Research, Education & Training Associate - J-PAL Global

J-pal South Asia

Early Applicant

3 days ago
Be among the first 50 applicants

Exp: 2-4 Years

India(estd)

Job Description

J-PAL is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,000 affiliated researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts innovative research and builds powerful partnerships to solve the world's greatest challenges.

J-PAL is recruiting a Research, Education & Training Associate to contribute to its mission of promoting evidence-informed policy. This position is based at the J-PAL Global office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. Visa sponsorship is not available. Only applications following all instructions at the bottom of this page will be considered.

This position is part of J-PAL's Research, Education, and Training (RET) team-a diverse and integrated group that works together in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with the goal of equipping policymakers, researchers, and staff with the necessary knowledge to conduct rigorous impact evaluations.

In this role, you will contribute to training and capacity strengthening efforts, such as new partnerships with USAID on the Promoting Impact and Learning with Cost-Effectiveness Evidence (PILCEE) initiative, and FCDO (the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) on the Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning Program. These collaborations aim to build capacity for USAID, FCDO, and partner organizations to deliver and use learnings from impact evaluations and cost-effectiveness evidence. Work on these programs will include developing new training materials and resources on impact evaluation and evidence use for policymakers and early career researchers in collaboration with consortium partners including , , and .

J-PAL values diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our work and the broader perspectives our staff brings. We encourage people of color, first-generation college students/graduates, and other underrepresented groups to apply for this role. In your cover letter, please consider sharing how your racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and/or other identity has influenced your drive and desire to work at J-PAL. (This is not required, but rather an opportunity for us to get to know you.) For more information on J-PAL commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion visit .

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities may include:

Researching and designing new teaching modules and preparing presentations, case studies, and manuals to train policymakers, implementers, researchers, and research staff on randomized evaluation methods and cost-effectiveness analysis

Assisting in planning, organizing, and conducting and workshops for key partners in governments, NGOs, and foundations around the world, primarily USAID and FCDO

Supporting the development of relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, multilateral aid agencies, and universities worldwide

Supporting J-PAL's efforts to create technical resources for LMIC-based researchers
Serving as a teaching assistant for online and in-person trainings

Maintaining monitoring systems and analyzing data to assess learning and engagement in J-PAL's courses
Other assignments as needed as the position grows

Skills and Qualifications

Education:A bachelor's degree in economics, political science, education, public policy, international development, or other related fields is required. Master's degree preferred. Training in and a strong technical understanding of econometrics and/or randomized evaluations is required.

Required experience:At least 2 years of work experience is required (which may include experience gained as an undergraduate) for the associate level, including in quantitative data analysis and economics or a related discipline. Do you have four or more years of relevant experience Consider applying for our Senior RET Associate position instead.

Preferred experience: The ideal candidate has experience working with or in large bilateral or multilateral organizations teaching experience experience working in low- or middle-income countries, and/or experience designing and running randomized evaluations.

Interest:You have a strong interest in poverty alleviation policy and research, as demonstrated by coursework and/or study or work abroad.

Quantitative skills:Knowledge of data management, data analysis, and econometrics is required.
Software:Must have a good command of Stata or R. Comfort using Google Docs Editors (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms) is required. Familiarity with LaTeX and GitHub and exposure to other coding languages such as Python are a plus.

Cultural competencies:You are comfortable and adept at working in a diverse and multicultural work environment, with colleagues, partners, and policymakers from around the world. You display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Professional Development

J-PAL invests in your professional development. As a RET Associate, you will learn, engage, travel, and grow.

Learn:As a member of the RET team, it will be central to your role to keep abreast of the latest impact evaluation methods and developments and trends in the policy and training spaces, and to seek out opportunities to deepen your knowledge in these areas. J-PAL supports a culture of learning, with opportunities to attend weeklyand to take classes for credit at MIT or elsewhere with our. All J-PAL staff are also eligible to take the innovative online MITx MicroMasters credential infree of charge.

Engage:Associates have the opportunity to interact with policymakers, practitioners, and affiliates alongside senior group members.

Grow:Associates can expect to join a peer group eager to build institutional knowledge and pass on lessons learned. Associates receive one-on-one mentorship from senior group members and are eligible for internal promotion based on performance, ability, and educational qualifications.

For more information about working at J-PAL, please visit this.

Benefits

As a member of the MIT community, you benefit from more than just your salary. J-PAL hires highly qualified staff and rewards them accordingly. Total compensation packages are competitive for the non-profit international development field with, including comprehensive health insurance, a 401(k) match and pension-based retirement plan, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, MIT community discounts, a generous vacation policy, a hybrid work policy and flexible work hours.

How to Apply

Ready to join a team of supportive, engaging, and fun colleagues Apply now.We will review applications on a rolling basis starting on January 6.

All candidates should apply through the MIT human resources system. Please note that because this position is not eligible for sponsorship, candidates must be authorized to work in the United States (for a minimum of two years).

To apply, first submit a short application via MIT's human resources system. Visit, search for job XXXXX (Research, Education & Training Associate) and complete an application on the MIT portal.

Please upload a single PDF document of the following components into the Resume field:

Cover letter (outlining why you are interested in the position at J-PAL Global and why you are qualified for this role)

Resume/CV

Transcripts for all previous university-level coursework (unofficial transcripts accepted)

Please only apply to the J-PAL Global Senior Research and Training Associate position (MIT job ID XXXX) or the J-PAL Global Research and Training Associate position (MIT job ID XXXX). Should your experience and education fit the profile for another level for which we are recruiting, we will discuss this with you during the interview process, so you do not need to apply to both levels of the same position.

All applicants will be asked to complete a short data task for screening purposes. Short-listed applicants will be asked to complete a more comprehensive technical writing and coding exercise, approximately 4-5 hours long, and advancing candidates will be invited to a Zoom interview. Finalists will be called for a final round of interviews. The process can last 2-3 months from when application review starts in January. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to follow up individually with all applicants.

MIT is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.