Senior Policy Manager - J-PAL Global

As a Senior Policy Manager at J-PAL Global, your core responsibilities include:

• Sector/Pillar Management and Supervision (40%): Lead one or more of J-PAL's sectors or pillars, working with academic Chairs and leadership to create and execute strategies to increase policy influence. Build relationships with key policy partners, identify opportunities for evidence adaptation and scale, target donors, draft policy materials, oversee evidence products, organize events for policymakers, and supervise and mentor staff.
• Evidence Communication and Dissemination (30%): Build relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies worldwide. Write publications that translate J-PAL's economic research into lessons for policymakers, create materials for policy outreach, and conduct research and analysis for policy memos, grant proposals, and evidence synthesis publications.
• Policy Strategy & Leadership (10%): Work with J-PAL's senior leadership to refine and advance J-PAL's global policy strategy. Identify priority geographies, partners, and policy domains for outreach and influence, coordinate policy campaigns, ensure alignment across teams, support strategic decision-making, and assist with fundraising and donor-facing materials.
• Other (20%): Support J-PAL's overall mission by assisting functional or internal teams, supporting policy partnerships, overseeing group-level management tasks, undertaking professional development opportunities, and potentially serving as a liaison between J-PAL Global and regional offices.

This role creates positive change by translating scientific evidence into actionable poverty alleviation policies worldwide, ensuring that policy decisions are informed by rigorous research to effectively reduce poverty and improve development outcomes.

The ideal candidate for the Senior Policy Manager role possesses the following qualifications:

• Education: A Master's degree in economics, public policy, or a closely related field, with coursework in microeconomics, econometrics, and development economics. Demonstrated academic interest in international development and public policy and/or international experience is preferred.
• Experience: 7 or more years of relevant and substantial professional experience, including at least 1 year of experience working in a developing country. Relevant experience gained during schooling may count toward this requirement. A successful track record of managing junior staff is required.
• Skills: Comfort with intermediate-level economics and econometrics, especially randomized evaluation methodology. Strong communication and organizational skills, passion for translating research into action, and interest in international development.
• Additional: Ability to work with J-PAL researchers, interact with decision-makers and practitioners, and engage in professional development opportunities such as attending seminars, taking classes, and traveling for conferences and field experiences.

J-PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package and professional development opportunities, including:

• Professional Development: Opportunities to attend weekly MIT–Harvard Development Seminars, take classes for credit with MIT's generous tuition assistance program, and earn the MITx MicroMasters credential in Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP) free of charge.
• Engagement and Travel: Work with J-PAL researchers, interact with decision-makers and practitioners, travel to sector-specific conferences and events, and participate in international "Staff-to-Field" experiences.
• Growth and Mentorship: Join a peer group eager to build institutional knowledge, receive one-on-one mentorship from senior leadership, and have promotion opportunities based on performance and ability.
• Diversity and Inclusion: J-PAL encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion, valuing diverse perspectives and encouraging applications from all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in economics.

Note: Salary information is not mentioned in the job posting.

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. It conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty, anchored by a network of over 390 affiliated professors at universities worldwide.