Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a U.S. non-profit organization dedicated to creating, evaluating, and replicating innovative solutions to poverty and policy problems worldwide. IPA specializes in using randomized impact evaluation to assess the effectiveness of development programs.

Description Of Job

IPA Ghana’s Northern Research Manager will assist in providing overall research and management support across projects in Northern Ghana. The position will include a variety of activities and responsibilities, ranging from technical support on existing research projects to organizational, management and human resource support.

He or she will play a senior role in IPA’s Ghana Country Office and report directly to the Country Director (CD) and the Accra and Tamale Deputy Country Directors (DCDs).  The Northern Research Manager will interact with key players in various development organizations, and will also support outreach activities and the dissemination of results in Ghana.

The role provides a unique opportunity to gain management experience, with responsibility for developing overarching organizational structures and systems, while also being involved in cutting-edge research projects.

Research projects in Ghana cover a number of sectors including micro-savings, education, public health, agriculture, financial literacy. The Northern Research Manager will be based in Tamale, Ghana and will work at a variety of fields to support ongoing projects based in the Northern Region, Upper East and Upper West. He or She will be responsible for the following tasks:

Project Backstopping (60%)   

. Manage in-house and external Data Entry so as to coordinate entry across projects as well as to ensure quality, efficiency, and affordability.
. Provide day-to-day technical support to Program Associates on ongoing research projects in the North to ensure work plans and timelines are met and that data quality is high.
. Liaise with the Northern and Southern DCDs and CD to ensure consistency of programming.
. Support southern PA/PCs with project finances and human resource procedures.
. Oversee production of technical reports, outputs and analysis, project briefs and communication materials for all southern PAs/PCs.
. Work with CD to ensure consistent and regular PI updates, partner liaising and updates for all southern projects.
. Support southern PA/PCs to ensure that all IRB rules and regulations are met.

General Management (30%):

. Assist with administrative tasks in Tamale Office, including managing office administrative staff.
. Develop and implement country-wide accounting procedures including allocation of expenses, financial recordkeeping completion of monthly budgets and financial reports, proper use of QuickBooks, coordinating annual audit, and inventory tracking.
. Ensure overall the organizational legal compliance of the Tamale office.
. Work with Country Director and Deputy Country Directors to circulate office wide updates.

New Project/Partner Outreach (5%)

. Conduct field and background research for new projects based in the southern half of Ghana.
. Support CD and DCDs in partner outreach including meetings with interested organization and review new project ideas.
. Assist with grant applications for new and ongoing projects

Outreach/Dissemination (5%)

. Work with CD and Cluster Research Manager to disseminate research findings to national stake holders

Qualification Required Or Experience

. A Masters' Degree or PHD (preferred) in economics, public policy, social sciences or related fields
. Significant experience in social science field research, previous survey and field experience strongly preferred
. Management experience and excellent organizational skills
. International work experience (6 month minimum)
. Sound data analysis skills, knowledge of STATA strongly preferred
. Flexibility, self-motivation, team spirit and an ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently
. Demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies and to work independently
. Fluency in English, excellent writing and communication skills
. Exceptional attention to detail
. Willingness to travel
. Ability and willingness to work effectively in cross-cultural environments
. Familiarity with randomized controlled trials preferred

The commitment sought for this position is a minimum of two years, three years is preferred.  The position will start in August 1st, 2012.

How To Apply For The Job:

Interested candidates should send their CV to:

jobs-ghana@poverty-action.org

following these instructions exactly:

. In the subject line: put IPA Ghana Northern Research Manager: Firstname Lastname
. Attachments: Please attach ONLY your cover letter and CV in word or PDF format.
. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted by email or phone.

Closing Date: 10th July, 2012