Job Description

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

Project Management

Position: Associate Research Manager

(1 Position)

Reporting To: Deputy Country Director

Start Date: 21st June 2022

Location: Nairobi

Duration: 1 Year

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Eligibility: Position open to local Kenyan hires only

About Innovations for Poverty Action: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering and promoting effective solutions to global poverty problems.

In close partnership with decision makers — the policymakers, practitioners, investors, and donors working with the poor around the world — IPA designs and evaluates potential solutions to poverty problems using randomized evaluations, the most rigorous evaluation method available.

We also mobilize and support these decision makers to use these solutions to build better programs and policies at scale.

About the Position: The Associate Research Manager under the general supervision of the Senior Research Manager / Deputy Country Director and within the limits of Innovations for Poverty Action-Kenya policies and procedures, coordinates the facilitation of field activities and functions within IPAK for approximately 3 projects.

Below is a list of some of the general duties and responsibilities of the Associate Research Manager, to be carried out as needed according to the determination of the supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan and supervise survey implementation, quality assurance, data cleaning, data analysis and other activities related to study implementation.


• Plan and execute program activities: identify priorities, create timelines, meet with stakeholders, monitor project implementation.


• Oversee project financial management, including the creation and monitoring of project budgets.


• Ensure project expenditures are in line with project budgets and donor requirements/restrictions.


• In collaboration with legal and grants teams, assist in execution of contracts for new/amended work.


• In collaboration with supervisor, project PIs, and other relevant staff produce project deliverables, such as reports and financial statements, to be submitted to donors and partners.


• Coordinate the hiring and train of field staff.


• Directly supervise project associates.


• Attend meetings with local government officials and partners as needed to ensure success of project activities.


• Ensure study compliance with relevant IRB, research permit and governmental approval requirements.


• Oversee the development, improvement, and any necessary modification of electronic data collection instruments and data flow procedures.


• Manage the relationship with project partners, PIs, and other relevant stakeholders.


• Oversee the development and field piloting of survey instruments.


• Provide mentorship to project staff, including contributing to trainings in coordination with other projects and staff.


• Support the Kenya Country Office on project development, policy efforts, managing key relationships, trainings, and other duties as assigned.


• Contribute to the development of new projects including budgeting, PI coordination, and feedback on project design.


• Maintain compliance with all IPA policies and procedures.


• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Preferably Master’s degree in project management, social sciences, public policy, economics, or related fields. Bachelor’s degree (required).


• Proven minimum 5 years of field and project management experience. Extensive experience supervising, designing, and implementing data collection and/or field work activities, and managing teams of field workers. Including experience with randomized controlled trials.


• Ability to present information in an insightful and structured manner, both written and oral, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external partners.


• Experience developing and managing project budgets.


• Excellent financial management skills.


• Flexible, self-motivating, and team player.


• Able to manage multiple teams/projects in different locations and across different complex activities efficiently


• Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with stakeholders including multiple PI team(s), partner organizations and policy makers.


• Excellent supervisory and management experience related to fieldwork and data collection


• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Kiswahili and proven ability to make presentations of project reports to the PIs and partners.


• Experience with Stata, Survey CTO, Excel.

How to Apply

Please CLICK HERE to apply online.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a ROLLING BASIS.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Associate Research Manager. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities.

Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant.

Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA.

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