data and convert them into meaningful information
Team player with flexibility to absorb and disseminate best practices based on innovations and field experience combined with leadership ability to provide directions
Self starter with passion and willingness to rollup sleeves for making a difference
Extensive experience and exposure to the best practices within the development industry
Experience in working with a microfinance research set up would be a definite asset
Excellent entrepreneurial, leadership skills and strategic thinking ability
Knowledge of local language is highly desirable but not mandatory
To Apply: Please send your resume and a covering letter which should give a detailed account of synergy between your profile and the position and a writing sample of any of your previous works to babu.vittal@ifmr.ac.in. Please indicate in the subject line that you are applying for the SWAP Head position. After validating your profile and relevant documents, CMF will contact you within a reasonable time.
India, Type 4 – Bihar State Project Coordinator Posted [Updated]: 02/01/10 Reports to: Regional Director, South Asia Employer:Deworm the World (DTW) Location, Start Date: Patna, Bihar, India; Early to mid 2010 Commitment: 1 year minimum About DTW: Poor health and nutrition are major barriers to educational access and achievement in low and middle income countries. Mass deworming programs in areas where parasitic worm infections are a public health problem, typically implemented through schools, are proven to be a safe, simple and cost-effective health intervention and are now an urgent education policy priority. DtW seeks to increase access to education by expanding deworming among school-age children in low and middle income countries. DtW is not an implementing organization, but through advocacy and technical assistance to national/state governments, seeks to strengthen and expand implementation efforts leading to scaled and sustainable school-based mass deworming programs. Job Description: The State Project Coordinator (SPC) will coordinate the successful roll-out of a school-based deworming program throughout Bihar. The coordination will involve working with the State Departments of Education and Health, and any other relevant government departments and development partners, to roll-out a systematized, state-wide deworming program. The primary focus of this position will be coordinating DtW activities within Bihar; however the SPC may also be required to work with partners in other states within India or countries within South Asia to support the expansion of deworming programs in these areas.
Primary Responsibilities will be:
Working with the State Departments of Education and Health, along with any other relevant government departments and development partners, to integrate deworming into government/other schools.
Designing and coordinating a state-level deworming strategy in coordination with all partners, including the following activities:
Partnership development: Establishing MoUs with partners; identifying and facilitating a School Health Coordination Committee of key deworming partners within Bihar.
Operational Plans: Developing work plans; creating operational maps to improve programmatic targeting; coordinating distribution systems; establishing M&E systems and clear reporting structures.
Training Programs: Coordinating the development of training materials and the execution of training sessions for program implementers.
Community Awareness: Coordinating the production and distribution of community awareness materials through print, radio and video channels.
Representing DtW in all appropriate meetings, consultations and workshops within Bihar and as needed throughout the region.
Supporting the Regional Director in exploring opportunities and developing plans to scale-up deworming programs with state, national, regional, or international partners in other states within India and countries within South Asia, on an as-needed basis.
Qualifications: Skills:
Effectively communicates (meetings, presentations and written communication) with a variety of audiences to achieve desired outcomes.
Possesses strong project management skills to plan, monitor, and implement initiatives according to deadline.
Works collaboratively with partners to achieve desired results despite conflicting demands or priorities.
Works well as part of a team (e.g. regional teams and DtW Secretariat) and prioritizes communication and teamwork with colleagues. Identifies potential problems and devises creative solutions to achieve program goals.
Able to work independently and with minimal and/or remote guidance.
Able to identify in time issues that need escalation, and raise these, to the Regional Director.
Fluency in English and Hindi.
Experience:
Relevant post-graduate training (e.g. Master in Public Policy, Public Health, or Education, MBA or MD) required.
Over five years professional work experience; at least 2 years managing teams and budgets.
Understanding of school health and nutrition programs and experience in public health or education preferred.
Experience establishing good working relationships with partners (including governmental, multilateral and academic institutions and civil society) and donors.
Salary: To be agreed in consultation with the successful candidate. To Apply: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please send a CV and a cover letter at the earliest, with the subject: Application for State Project Coordinator – Bihar, to Prerna Makkar at prerna.makkar@dewormtheworld.org.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Do I have to use the common online application?
A: Email and postal applications will not be accepted unless explicitly noted otherwise.
Q: Do I really need to get the recommendation letters?
A: Many professors and hiring managers use the rating we assign candidates when searching the database of applicants. If your application does not include at least two uploaded letters of recommendation, you will not be given a rating. However, please apply anyway.
Q: What do I do if I need help?
A: Phone calls and email inquires cannot be accepted, due to the fact that the hiring managers are located all over the world, at different offices, and also due to the large volume of resumes received. Difficulties of a technical nature may be directed to jobs@povertyactionlab.org
Q: Can I submit my application before my references are uploaded?
A: Yes, but your application will not rated until you have at least 2 references. It is your responsibility to follow up with your recommenders.
Q: When will I hear back?
A: All applications will be rated by February 12th. After that, professors and hiring managers from throughout the J-PAL network will browse and contact applicants they are potentially interested in for interviews. J-PAL studies are run by teams of people so interviewing for one position may entail multiple interviews with multiple people. The hiring process within the J-PAL network is somewhat decentralized (though we tend to share notes with each other), and some candidates may also receive interview requests for multiple positions. In a small number of cases, candidates may receive more than one offer and will be able to choose a preferred position. However, in general, competition for these positions is very intense and we receive a very large number of highly quality applications.
Q: What do I do if I don’t hear back?
A: Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. It is most likely that you would be contacted in February/March/April. As new jobs are always opening up, you might even be contacted as late as May/June/July/August/September 2010.
Q: How can I know what was wrong with my application?
A: We will be unable to provide feedback on specific applications.
Q: Are there any summer internship opportunities? How do I apply?
A: The J-PAL network works in close partnership with a number of research centers that run affiliates’ REs and who employ the staff associated with each RE. Two of these research centers, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and the Centre for Microfinance, have summer internship programs. For more details on CMF internships, please see here. For more details on IPA internships, please see here.
