Research and Training Manager

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
Cambridge - United States
S: commensurate with experience

J-PAL North America is recruiting a Research and Training Manager to support the planning of randomized evaluations developed by state and local governments in the United States, to support capacity building and training efforts of government personnel, and to build a set of research resources which can be used across a range of emerging randomized evaluations.

This position is associated with the J-PAL State and Local Innovation Initiative, which will equip state and local governments to use randomized evaluations to improve their effectiveness and efficiency and generate new and widely applicable lessons about what works to improve lives. The Research and Training Manager will be responsible for assisting state and local governments in assessing the feasibility and brainstorming potential designs for the implementation of new randomized evaluations on critical policy questions, and helping governments interpret and act on existing evidence. The Research and Training Manager will also contribute to designing research resources and training materials to support other researchers who are beginning to work on randomized evaluations.

For more information, please visit povertyactionlab.org/stateandlocal.

We are looking for candidates with a deep understanding of randomized evaluation design and methodology, training in economics, and a commitment to evidence-based policy. We seek applicants from diverse backgrounds and welcome candidates with experience working on randomized evaluations in the United States or abroad. The position is based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. This position may involve domestic travel to work in person with state or local leaders who are participating in the initiative.

Responsibilities

The Research and Training Manager will serve as a preliminary researcher, analyst, and project manager for potential randomized evaluations spurred by the J-PAL State and Local Innovation Initiative and support J-PAL staff and partners in conducting randomized evaluations. As a Research and Training Manager, your primary tasks will involve data analysis, evaluation design, capacity building, and communication.

Data Analysis and Evaluation Design: Contribute to the design of randomized evaluations. Conduct power calculations and feasibility assessments. Actively participate in discussions on randomization strategy and study design taking into account baseline data, background research, and government or partner-imposed constraints.

Research Management: Support researchers and policymakers in navigating the operational challenges of conducting a randomized evaluation, including accessing administrative data, understanding IRB requirements, and overall project management.

Training and Capacity Building: Train state and local policymakers to be strong partners on randomized evaluations and savvy consumers of evidence. Create and customize training materials for J-PAL staff and partners. Create guides and documents on research processes that can serve as a resource for researchers and external parties new to implementing randomized evaluations.

Communications: Hold initial conversations with prospective partners to identify promising opportunities for randomized evaluations. Share data analysis and design plans with policymakers and researchers through in-person meetings, memos, and phone calls.

Professional Development

The Research Group invests in your professional development. As a Research and Training Manager you will learn, engage, travel, and grow.

Learn: The Research Group supports a culture of learning, with opportunities to attend weekly seminars, engage in small-group discussions with other J-PAL staff, and take classes for credit at MIT or elsewhere with our generous tuition assistance program.

Engage: Research and Training Managers have the opportunity to work with J-PAL affiliates and directors, as well as interact with policymakers and practitioners. As member of the Research Group, Research and Training Managers will help in recruiting, supervising and mentoring junior staff, organizing training events, and helping to teach J-PAL's capacity building courses.

Travel: Research and Training Managers may travel occasionally to provide in-person support to selected state or local governments. Research and Training Managers may also have the opportunity to travel internationally to present at J-PAL's regional offices or attend conferences and external meetings relevant to J-PAL's work.

Grow: J-PAL actively focuses on the professional development of its employees, and constantly looks to improve the skills and knowledge of staff at all levels. Research and Training Managers who exhibit strong job performance often have internal promotion opportunities after two to three years with J-PAL. Such promotions are based on performance and ability.

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 and government fields with excellent MIT benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, a 401(k) match and pension-based retirement plan, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, MIT community discounts, a generous vacation policy, and more.

Qualifications

Your technical expertise, strong communication and analytic skills, passion for translating research into action, and interest in state and local policy make you an ideal candidate for Research and Training Manager.

Education: You hold a master's degree in economics, public policy, or a closely related field. You have training in and an understanding of economics, econometrics, and statistics.

Experience: 4 or more years of relevant work experience, including at least 2 years analyzing data using Stata and 2 years working with randomized evaluations (can be concurrent). You have experience analyzing data from a variety of stages – from power calculations, to data cleaning, to analysis. You have experience working as a research assistant, analyst, or manager, on multiple different evaluations, which gives you a nuanced understanding of the building blocks of a successful randomized evaluation.

Communication: You are detail-oriented and have advanced writing skills. You understand how to communicate technical results from data analysis in ways that non-technical audiences such as policymakers and practitioners understand.

Organization: You are a strategic thinker. You can handle multiple projects at once, push forward multiple external stakeholders, meet deadlines, and effectively manage your time.

Attitude: You are passionate about policy and the rigorous research that informs it. You are self-motivated, work hard, and enjoy working in teams.

Job summary