(Associate) Program Manager, Education Sector

About the role

The (Associate) Program Manager is part of IPA's Education Sector team and focuses mainly on supporting the SCALE project, a multi-country initiative delivered with the UK FCDO and implementing partners that scales effective education interventions. The role manages assigned SCALE projects, coordinates principal investigators, IPA country offices, other IPA teams, implementing partners and government stakeholders, and works with the Education Program Director on agenda setting, partnerships, outreach, communications and fundraising.

Key responsibilities

• Program management of education projects (80%): contribute to research design, oversight, data analysis and the writing of policy briefs, slide decks and other outputs; coordinate stakeholders and keep them aligned on timelines, roles and responsibilities; ensure adherence to workplans and give regular updates to the donor.
• Outreach, strategy and communications (10%): develop and coordinate project communications materials; take part in external meetings and presentations to build relationships with donors, partners and academics, and track these in Salesforce; help update the Education strategic plan.
• Business development (10%): identify funding opportunities, coordinate research project opportunities, develop budgets and proposal documents, and manage proposal submissions; keep the Education BD tracker up to date and lead updates in bi-weekly Education-BD meetings.

Required profile

• Master's degree in international public policy, (development) economics or a related field, with coursework in quantitative methods.
• At least four years of relevant experience, including education research, policy engagement and program or research management.
• Experience with bilateral funders such as FCDO or USAID and with donors and in-country stakeholders.
• Preferred: first-hand experience in primary data collection, qualitative and quantitative analysis and mixed methods; experience with GEDSI education projects or mainstreaming these issues.

Required skills

• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• Project management, with attention to detail and ability to handle multiple projects with minimal supervision.
• Excellent English, able to present information clearly and in a structured way, written and orally.