Strategic Initiatives Project Manager, Management

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action is a global nonprofit organization with an approach distinctive in international development - we exclusively scale interventions that are backed by strong evidence and can be delivered with exceptional cost-effectiveness. Our programs have grown since our founding in 2013 to reach over 515 million people globally with our interventions. We deliver high impact for every dollar spent, as recognized by GiveWell, The Life You Can Save, and Charity Navigator.

 We do development differently. We take a data-driven approach to identifying, scaling, and continuously improving programs which deliver immense impact, ensuring these solutions measurably improve the lives of millions. Our Deworm the World Initiative has helped governments in Africa and Asia deliver over 1.8 billion childhood deworming treatments, improving health, education, and incomes. Dispensers for Safe Water provides sustained safe water access to over 10 million people in rural Africa, preventing childhood illness and deaths. 

We drive innovation: Our Accelerator builds the next generation of exceptional programs, taking an approach most similar to a venture capital model. We are ruthless in exiting programs which do not meet our criteria; those that advance deliver outsized impact for millions of people. 

 We are global. Across nine countries in Africa and Asia, our 700+ people are united by a tremendous passion for our mission and impact. We are strong because of our diversity of experience, geography, and background - with over 90% of our people in the countries where our impact is focused. 

We have big ambitions. Over the next decade, we’re setting our sights higher: We aim to reach over 600 million people globally to fulfill our vision of a world where hundreds of millions of people in the poorest places have better opportunities and their lives are measurably improved. We believe in bold and urgent action - because poverty doesn’t wait, and neither should we. 

We need great people. Our success to date is due to the collective work of our amazing staff. To achieve our ambitious goals, we are looking for people who share our passion for evidence, cost-effectiveness, and scale. We seek individuals who take an entrepreneurial approach, enjoy tackling hard problems, and have a bias to action and results. If our vision and approach excite you as much as it does us, we invite you to join us.  

About the Management team

The Strategic Initiatives team works with Evidence Action’s Chief of Staff to support Evidence Action's CEO, Kanika Bahl, and the executive leadership team as they use their time to maximum impact. We take on exciting cross-team, cross-program, and cross-geography projects that have strategic impact. We are responsive and learn a lot as we "flex" to meet the needs of our rapidly growing organization. With exciting organizational growth ongoing, we address decision-support, process improvement, and project management needs for the broader organization. You will report to Evidence Action's Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives.

This role includes significant support to our growing Safe Water Now team, which reaches 9 million people in East Africa with safe drinking water, a proven intervention that reduces under-5 child mortality by about 25%, and is launching a groundbreaking technical assistance initiative in India.

Key Responsibilities:

Special projects: help implement special projects that improve strategic programmatic and organizational priorities based on emerging risks, opportunities, and/or gaps. These will vary as priorities evolve but are likely to include:

• 40% - Project management of strategic decision-making processes and subsequent change management, such as the adoption of new strategies, restructuring, or portfolio realignment
• You might support strategic recruitment efforts, including sourcing of candidates, interviewing, and onboarding  
• You will support geographic office needs as they rise (most likely in Delhi or Nairobi)
• As needed you might manage organization-wide and cross-functional initiatives that enable strategic “leaps” in organizational performance and readiness for growth, such as investments in new systems and processes. When necessary, this will include managing relationships with consultants.  
• 10% - Executive-level presentations: create proposals and other materials for Evidence Action internal leadership meetings, team-wide strategic processes, and donor- and partner-facing engagements, pulling in information from across the organization
• 50% - Support our growing Safe Water Now portfolio across the Africa Region and India with strategy and project management support, particularly for cross-geography, cross-delivery mechanism, or new initiatives. This may include:
• Strategic planning to chart our direction and prioritize resources Quantitative analysis to inform program decisions
• Fundraising and recruitment support
• When needed, gap-filling support across the safe water portfolio
• When needed, provide “surge support” to teams to supplement existing bandwidth or fill gaps to ensure continuity of critical program needs.

Required Qualifications:

• You have 2-4 years of management consulting experience ; in fields including working with nonprofits, international partners, in international development, or public health.
• You have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Public Administration, Public Policy or related degree
• You can manage projects through their life cycles, and multiple projects simultaneously, taking into account moving priorities across a matrixed environment
• You can develop strategic recommendations based on qualitative and quantitative analysis
• You have advanced executive-level writing skills and excel at developing presentations using PowerPoint/Google Slides.
• You can develop executive-level materials tailored to donors and other internal and external stakeholders
• You enjoy building collaborative relationships, and planning for future needs while incorporating multiple perspectives.
• You enjoy getting your hands-dirty and taking on priority tasks.
• You have a passion for the mission of Evidence Action and for creating value in international development.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of a U.S. employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for roles based in the U.S.

Evidence Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.

Benefits: Evidence Action provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees worldwide.

Benefits include:

• comprehensive health insurance,
• retirement savings options,
• life insurance, 
• generous leave, avenues for engagement and recognition

*Benefits may differ based on country-specific regulations