Data Scientist II at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)
Job Summary
The Data Scientist II sits within IPA’s Global Research and
Data Science (GRDS) team, which provides technical support across IPA’s
research portfolio and builds the data science, data engineering, and research
quality capabilities the organization relies
on. The Data Scientist II owns technical projects from initiation to delivery,
applying data science methods to concrete research and data support needs. The
role combines hands-on technical work with the judgment to plan independently,
anticipate risks, and recommend a course of action when problems require
escalation. The Data Scientist II also serves as a technical reference for
colleagues and represents IPA’s technical standards in work with country
offices, sector programs, public policy teams, and external partners.
Engineering & Technology
This posting targets the Data Scientist II level; IPA will
also consider strong candidates at the Data Scientist I level whose experience
and trajectory fit the role.
Responsibilities
Project Ownership and Technical Delivery (50%)
- Lead
assigned projects from initiation to delivery: plan tasks, track progress,
anticipate risks, and report status and decisions to the manager without
requiring follow-up.
- Provide
high-quality technical support to IPA country offices, sector programs,
public policy teams, and research projects.
- Develop
Scopes of Work for direct technical support engagements and conduct
research quality audits of ongoing projects.
- Apply
reliable technical judgment when advising internal and external partners.
Data Science Methods and Engineering (35%)
Poverty & Hunger
- Apply
data science methods — including predictive modeling, natural language
processing, large language models, and geospatial analysis — to concrete
research and data support needs.
- Develop
and maintain SQL and Python data models, analytical pipelines, and other
software solutions.
- Deliver
advanced technical outputs in SurveyCTO, Stata, R, SQL, Python, and other
relevant tools.
- Support
testing and debugging of global data products and technical tools.
- Ensure
reproducibility through version control and well-documented workflows.
- Prepare
and maintain research datasets following reproducible data management
practices.
Mentorship, Communication, and Team Practice (15%)
- Serve
as a trusted technical reference for colleagues; guide Data Research
Associates and other research staff on tools, workflows, and IPA’s
research and data standards.
- Provide
code reviews and help maintain sound technical practices across the team.
- Translate
complex analytical findings into clear products for research and
practitioner audiences, including data visualizations, briefs, and
technical documentation.
- Present
analysis to internal and external stakeholders, adapting communication to
audiences ranging from field teams to senior researchers and partners.
- Stay
current with developments in applied data science and machine learning
relevant to development research, and share useful methods and tools with
the GRDS team.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, statistics,
economics, social sciences, or a related quantitative discipline.
- At
least three years of professional experience in data science, data
engineering, research support, or a related field, with a demonstrated
record of owning and delivering technical projects independently. (Data
Scientist I candidates: at least two years of relevant experience with
demonstrated ability to manage analytical tasks with limited supervision.)
- Proven
experience developing data science or data engineering projects in Python.
- Proficiency
in SQL for database querying and analytics.
- Experience
with version control systems such as Git, and with reproducible,
well-documented workflows.
- Strong
quantitative skills and a solid understanding of core statistical
concepts, including regression, hypothesis testing, and sampling.
- Demonstrated
ability to clean, manage, analyze, and document data.
- Clear
written and verbal communication in English, with the ability to document,
explain, and present technical work.
- Ability
to build effective working relationships in a multicultural environment
with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- At
Data Scientist II level: proactive communication, surfacing progress,
risks, and decisions without being asked, and experience mentoring or
serving as a technical reference for peers.
- Experience
with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and analytics
databases (Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, MotherDuck, or ClickHouse).
(preferred)
- Background
in applied machine learning, natural language processing, and large
language models. (preferred)
- Working
knowledge of Stata and SurveyCTO for research support, and of additional
analytical software such as R. (preferred)
- Experience
with data engineering tools for ELT workflows such as dlt, SQLMesh, or
dbt. (preferred)
- Experience
with geospatial analysis. (preferred)
- Familiarity
with research quality standards and best practices in survey data
collection and data management. (preferred)
- Experience
with project management tools such as Jira or Asana. (preferred)
- Experience
working with international development organizations or research
institutions. (preferred)
- Ability
to work in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, French, or
Swahili. (preferred)
Location
Preferred duty stations are Kenya, Ghana, Colombia, or Peru; any IPA country office will be considered where IPA does not need to establish an Employer of Record. The role is hybrid remote and country office. International travel is required one to two times per year, which commonly involves long flights, long car rides, and carrying luggage.
Program Associate, Program Development at Poverty Action (IPA)
Program Associate, Program Development
Job Summary
IPA seeks an early career professional for our BD team. The
Senior Associate will support BD staff and country offices, gaining knowledge
in grant writing, international non-profit operations, and evidence-based
programs. Responsibilities include: (1) BD coordination and technical support
to Country Programs; (2) targeted, strategic support for complex opportunities
including proposal writing, editing, and submission; (3) organization-wide BD
through identifying funding opportunities and improving common BD resources.
