Program Director, Climate and Environment
Position Summary
IPA’s Climate and Environment Program (CEP) will bring together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to advance a strategic research and policy agenda focused on climate and environment solutions that improve the resiliency of poor and vulnerable communities. With guidance from leading academic advisors, CEP will support major advancements in identifying cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable interventions at the climate-poverty nexus by applying scientific methods to answer practitioners’ and policymakers’ most pressing questions. CEP will build on IPA’s existing research on climate and the environment, including cross-cutting projects supported by our existing Sector Programs. Moreover, it will leverage our long-term, iterative partnerships between IPA’s 20 country offices, our research networks, and major actors in the climate and environment space.
Responsibilities
40% - Launch and build the Climate and Environment Program, establishing a strong vision for the program
• Draft and refine CEP’s vision, scope, and research agenda in collaboration with CEP’s academic advisory group and existing IPA programs, including sector programs and country offices
• Build a global network of top researchers working on climate and environment issues across multiple disciplines, including representation of researchers from countries where the research takes place
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners in the sector, including academics, NGOs, funders, governments, and policy partners
• Work with CEP’s research network and IPA teams to identify and develop policy-relevant opportunities for new projects contributing to CEP’s priority research agenda
• Lead global policy outreach and policy relationships in the sector, and coordinate with IPA teams for local policy outreach in individual countries
• Lead new project development efforts, including engagement with potential partner organizations, in collaboration with Principal Investigators and IPA Country Offices
• Keep abreast of academic literature in climate and environment research
20 % - Communicate and share findings from IPA projects on climate and environment
• Represent IPA and share evidence at high-level external policy and research functions
• Plan and carry out dissemination events, and present results to policy makers
• Work with team members to produce research and policy outputs relevant to communicate IPA’s work in this space, including policy briefs, website content (project summaries, etc.), and other print materials
• Produce evidence summaries, blog posts, slide decks, and other communications materials to share findings and highlight new projects and sector trends
20% - Fundraise for continued and expanded CEP programming and operations
• Spearhead fundraising efforts to support core sector activities and new research studies
• Design, fundraise for, and manage the administration of research funds to allocate funding to high-quality research projects that contribute to one or more elements of the Program’s priority research agenda.
20% - High-quality program administration
• Hire and manage global staff, and support IPA country office staff, particularly in countries where CEP is a priority sector, engaging with IPA partners to implement the Sector Program’s research and policy objectives in those countries
• Oversee grant reporting and manage budgets and donor relationships
• Ensure smooth administration of the Program, including financial and administrative oversight, project management, and grant reporting
Qualifications
Required
• At least eight years of relevant work experience (five minimum with a Ph.D.) in research and evaluation and/or policy design
• Expertise in one or more areas of climate or environmental issues
• Familiarity with randomized trials or other impact evaluation methods
• Demonstrated ability to raise funds; experience in proposal writing essential
• Demonstrated project management skills, including budgeting, and ability to manage a team
• Advanced degree (masters or PhD) in relevant field from the social, natural, physical or data sciences
Preferred
• Excellent communication, client management, and presentation skills
• Ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations, donors, and government officials
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently
• Strategic thinker with strong vision for how to develop and leverage key partnerships to position IPA as a major voice in the sector
Compensation:
IPA's compensation structure is designed based on the labor market for the specific geographic location where the employee is located. We are offering the following salary ranges for this position:
- Program Director is classified as "D2" on IPA's global job structure.
- For US-based employees, the starting annual gross salary is $115,000 with a maximum of $142,000
- The salary for locations outside of the US will vary depending on IPA's salary scale ranges for that specific location.
Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, base salary of internal peers, business sector, and geographic location.
Reports to
Senior Director, Sector Programs
Location
Washington, DC (preferred) or anywhere within the U.S. where IPA is registered, including the following states: AZ, CA, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NC, NJ, NY, PA, TX, VA, WA, WV. The position can also be based in the following IPA country office locations (Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, or Mexico). Additional locations can be considered for exceptional candidates.
Application Instructions
Application Deadline
July 22nd, 2024
About IPA
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of the world’s poor. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 900 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.
Safeguarding at IPA
At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards.By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.
IPA's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
As an organization, IPA is dedicated to improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable populations through evidence and policy. We also recognize how important it is for our staff to reflect the diversity of the places where we work and the communities we work with. As such, IPA is committed to hiring from a diverse pool of candidates, from a range of backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, and perspectives. We know that this makes our work stronger and more responsive to the challenges faced by those we work with and for and we encourage people from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Click here to learn more about IPA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Innovations for Poverty Action is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected class. 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 or via phone at 1-202-386-6200. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by the specified position. 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. Please note that only qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring manager