The (Senior) Policy Manager will lead Kenya’s policy impact strategy, focusing on creating and managing high impact policy opportunities to use evidence in decision-making. Reporting to the Country Director with dotted line functional oversight from the global policy and communications team and substantial collaboration with Kenya research teams, this position will pioneer IPA’s policy outreach and impact work in Kenya, building and deepening relationships and identifying and creating evidence-to-impact opportunities.
Responsibilities
Lead Kenya in Policy Outreach Strategy (35%)
Build expertise on the global and local evidence base in 1-2 sectors and cultivate relationships with key local stakeholders in those sectors.
Work together with the global policy and communications team to lead and/or participate in strategic events for policy purposes, including but not limited to summits, conferences, workshops, technical working groups, and round tables. Support researchers and country management to participate.
In collaboration with researchers and in support of the country director, represent IPA locally in policy conversations and at events.
Support research management staff in executing the “Policy Impact Minimum Must Dos” and in identifying and stewarding high potential partner relationships, particularly with senior levels within government or large organizations.
Cultivate and Manage High Impact Policy Opportunities (50%)
Lead Kenya in continuously identifying and prioritizing high impact policy opportunities for evidence to be used.
Cultivate relationships with key local decision-makers in education and at least one other sector (financial inclusion, peace & recovery, health, agriculture), particularly those with decision-making authority over particular evidence-to-impact opportunities.
Launch high impact policy opportunities, including scale-up technical assistance, and either manage small-scale engagements personally with global support, or collaborate with global teams to raise funds for additional staff to realize these opportunities.
Identify and help launch opportunities for policy relevant right-fit monitoring and evaluation opportunities in Kenya, and either manage small engagements personally with global support, or collaborate with global teams to raise funds for additional staff.
Develop Research Projects with Policy Embeddedness (15%)
Identify opportunities and cultivate relationships that lead to developing large-scale policy evaluations with key decision-makers. Support research teams and researchers in development and execution.
Identify opportunities and cultivate relationships that lead to developing field replications to consolidate research on key policy-relevant research questions. Support research teams and researchers in development and execution.
Together with the country director, act as lead steward to key partner relationships and support key research partner conversations.
Other
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures.
Qualifications
Senior Manager
Master’s degree in economics, development, international relations, public administration, public policy or a closely related field.
7 or more years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years of experience working closely with large NGOs and/or national government officials.
Manager
Master’s degree in economics, development, international relations, public administration, public policy or a closely related field strongly preferred. Will accept additional experience in place of master’s.
5 or more years of relevant experience, including at least 1 year of experience working closely with large NGOs and/or national government officials.
Both
Knowledge of and demonstrated interest in the use of rigorous evidence for international development policy required.
Expertise in education and/or one other priority sector (financial inclusion, peace & recovery, health, agriculture) strongly preferred.
Attention to detail and advanced presentation skills for communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that policymakers understand. This requires clear, precise, non-technical writing, and confident, effective spoken communication and presentation style.
Proven ability to multitask and successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision.
Willingness to work hard, be self-motivated, and learn will be essential for doing well in this position.
Ability to supervise staff and manage projects independently.
