Project Manager at Evidence Action

We are looking for motivated individuals who are passionate about international development and interested in building a viable ‘path to scale’ for promising evidence-based interventions. We encourage those with a desire to use evidence to identify and scale cost-effective programs to respond to this open call.

Evidence Action scales proven development solutions to benefit millions of people around the world. We fill the gap between knowing ‘what works’ and having impact at scale. We implement cost-effective interventions whose efficacy is backed by substantial rigorous evidence.

We identify innovative, appropriate financing mechanisms and build best-practice operational models. We voraciously self-evaluate, learn, and improve our models for scaling with a commitment to transparency on progress, impact, and value for money. Our two flagship programs reached over 300 million people this year. And one of them was again selected by GiveWell as one of only four Top Charities worldwide.

Evidence Action Beta explores what interventions with initial evidence of impact might be suitable for massive scale up and become our next flagship programs. Similar to beta testing for software, we pressure-test interventions to ensure that they deliver cost-effective impact at scale without unintended consequences.

To effectively scale interventions that pass our pressure-testing, Beta seeks to understand the mechanisms at work behind compelling results, runs fit-for-purpose experiments to find appropriate models for scaling, and builds service delivery and financing models suitable for the contexts where there is demand.

Beta is staffed by economists and seasoned experts in the elements of scale, such as business development, partnership building, creative problem solving, and program management. Beta collaborates with research and technical experts to advance the science of scale and map evidence and contextual landscapes.

Duties for the Project Manager Job

• Manage and coordinate the ‘path-to-scale’ for multiple Beta projects; including designing projects and pressure-testing potential for large scale impact
• Build and maintain relationships with Beta project partners including government, NGOs, social enterprises and academics
• Develop and iteratively improve on the theory of change, business model and monitoring plan for potential projects in order to successfully transition projects to full-scale
• Coordinate the research and analysis for ‘scale-potential’ and ‘cost-effectiveness’ of projects in the Beta portfolio
• Contribute to the process of learning lessons from Beta projects and documenting and communicating about them internally
• Support the communication team with the development of external communication material including; proposal, reports, presentations and write-ups for various audiences
• Prepare work plans and budgets for Beta projects under various scenarios to facilitate quality project management and decision making in an ambiguous environment
• Ensure timely reporting and communication with donors

Project Manager Job Qualifications

• MBA/Master’s degree in public policy, social sciences or related field
• Experience with business and/or private sector preferred but not required
• Excellent work planning, project and budget management skills
• Ability to collaborate across teams within and outside evidence action and experience with managing people directly and indirectly
• Good understanding of research, data collection and analytics and ability to interpret research for program design and implementation
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English
• Willingness to travel to project implementation geographies and spend approximately 30% of the time on field work in Africa and Asia
• Adaptable, self-motivated, inquisitive and a team player who is interested in being part of a fast-paced, growing and diverse team with a start-up atmosphere
• Detail oriented with demonstrated ability to multitask and meet short deadlines