Program Analyst, New Program Development at Evidence Action

About the Position

The Accelerator is working to identify, research, design, and scale Evidence Action’s next generation of flagship programs. We are investigating multiple program areas to identify health or health-adjacent interventions that have a strong evidence-base, are cost-effective, and have a large potential to scale. Areas being researched include: Kangaroo Mother Care, ORS and zinc to prevent diarrheal mortality, intermittent preventive treatment for malaria, in-line water chlorination, early initiation of breastfeeding, among others.

We are seeking a dynamic, highly entrepreneurial Analyst who can research, design and manage the launch of high-quality new programs, while relentlessly measuring and assessing whether the programs are having the desired impact. S/he will have strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities and be adept with quantitative analysis. S/he will bring superb interpersonal skills and work collaboratively and effectively with Evidence Action team members across the organization as well as external partners and country governments.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Research new programs, design and manage program implementation and associated field-testing activities.
• Manage early stage field activities, program scoping, and piloting of new programs in select countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and within Kenya. For example:
  • Coordinate the prototyping of in-line chlorination devices and program design in Kenya.
  • Assist in the regional scoping and possible expansion of the Accelerator’s iron and folic acid supplementation program.
• Design and manage program work plans, including the coordination of diverse staff in separate time zones and departments within the organization.
• Lead operational efforts necessary to design and launch program implementation, including budget design and management, drafting statements of work and memorandums of understanding, product procurement, and IRB procedures.
• Coordinate activities between Evidence Action and local implementing partners throughout different stages of new programs, including local permissions, compliance, and reporting.
• Map donor landscapes and identify funding streams for new programs.
• Work with cost-effectiveness and MLE staff to design, develop, and refine cost-effectiveness models, monitoring frameworks, and theories of change.
• Rapidly assess the potential of new programs by analyzing the total addressable market, cost-effectiveness, evidence-base, strategic fit, and funding availabilities of promising interventions.
• Conduct desk-based research and literature reviews to inform organizational  decisions on key intervention areas.
• Coordinate stakeholders and manage work flow to efficiently and simultaneous drive multiple programs through the Accelerator development process.
• Conduct stakeholder outreach (study authors, implementers, other development partners) to solicit feedback on new programs, their design, key gaps, and whether there is interest in collaborating with Evidence Action.
• Develop and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with partner organizations (e.g., implementing organizations, government officials, academic researchers).
• Lead and participate in high-stakes meetings; present the business case for potential programs to government stakeholders.

About the Candidate

S/he will be impassioned about improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people and making a measurable difference in people’s lives. Specifically, the ideal candidate will:

• Be strongly aligned with Evidence Action values; committed to evidence-based programming in the development field.
• Have an appetite for excellence and continuous improvement with an outstanding attention to detail.
• Have strong critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a high degree follow-through.
• Be comfortable using data and evidence, often ambiguous or incomplete, to drive decisions for program design and implementation.
• Be a relationship builder with the ability to find common ground, build consensus, and strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Thrive in a matrixed, cross-functional team where implementation, monitoring, and research backgrounds intersect.
• Be adaptable, self-motivated, quick to learn on the job and quick to take initiative and ownership over their workstreams.
• Be culturally sensitive; familiar working across cultures and time zones.
• Have a sense of humor and excitement to be part of an engaged and intellectually stimulating work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as public health, international development, public policy, economics, statistics, or business; Master’s degree preferred.
• 2-4 years’ work experience in a demanding, results-oriented environment; background in management consulting or public health delivery is preferred.
• Excellent project  and team management skills; experience designing and implementing programs in international development. Preferred experience in health, nutrition, or WASH.
• Strong task management and organizational skills; proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, including the production and management of budgets and work plans.
• Experience in effectively communicating and negotiating with, presenting to, and managing a variety of stakeholders in multicultural settings, including researchers, implementing partners, donors, and government officials.
• Advanced writing and presentation skills; ability to communicate complex research methodologies and findings to a non-technical audience clearly and succinctly.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills; experience using large data sets and quantitative analysis to drive decision making.
• Prior experience in conducting evidence reviews, reviewing academic literature, and synthesizing large quantities of data and evidence for decision making in program design and implementation.
• Ability to work independently, think creatively, handle ambiguity, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to independently represent Evidence Action in high-stakes meetings with government stakeholders and major donors.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; advanced Excel and familiarity with Stata, R, SPSS, or other statistical packages a bonus.
• Preferred experience living and working in low-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Verbal and written fluency in English.
• Kenyan nationals strongly encouraged to apply.