Senior Policy Manager, Embedded Labs Program

About the role

Innovation for Poverty Action is hiring a Senior Policy Manager for its Embedded Labs Program, based in Nairobi (Westlands). The role oversees the full range of the program's work, combining program delivery, knowledge management, business development and external engagement.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and project management support to individual Lab engagements from design through implementation, and contribute directly to the technical delivery of Lab opportunities.
• Support monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) efforts, assessing progress and impact and establishing best practices for government engagement.
• Support knowledge management and training, including onboarding materials and training for Embedded Labs staff and other IPA teams.
• Generate public-facing outputs such as case studies, toolkits and evidence reviews, and help implement the program's communication strategy.
• Identify and pursue business development and fundraising opportunities with country office and global staff, and coordinate grant reporting and deliverable management.
• Coordinate strategic events such as summits, conferences, workshops, technical working groups and roundtables, including the annual Cross-Country Learning Exchange.

Required profile

• Master's degree in economics, development, international relations, public administration, public policy or a closely related field strongly preferred; additional experience can be accepted in place of a master's degree.
• 3+ years of experience analyzing and communicating complex research results, including at least 1 year with large NGOs or governments, preferably in a low- and middle-income country context.
• Demonstrated experience using rigorous evidence for international development policy, and experience supervising staff teams and managing multi-country projects.
• Preferred: experience with IPA and/or partners, as a government team member, as a researcher, with MEL, and in education or social protection.

Required skills

• Strong quantitative skills, including understanding and analyzing academic research studies.
• Excellent written and presentation skills, able to communicate policy lessons clearly and precisely.
• Ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines with little supervision, and strong ability to manage up and across.