Associate Director, Right‑Fit Evidence Unit

About the role

Innovations for Poverty Action’s Right‑Fit Evidence (RFE) Unit helps development and humanitarian organisations turn data into decisions. The Associate Director leads a portfolio of evidence‑and‑learning advisory engagements, designs learning strategies, builds M&E systems and connects evidence to real‑world outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Lead delivery of a portfolio of advisory engagements (65‑75% of time), managing multiple complex projects across sectors such as health, education, agriculture and technology.
• Design and facilitate workshops on theory of change, learning plans and other evidence‑related deliverables.
• Provide technical assistance for learning plans, cost‑effectiveness analyses, A/B testing and strengthen MEL systems.
• Support funders—from individuals to global foundations—on grantmaking, initiative design and portfolio‑level learning.
• Mentor and manage a team of managers and advisors, overseeing performance and professional development.
• Contribute to business development, thought leadership and external relationship management (15‑20% of time).

Required profile

• Master’s degree in international public policy, development economics or related field; PhD or MBA welcomed.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience managing complex engagements with senior stakeholders.
• Proven track record in business development, strategy shaping and people management.
• Extensive experience designing and managing evidence, learning, monitoring and evaluation systems in low‑ and middle‑income countries.
• Strong stakeholder management, client‑facing communication and ability to travel up to 20%.
• Fluent English (written and verbal); additional French or Spanish is a plus.

Required skills

• SurveyCTO, ODK, Taroworks for data collection.
• Salesforce and other management information systems.
• Power BI, Tableau and SQL for data visualization and analysis.
• Data‑science and AI‑related techniques, including cost‑effectiveness analysis and A/B testing.
• Experience with randomized controlled trials (RCTs).