Job Opportunity for Policy Manager – Health (Sector Lead) at J-PAL South Asia in New Delhi, India

## Policy Manager – Health (Sector Lead) – J-PAL South Asia

**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 1,000 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

**Job Description**

J-PAL South Asia (J-PAL SA at IFMR) seeks a Policy Manager to contribute to its mission of promoting evidence-informed policy in J-PAL’s Health Sector. J-PAL’s Health sector focuses on identifying policies and programs effective in increasing access to quality health services, and improving health outcomes.

**Location:** New Delhi, India

**Start Date (Earliest):** 2 December 2024

**Length of Commitment:** Minimum 24 months

**Minimum Education and Experience:** Relevant Master’s + 4 years full-time experience

**Key Responsibilities:**

* **Evidence Generation:**

    * Lead networking and follow-up with relevant government partners, civil society partners, donors and media to understand their policy priorities and promote the use and production of rigorous evidence.

    * Catalyse new randomized evaluation research by matching innovative projects in the region with J-PAL affiliated professors in the sector.

    * Secure buy-in from governments and other organizations to launch pilots and evaluations of innovations in health.

    * Provide support on building consensus on learning objectives, research design, and identifying funding opportunities for each partnership.

* **Evidence Synthesis and Dissemination:**

    * Develop dissemination notes, toolkits and other knowledge products that synthesise and summarize evidence from J-PAL evaluations related to Health (e.g., evidence summaries, briefs, policy memos, concept notes, letters, presentations).

    * Write about J-PAL’s evaluations in relevant documents with clear, accurate, and non-technical language. Analyse and contextualize research results from J-PAL’s ongoing and completed Health sector work for evidence dissemination through customized decks, briefs, reports and op-eds.

    * Represent J-PAL SA at policy-relevant events and in meetings with relevant stakeholders, to share and present evidence.

    * Track policy developments in the Health space and communicate these developments internally to the team.

    * Help prepare senior management for meetings with background research and meeting notes/memos.

* **Stakeholder Engagement:**

    * Build and maintain relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies in the region.

    * Provide additional support to the P&T teams as needed.

* **Sector Management:**

    * Stay up to date on literature and policy developments in the sector.

    * Lead the development and execution of annual strategy for the health sector portfolio.

    * Support fundraising efforts as and when needed.

* **People Management:**

    * Manage and mentor P&T Associates and/ or Sr. P&T Associates, giving them support to perform better and prioritising their learning and skill development.

    * Participate in cross-vertical collaboration opportunities such as providing systematic support to an ongoing research project, capacity building of internal staff, etc.

**Qualifications:**

* **Education:** Master’s degree (preferably in economics, public policy, Health, or international development). A strong technical understanding of impact evaluations is preferred.

* **Experience:** This position requires four or more years of relevant experience in addition to a relevant Master’s degree. Demonstrated interest and experience in Health policy or program evaluation will be considered favourably.

* **Understanding Randomised Evaluations:** Demonstrate a keen understanding of the value of randomised evaluations and their usefulness for policy decisions.

* **Skills and Competencies:**

    * Excellent writing and presentation skills for communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that policymakers understand. This requires clear, precise, non-technical writing, and creativity in presentation.

    * Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines.

    * High level of attention to detail.

    * Strong interest in international development policy, South Asia development, and/or program evaluation as demonstrated by coursework and professional experience.

* **Language:** Fluency in English (written and oral). Fluency in an Indian language (written and oral) will be considered favourably.

**To Apply:**

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the J-PAL South Asia website.