Responsibilities
Lead BD Coordination & Technical Support
- Support
core admin and technical BD functions for Country Programs, Global BD
Team, and IPA HQ.
- Provide
proposal development support and advice to Country Directors and BD staff.
Set proposal timelines, lead coordination with partners and donors, create
compliance matrices, develop application templates, review/package/submit
applications.
- Complete
due diligence documents and develop budget summaries.
- Oversee
Salesforce data entry.
Targeted, Strategic Proposal & BD Support
- Write,
edit, and format grant proposal sections; adapt past proposals for new
donors; draft EOIs. Provide guidance on BD opportunities (eligibility,
matching projects to opportunities, winning themes).
- Facilitate
proposal development meetings with partners, PIs, and Country Office
staff. Lead coordination of IPA-led, sector, multi-country, and
large/strategic proposals.
- Support
select country offices to strengthen their pipeline and BD strategies.
Organizational BD Support – Funding Opportunities &
Donor Coordination
- Research
potential funding opportunities globally; log PFOs in Salesforce;
coordinate dissemination of key info on upcoming calls.
- Maintain
a major donor list and coordinate BD team review assignments. Complete
donor guidelines, compile feedback, and update Salesforce/Box
records.
- Liaise
with donors on clarification questions regarding funding opportunities and
RFPs.
Capacity Building, Resource Development &
Communication
- Provide
PD training to Country Offices and Global teams.
- Expand
and improve IPA’s proposal development resources, information management,
and stock language.
- Develop
Salesforce guidelines, proposal resources on Box, country office
checklists, and global helpdesk. Review and share project development
inquiries same-day. Create and distribute monthly partner funding emails
on open and upcoming calls.
Qualifications
- Associate:
Masters or Bachelors with 1-3 yrs experience; Sr. Associate: 4+ yrs
related experience
- Masters
preferred. Degree in economics, international relations, political
science, or related field.
- Excellent
verbal/written communication and ability to produce high-quality documents
under tight deadlines.
- Familiarity
with RCTs. Knowledge of international development donors.
- Ability
to work independently, manage competing deadlines.
- Detail-oriented,
organized, analytical.
- English
fluency required.
- Previous
experience with Salesforce.com.
- Expertise
in randomized control trial methodology.
- Experience
developing and managing large budgets for field work in developing
countries.
- Sense
of humor and ability to make positive contributions to a team.
Location Any IPA Country
Office, New York or Washington D.C.
Reports to Director, Program & Business
Development
Compensation
For candidates based in the United States, the annual salary
range for this role is $54,000–$68,000 USD, depending on experience and
qualifications. This role is also open to candidates in IPA’s global country
offices, where compensation is determined by local salary scales and market
benchmarks. All offers are made in accordance with IPA’s compensation framework
for the relevant location.
Deadline: 10 April 2026
HR Generalist at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)
Job Summary:
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented HR Generalist
to join our Global Human Resources team. This role is designed to overlap with
our HR Specialist, who will be retiring in December, to ensure a smooth
transition and knowledge transfer. This role will support core HR operations
and play a key role in the transition to a Professional Employer Organization
(PEO).
Responsibilities
- Assist
with onboarding/offboarding processes
- Maintain
and update employee records, as well as HR files, forms, and documents
- Review
and approve payroll changes
- Manage
time and attendance system (Replicon)
- Perform
HRIS data entry and ensure data integrity (NetSuite/ADP/Replicon)
- Support
benefits management, including invoice processing and auditing
- Respond
to employee inquiries and requests
- Support
internal and compliance audits
- Manage
U.S. employment eligibility verification
- Provide
information to and liaise with the PEO provider, ensuring a smooth
transition and ongoing coordination
- Provide
information to and liaise with EOR vendors, ensuring ongoing support and
coordination
- Provide
support to recruitment and performance management processes, policies and
procedures, and learning and development
- Collaborate
with HR colleagues globally and provide support to initiatives that
strengthen community building
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
degree in Human Resources or related field
- 3+
years of HR experience, preferably in a global organization
- Familiarity
with systems used to update and track HR data (ex. NetSuite, ADP,
Replicon)
- Strong
organizational and communication skills
- Excellent
attention to detail
- Ability
to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Knowledge
of U.S. employment laws and eligibility verification
- Experience
with compliance and audit support
- Experience
with PEOs and EORs
- Experience
working in a global nonprofit organization
- Ability
to work effectively across time zones, with significant overlap in U.S.
Eastern Time (EDT) hours to support global initiatives.