The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (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 161 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomised impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
J-PAL Africa seeks to appoint a Policy Manager to support its mission of promoting evidence-based policymaking, to be based in Cape Town.
Salary: R543 772 to R639 730 annual cost of employment, including benefits dependent on qualifications and experience.
Reference number: E18206
The purpose of the position is to engage with decision makers on the forefront of evidence-based policy making and to grow new opportunities to improve programmes and policies, thereby improving the lives of citizens across Africa. The J-PAL Africa team provides the flexibility for accelerated growth by supporting proactivity and encouraging top performers to expand and develop their portfolio. At the same time, the position is rooted in rigorous, careful evidence and backed by a system of scientific oversight and supportive management structures to promote both global sharing of ideas and the local contextualisation and empowerment of policymakers on the ground.
Responsibilities:
- Identify policy priorities for countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including a key focus on South Africa
- Match policy priorities with evidence, forge partnerships, share policy lessons and design strategies to apply policy lessons of effective interventions in sub-Saharan Africa. This work includes maintaining expertise and command of the policy lessons generated by randomised evaluations across the J-PAL sectors as well as deep, careful analysis of local contexts and sectors.
- Identify, design and support opportunities for rigorous, policy-relevant research generation. This includes working both with policymakers and researchers in the J-PAL network to promote the generation of new randomised evaluations which answer key questions for policymakers.
- Support the implementation of effective policy training events through contributing to design, presentations and relationship building with key stakeholders
- Manage policy staff including recruitment and training of new staff, performance management and development
- Track and manage policy budgets
Requirements:
- A Master’s Degree in Public Policy or Economics or another similar social science including graduate level courses in econometrics/statistics, microeconomics and development economics
- A minimum of four years of relevant work experience
- Demonstrated ability to analyse randomised evaluations, particularly in behavioral economics
- Advanced writing and oral presentation skills in English, particularly the ability to communicate technical research to policymakers in a non-technical manner
- Demonstrated leadership and management experience, including hiring, training, and management of staff
- Experience organising, managing and presenting at events which discuss policy lessons
- Experience writing and managing budgets
- Proven ability to handle multiple diverse assignments at one time, successfully complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines while conducting high-quality work
- Ability and willingness to travel internationally frequently and flexibly to support policy outreach, scoping research and training events
- Most travel will be in sub-Saharan Africa and in addition to between cities in South Africa
- Experience doing policy / research work in a range of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa is strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to identify new, high-value opportunities and mobilise both internal and external stakeholders towards working together on the given objective
- Experience leading policy outreach including strategically identifying and mobilising appropriate policymakers, and developing and maintaining these relationships
- Experience with randomised evaluations, particularly field experience running randomised evaluations of social policies/programmes and policy experience interpreting and sharing policy lessons from randomised evaluations
- Experience fundraising and writing fundraising proposals
- Data analysis skills, particularly in Stata
- French language ability
To apply, submit documents listed below in a single pdf file to Ms Abigail Dixon at [email protected] Please ensure the title and reference number are indicated in the subject line.
- UCT Application Form (download at http://forms.uct.ac.za/hr201.doc)
- A letter of motivation clearly addressing your qualifications for the various responsibilities listed above
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Transcripts of your grade 12 certificate and university degrees. Note: this is required even though it is not called for in the HR201
Please quote the source of this advertisement in your application – NGO Pulse Portal
Telephone: 021 650 1673
All applicants must have South African work authorisation.
An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and shortlisted candidates will be required to do a competency assessment.
UCT is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets.
UCT Employment Equity Policy is available at http://www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/about/policies/eepolicy.pdf.
UCT reserves the right not to appoint.
More Information
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