Job Opportunity for Project Assistant at Poverty Action Lab in Patna

Organization:

 J-PAL South Asia

Location:

 India

Education:

 Bachelor’s

Start Date (Earliest):

 14 August 2022

Language Requirement:

 Hindi

Length of Commitment:

 One year

Who We Are:

Inclusion Economics India Centre is an initiative affiliated with Inclusion Economics at Yale University, founded and based out of the Yale Economic Growth Center and MacMillan Center. Inclusion Economics India Centre is based at, and accountable to, the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) Society, with strategic oversight from Krea University. Inclusion Economics India Centre collaborates with the Inclusion Economics at Yale University team to enable inclusive economies and societies through research and policy engagement.

Drawing upon economics, political science, and related fields, we conduct cutting-edge research to understand how policy can promote inclusive, accountable economies and societies. Our core research focuses on gender as it relates to labor economics and broader economic empowerment; political economy and governance; and environmental economics. We also aim to build a culture of evidence and increase data literacy in the public sector, strengthening leaders’ ability to identify and implement evidence-informed policies. Throughout the research life cycle, we engage closely with policy counterparts to ensure we address questions of immediate relevance, and we regularly communicate data-driven insights with policy counterparts and the general public.

We are driven by values of

• Inclusive Opportunity – We study how policies can promote inclusion, and strive to practice this value by creating opportunities for individuals from all walks of life. We collaborate with, and seek to learn from, each other.
• Rigour – We take a rigorous approach to research and the entire research environment – from asking initial questions, to engaging with the right policy counterparts to create impact, to communicating final results
• Curiosity – We approach problems with open-minded curiosity and consider a wide range of approaches – which we then pursue with discipline and rigor. We innovate, drawing upon other fields and developing new approaches beyond traditional economic tools.
• Integrity – We respect each other and those we work with, uphold ethical standards, are honest, admit our mistakes, and are committed to constant improvement.
• Challenge Accepted Paradigms – Bold research and policy engagement allow us to speak to the challenges of supporting the world’s poor and vulnerable. We are willing to look through new lenses to rethink the status quo.

The Role:

We are currently recruiting 1-2 Project Assistant(s) to support a portfolio of several field-based research projects on energy and environment in Bihar, India. The Project Assistant will provide support and oversight for these projects from the Patna office. It is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in a career in academic research, whether in university or a research/policy think tank.

This position requires a self-starting candidate, who enjoys working on cutting edge research that informs policy. The candidate will have a unique opportunity to drive efforts to ensure that government policy priorities inform research agenda and vice versa. The candidate will conduct in-depth interviews and scoping activities, manage field activities and coordinate field staff for the execution of surveys and RCTs. She/he will support rigorous analysis of both primary and secondary data. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to join a team of leading economists and public policy experts from Yale University, University of Colorado and Inclusion Economics India Centre to work on cutting-edge development research and gain first-hand experience working with policy partners, implementing surveys and field experiments, and conducting rigorous data analysis.

Responsibilities:

• Assisting the Research Assistant, Consultant or Field Manager in hiring and training field staff. 
• Checking field staff attendance every month and ensuring that payments have been made according to days worked. 
• Assisting the team in organizing the logistics and operations of field surveys (both qualitative and quantitative). 
• Assisting with setting up data quality checks including spot checks, back checks and scrutiny. 
• Assisting with reviewing and translating surveys including quantitative surveys, scoping surveys and focus group discussion questionnaires. 
• Assist the Research Assistant, Consultant and other project personnel with translation support across Hindi, English and local languages (if applicable) during scoping visits. 
• Assisting the Research Assistant and Consultant in preparing materials for field operations, trainings and project execution. 
• Conduct pilot studies and surveys from in-hall discussions, field level surveys and provide written feedback in electronic form. 
• Assisting the Research Assistant and Consultant in tracking and data entry. 
• Assisting the Research Assistant and Consultant in data cleaning and processing.
• Assisting the Research Assistant and Consultant in coordinating with Partner Organizations to review and get information about their operations regularly. 
• Manage day-to-day relationships with district and lower-level government officials (block and panchayat level) and other potential partners as requested. 
• Ensuring the field teams are provided with sufficient and necessary supplies. 
• Assisting to maintain the project office as required by the Research team. 
• Maintaining accurate records of the administrative field- related matters like car logs, inventory and project related gadgets and equipment.
• Others, as required.

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s candidates with at least 2 years of experience with field research management. 
• Data collection experience is a plus.
• Strong interest in public policy and economic development in low-income countries.
• Excellent oral and written English and Hindi communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Mature, self-directed individual with ability to balance multiple tasks and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced working environment.
• Interest in working with government policy partners.
• Intellectually curious with a growth mindset.
• Interest and ability to contribute to a dynamic research and policy team in a Patna.
• Demonstrate commitment to uphold Inclusion Economics’ organisational values.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• At least two years of experience managing field-based data collection activities in Bihar. 
• Candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to engage with policy partners of various levels.

This position will be based in Patna in India, with regular travel.