(Senior) Research Manager - UJALA/University Mohammed VI Polytecnic - Morocco

(SENIOR) RESEARCH MANAGER (UJALA) 

Background 

Title: (Senior) Research Manager

Employer: University Mohammed VI Polytecnic (UM6P) 

Location: Rabat, Morocco

Start Date: Summer 2024

Length of Commitment: Indeterminate

Education: Master’s degree or higher in Economics, Agriculture Resource Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, or related field 

Position Overview:

We are recruiting a (Senior) Research Manager (UJALA) to be based at University Mohammed VI Polytecnic (UM6P) in Rabat, Morocco. The UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA) aims to generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to answer critical questions around small-scale agriculture and food security in Africa. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in research management and field activities, familiarity with the agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa, and experience developing and maintaining partnerships with the private sector, governments, and/or donors.

Under the supervision of the UJALA Lab Director and UJALA Academic Chair, the (Senior) Research Manager will apply and train others in applying quantitative measurement techniques and data analysis methods; develop and see through research partnerships with the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa; equip policymakers, private sector partners, as well as researchers and staff with the necessary knowledge to conduct rigorous impact evaluations; grapple with questions of privacy, research transparency, and challenges that arise in protecting subjects while promoting free access to research data; and develop new analytical tools for researchers and staff to use in conducting randomized evaluations (RCTs). You will work closely with the J-PAL Agriculture sector team, J-PAL regional offices, J-PAL Global’s Research, Education, and Training team, partner organizations, and J-PAL’s network of researchers.

About UJALA: J-PAL and UM6P are partnering to form the UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA). UJALA funds research to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies and practices designed to increase small-scale farmers’ food security, productivity, and profitability. UJALA aims to answer critical questions related to designing and delivering effective food and agricultural subsidies, assessing the value of fertilizer customization to crop needs and soil nutrients, reducing low-income households’ reliance on imported food, alleviating farmers’ constraints to adopting and maintaining new agricultural technologies and practices, and connecting farmers to markets that sell at competitive prices.

About UM6P: University Mohammed VI Polytechnic is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation with a focus on Africa. The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. This enables it to consolidate Morocco’s frontline position in these fields, using a unique partnership-based approach, and boost skills training relevant for the future of Africa.

About J-PAL: 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 over 200 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

J-PAL values diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our work and the broader perspectives our staff bring. We encourage people of color, first generation college students/graduates, and other underrepresented groups to apply to this role. In your cover letter, please consider sharing how your racial, gender, socioeconomic and/or other identity has influenced your drive and desire to work at J-PAL. (This is not required, but rather an opportunity for us to get to know you.)

For more information on J-PAL Global's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion visit this webpage.

Responsibilities 

This is a great opportunity for an individual who can balance managing multiple processes with little supervision while also thinking strategically about opportunities to improve and grow the lab’s work. Your responsibilities may include:

• Develop research projects and partnerships: You will lead the work developing research projects and partnerships with the private sector, identifying programs that are RCTable, working with partners to identify an evaluation opportunity, identifying researchers from the J-PAL network to lead the evaluation, and guiding the partnership through to proposals for research funding. 
• Manage a portfolio of research projects: You will be responsible for overseeing the management of the portfolio of research grants made through UJALA, in conjunction with UJALA’s Lab Director and Finance and Operations Officer, as well as J-PAL Global colleagues. You will manage junior staff to facilitate UJALA’s ongoing research competitions by overseeing the processing of grant proposals, coordination of researchers and the UJALA Review Board and Steering Committee, and drafting of funding decisions—all in coordination with J-PAL Global.
• Evidence communication and dissemination: You will oversee UJALA staff leading on external communications in collaboration with J-PAL’s Agriculture and Communications teams as well as UM6P’s Communications Office, including social media, blog posts, website content, and more. You will oversee compliance to the co-branding agreement between J-PAL and UM6P. You will have the opportunity to create materials for policy outreach, including publications, evaluation summaries, presentations, grant proposals, policy memos, among other lab-specific work.
• Lead research staff training and capacity building: You will help coordinate and lead training of new research and policy staff in how to build research partnerships, how to design a randomized evaluation, and how to manage research activities through the lifecycle of a randomized evaluation. Tasks include developing and teaching sessions, adapting J-PAL’s curriculum to the needs of UJALA staff and J-PAL affiliated researchers, logistical plans, and developing tools for evaluating learning. You may also be asked to train UJALA’s partners as needed. 
• Supervise technical work and junior research staff: You will oversee and advise the UJALA Senior Research Associate in developing tools to increase the efficiency of transparent research practices such as trial registration and data publication as well as field operations. 
• Fundraising: In collaboration with the UJALA Lab Director, UJALA Academic Chairs, and J-PAL colleagues, you will lead fundraising efforts to expand the funding sources and financial viability of the lab over time. 
• Contribute to UJALA’s general portfolio: As a (Senior) Manager, a portion of your time will be dedicated to group-wide coordination, technical inputs, grants and donor reporting, managing relationships with J-PAL and UM6P, and liaising with colleagues in J-PAL offices.

• Travel: You are willing to travel internationally as required. Position will require travel to project location(s) or a J-PAL office in the US, Egypt, or South Africa.

Please note: This position does not have time allocated for independent research.

Supervision

The (Senior) Research Manager will work under the supervision of the UJALA Lab Director and in coordination with the Academic Chair(s) of UJALA. The (Senior) Research Manager will be responsible for supervising the Senior Research Associate at UJALA.  

Qualifications and Skills

Your technical expertise, strong communication and organizational skills, passion for research and teaching, and interest in international development or poverty alleviation policies make you an ideal candidate for the (Senior) Research Manager position. 

Education: You hold a master’s degree or higher in economics, agriculture resource economics, political science, statistics, public policy, or other related fields. You also have significant training in and a strong technical understanding of econometrics and randomized impact evaluations (required). PhD not required but a plus.

Experience: You have hands-on field experience and at least five years of experience for the Research Manager or seven years of experience for the Senior Research Manager in a role managing complex (research) projects and external partnerships. You have managed relationships with donors and external partners. You are familiar with the agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

Skills: You are comfortable learning computer applications and new technologies and have some experience with presentation or editing software or a willingness to learn them. You can analyze and work with data; knowledge of STATA or R is essential. 

Communication: You are able to adapt to different communication styles and needs while engaging with stakeholders with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experience, and you enjoy public speaking. Your writing and presentation skills are advanced, and you can communicate technical concepts and complex models in a clear and engaging way. You are precise, clear, and creative. Advanced proficiency in English and French is required. 

Organization: You can successfully handle multiple projects at once, meet deadlines, and effectively manage your time. You enjoy preparing polished presentations and teaching materials and pay attention to detail.

Attitude: You love learning and are willing to stay current with impact evaluation and research methods. Your teaching experience and coursework demonstrate your passion for international poverty alleviation. You are self­ motivated, work hard, and enjoy working in teams.

Cultural competencies: You are comfortable and adept at working in a diverse and multicultural work environment, with colleagues, partners and policymakers from around the world. You display sensitivity, adaptability, and inclusivity in your engagement with people from diverse backgrounds including age, ability, culture, gender, nationality, race and ethnicity, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and other identities. Experience with living in Morocco or a low- or middle-income country is a strong advantage.

Benefits:

This position offers a competitive salary, life & health insurance, retirement benefits, maternity leave, and paid vacations. Staff will be paid in Moroccan Dirham.