Project Associate - Consultant (Peru)

• Reports to: Country Director
• Location:  Lima, Peru with some travel to rural areas
• Application Deadline: Applicants will be reviewied on a rolling basis
• Desired Start date: April 2014
• Length of commitment: 6 months

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), is an international non-profit research organization. Based in New Haven, CT, with offices in Washington, D.C. and worldwide, IPA works with development partners and academic researchers to create and evaluate approaches to solving development problems, to communicate “what works” in development and to scale up successful projects in a variety of fields, including health, education, microfinance, governance and agriculture.

The consultant will work across two projects. The Global Financial Inclusion Initiative (GFII) at Innovations for Poverty Action seeks to identify and innovate on products and programs that enhance poor households' use of improved financial services. GFII aims to develop new randomized evaluations in collaboration with financial institutions in Peru to identify innovative products and programs that improve financial access and capability.                                                                                                                                                                                           

The Social Incentives project seeks to explore the motivation of public sector workers in the context of the national cash transfer program, JUNTOS. The experimental research design uses different non-monetary incentives to better understand workers’ motivation and identify effective strategies to increase productivity.

Responsibilities:

The Consultant will play a key role in the development of new projects and research design. Specific activities include:

• Development of research proposals
• Meetings with partner organizations
• Background research from secondary sources, literature review
• Qualitative data collection and interviews

Qualifications Required: 

• At least a Bachelor’s level degree in a relevant discipline (economics, social sciences, public policy, or related fields).
• Fluency and excellent communication and writing skills in English and Spanish.
• Excellent management and organizational skills.
• Strong quantitative analytical skills.
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player.
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner / client organizations.
• Attention to operational and research details, and ability to manage multiple project threads efficiently
• Minimum 1 years work experience.
• Willingness to travel periodically if needed

Qualifications Preferred:

• Familiarity with randomized controlled trials
• Experience in the microfinance sector
• Knowledge of Stata
• Experience living in a developing country

Application Instructions: 

Please follow the application instructions below.  Any applications or CVs submitted outside this process will not be considered.  Note, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. Please select the position(s) you are interested in applying for on the 'Submit Application' page. Include two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose (cover letter), CV, and transcripts. We will consider your application even if you are unable to obtain reference letters before the deadline, but please be advised that we will be requiring them should you be invited for an interview.

IPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer

All persons shall have the opportunity to be considered for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

IPA will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or to participate in an interview, please contact us at jobs@poverty-action.org.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by the Project Associate.  The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary. Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs@poverty-action.org.