Country Lead and Director of Policy

Job Summary

The Country guide and Director of Policy, Rwanda leads IPA's country program in Kigali, providing strategic direction across research, policy influence, and operations. The role oversees IPA Rwanda's Embedded Evidence Labs and scaling programs, with a strong focus on translating rigorous evidence into policy action with senior government partners and donors. Working closely with the Regional Director for East Africa and Asia and IPA's Global Policy team, the Country guide and Director of Policy is accountable for the country office's strategic goals, financial sustainability, and growing policy impact.

Responsibilities

Policy Leadership and Embedded Evidence Labs (30%)

• guide IPA Rwanda's overall policy impact strategy.
• deliver strategic vision and oversight of IPA's Embedded Evidence Labs (e.g., Ministry of Education Lab, Graduation Embedded Lab within the Ministry of Local Government) and scaling programs (e.g., STARS, an evidence-based program incentivizing public school teachers with performance-based bonuses).
• Represent IPA at high-level policy forums and in relationships with senior government officials, donors, and partner organizations.
• Proactively engage government and development stakeholders to detect priority research questions and translate evidence into policy action.

Strategic Leadership and Country Direction (25%)

• Set and execute IPA Rwanda's country strategy in alignment with IPA Global and regional priorities.
• guide country-level planning, including annual work plans and multi-year strategic goals; proactively oversee and hold the senior country team accountable to reach those strategic goals.
• Serve as the primary relationship holder with the Regional Director and IPA Global teams.
• keep IPA Rwanda's visibility and reputation with key external stakeholders, including academic institutions, NGOs, and government; troubleshoot gaps in high-level stakeholder management and reputational risks.

Research Oversight and Quality (15%)

• deliver strategic oversight to the research portfolio, working closely with Research Managers, Research Associates, and Principal Investigators to ensure projects meet IPA quality standards.
• deliver troubleshooting assist for implementation challenges and oversee relationships with external researchers.
• assist the integration of research findings into policy engagement.
• Promote best practices, capacity building, and lessons sharing across the country team and with other IPA offices.

Business Development and Fundraising (15%)

• guide efforts to detect and secure new funding opportunities in consultation with the Global Policy team and Regional Director, ensuring country office sustainability.
• create concept notes and proposals for policy and research engagements.
• Cultivate donor relationships and pursue strategic partnerships that advance IPA Rwanda's mission and financial sustainability.

Operations, Finance, and Risk Oversight (15%)

• With strong assist from regional operations and finance colleagues, keep high-level oversight of country office compliance, financial health, and risk management.
• Ensure adherence to IPA policies, donor requirements, and legal obligations.
• Escalate and oversee security and reputational risks as needed.

Qualifications

• 7 or more years of relevant experience in public policy or applied research in the development sector.
• Demonstrated success managing teams and complex stakeholder relationships, particularly with senior government officials and donors.
• Experience working on quantitative and qualitative research projects.
• Proven experience in strategy design and implementation, particularly in government or multilateral settings.
• Experience in education and/or social protection sectors.
• Experience leading business development opportunities.
• Master's degree in development economics, international affairs, international public policy, or a related field.
• Fluency in English.
• Experience working on evidence-to-policy translation, embedded technical assistance, or institutional capacity building. (preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to guide large teams and multiple projects simultaneously. (preferred)
• Strong quantitative skills and familiarity with randomized controlled trials. (preferred)
• Passion for connecting rigorous research to policy makers and practitioners and communicating what works in development. (preferred)
• Commitment to leading a diverse team in a multicultural environment and building staff capacity. (preferred)
• Ability to communicate effectively across cultures with multiple stakeholders including academic researchers, government officials, NGO partners, and study participants. (preferred)
• Excellent management and organizational skills; ability to work independently and oversee multiple tasks efficiently. (preferred)
• Strong oral and written communication skills. (preferred)

Location

This position is based in Kigali, Rwanda. The role requires the ability and willingness to travel to IPA country office locations and other locations as needed.

Reports To

Regional Director, East Africa and Asiar

Cover Letter - REQUIRED

Applications without a cover letter attached as a separate file will not be reviewed.

Please upload one PDF titled “Last Name First Name Cover Letter” and respond to all three prompts below (≤ 400 words total). Label each section (1) – (3). 

1. Evidence Gap – Name one pressing development or policy challenge in Rwanda that would benefit from rigorous evidence.
2. Applying IPA’s Approach – Using a concrete example from your past work, explain how you would leverage IPA’s impact‑evaluation model to address that challenge in your first 18 months as Country guide.
3. Leadership Insight – Share one specific leadership lesson you have learned that will shape how you motivate and oversee a diverse, multi‑disciplinary team in Rwanda.

Be precise, cite real experiences, and avoid generic statements.

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to enhance the lives of people living in poverty. 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 enhance the lives of people living in poverty. 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 make sure 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 perform over 1,000 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 perform, 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.