Senior Policy Manager - J-PAL Global

About the Role

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 390 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. The Policy & Communications Group plays a key role in translating research by J-PAL affiliates into actionable poverty alleviation policies around the world. Staff connect the dots between economics and policy and are passionate about working with organizations to form partnerships for evidence-informed development policy. J-PAL is recruiting a Senior Policy Manager or Policy Manager to contribute to this mission of promoting evidence-informed policy. The title and level of the position will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience. The position will be based in Cambridge, MA, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with two in-person work days per week. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Responsibilities

• Sector/Pillar Management and Supervision (40%): Manage Project AI Evidence (PAIE), which identifies, evaluates, and scales innovative applications of AI for social good and in the fight against poverty by bringing together policymakers, researchers, firms and AI practitioners. Work under the guidance of PAIE's Co-Chairs and senior AI policy staff to effectively generate, synthesize, communicate, and translate evidence from randomized evaluations in real-world policy. Senior Managers support the development of the initiative's strategy and vision and take primary responsibility for executing it, building relationships with key policy partners, identifying opportunities for evidence adaptation and scale for AI applications, and helping identify and cultivate donors — including tech philanthropies, individual donors, and bilateral agencies — to secure support for PAIE activities. In addition, they draft policy materials and manage staff in synthesizing the current state of knowledge on AI in development, oversee the development of evidence products, and organize events for policymakers. Senior Managers may also have the opportunity to oversee the administration of a sector-specific competitive research fund, which involves managing staff to execute specific rounds of funding and leveraging the evidence and policy outputs that result from the funded research. Senior Managers also supervise and mentor associate-, senior associate-, and manager-level staff on everything including their technical skills, writing style, and professional development.
• Evidence Communication and Dissemination (30%): Build relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, firms, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies worldwide, and present J-PAL's work and research externally. Write publications that translate J-PAL's economic research into lessons for policymakers around the world and create materials for policy outreach. Create materials for policymakers, NGOs, and donors to learn how to evaluate their programs and to learn about interventions that have been proven to be effective. Materials for these partners will include publications and presentations, as well as other high-level deliverables, as requested by J-PAL senior staff and affiliates. You will also conduct research and analysis for policy memos, grant proposals, and sector-specific work, including evidence synthesis publications such as Policy Insights.
• Policy Strategy & Leadership (10%): Work with J-PAL's senior leadership to refine and advance J-PAL's global policy strategy. This involves identifying priority geographies, partners, and policy domains for outreach and influence. Senior Managers coordinate policy campaigns, ensure alignment across teams, and support strategic decision-making that strengthens J-PAL's evidence-to-policy impact. Senior Managers also support fundraising by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding individual and institutional donors aligned with J-PAL's mission. They also support the preparation of donor-facing materials where needed.
• Other (20%): Have the opportunity to support J-PAL's overall mission in a number of ways. These can include supporting the work of a functional or internal team (e.g., policy writing, communications, onboarding, recruitment and hiring, knowledge management), supporting a particular policy partnership, overseeing group-level management tasks, and undertaking professional development opportunities. Senior Managers may also have the opportunity to serve as a liaison between J-PAL Global and one of J-PAL's regional offices.

Supervision

Received: The Senior Policy Manager reports to a Policy Lead, with specific reporting depending on work loads of senior staff and Senior Manager's specific areas of focus. He/she can work independently by taking ownership of tasks to help the team reach its goals and exercises good judgement in knowing when to seek feedback from the supervisor, and shows initiative in adding value to processes. The Senior Policy Manager should work well independently and as part of a team, take initiative, and take on broader leadership responsibilities over time.

Exercised: Supervision of Senior Policy Associates and/or Policy Associates.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in economics, public policy, or a closely related field, with coursework in microeconomics, econometrics, and development economics. Demonstrated academic interest in international development and public policy and/or international experience is a plus.
• Experience: 7 or more years of relevant and substantial professional experience, including at least 1 year of experience working in a developing country. Relevant experience gained during schooling may count toward this requirement. A successful track record of managing junior staff is required.
• Skills: Comfortable with intermediate-level economics and econometrics, especially randomized evaluation methodology. Comfortable working in or learning computer applications, including Google Suite and Salesforce. Fluency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or other languages spoken in our regions of work is a plus.
• Communication: Detail-oriented with advanced writing skills. Ability to communicate policy lessons from technical academic research in ways that policymakers, AI experts, and practitioners understand. Precise, clear, and creative. Experienced in delivering public presentations.
• Organization: Strategic thinker. Ability to handle multiple projects at once with little supervision, meet deadlines, and effectively manage time, as well as others'.
• Cultural competencies: Comfortable and adept at working in a diverse and multicultural work environment, with colleagues, partners and policymakers from around the world. Displays sensitivity, adaptability, and inclusivity in engagement with people from diverse backgrounds including age, ability, culture, gender, nationality, race and ethnicity, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and other identities. Familiarity with concepts and frameworks such as racial equity or gender analyses is appreciated.
• Attitude: Loves learning. Thrives thinking in a cross-sectoral and cross-regional way. Stays up-to-date on the latest thinking on both the art and science of scaling social policies and programs and is motivated to bring the best of that thinking to J-PAL. Self-motivated, works hard, and enjoys working in teams. Values and is comfortable receiving feedback, providing feedback, and supporting the growth and development of others.
• Location: Based in Cambridge, MA, with an expectation of in-office presence at least two days per week (currently Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Staff may work remotely on the remaining three days. Hybrid policies are subject to change annually. Not eligible for full-time remote work.
• Travel: Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, approximately 15-25% of the time.

Professional Development

• Learn: J-PAL supports a culture of learning, with opportunities to attend weekly MIT–Harvard Development Seminars and take classes for credit at MIT or elsewhere with our generous tuition assistance program. All J-PAL staff are also eligible to take the innovative online MITx MicroMasters credential in Data, Economics, and Development Policy free of charge.
• Engage: Senior Managers have the opportunity to work with J-PAL researchers, as well as interact with decision-makers and practitioners alongside senior staff. As core content creators, publications authored by Policy and Communication staff are distributed to development stakeholders worldwide.
• Travel: Senior Managers have the opportunity to travel to attend and present at sector-specific conferences and events.