R4D aims to hire talented, energetic people who are passionate about making a difference for the poor in developing countries, while capable of taking an analytic and pragmatic view toward development challenges. We seek people who fit well into our organizational model—a series of analysis-to-policy-to-action engagements. This model requires entrepreneurial people who exhibit both individual initiative and strong team behaviors. We aim to hire quick learners who are self-starters, give them maximum opportunities to stretch and grow quickly, and offer competitive salaries and benefits, with incentives for performance. We hope to groom our people for leadership positions within R4D and other public and private development institutions.
R4D is seeking a Senior Program Associate (SPA) to play a vital role in R4D’s WASH Innovations team. This team is focused on finding ways to accelerate the impact of innovative programs working to improve access to, and services in, the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sectors for the economically disadvantaged living in East Africa and India. To do this, R4D works with country partners to identify innovative programs and then support them through a focused set of capacity development and other services. The aim is to help these programs reach more people and have a greater impact. We are also researching now innovative approaches spread, and what barriers to scaling in-country innovators face.
The SPA will play a key role in the team and report to the Program Officer (PO) for the team. The SPA will lead work on engaging other actors outside R4D – in particular in the water sector. The SPA will also provide programmatic and research support on other topics as required.
As an integral member of the WASH team, the SPA will lead external communications, contribute WASH technical expertise to the team, and provide research, project management, and administrative support. This position supports a new and growing portfolio of WASH innovations, and excellent writing and communication skills are desired to effectively promote the activities of the Network. R4D’s current work in the WASH sector combines an ambitious research agenda with a diverse capacity development agenda. The ideal SPA will be comfortable with analyzing qualitative data and assisting in the design and execution of qualitative research, in addition to working closely with people and contributing to the development of project and organizational WASH strategy.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Potential tasks and responsibilities include:
Writing high-quality external communication products for the WASH team, including but not limited to: blog posts, presentations; reports, and communications to WASH programs and other partners;
Conducting background research on relevant technical and policy issues and effectively summarizing the findings;
Assisting with data management, cleaning, and analysis as needed;
Participating in relevant conferences, workshops, and meetings; preparing briefing notes and writing summary reports, as necessary;
Assisting with a range of project management and administrative responsibilities, including developing contracts, drafting consultant scopes of work, budgeting and expenditure tracking, processing invoices and expenses, organizing meetings and workshops, coordinating travel arrangements, supporting new staff onboarding;
Assisting with the development of proposals;
Drafting sections of donor reports and coordinates the input of other team members;
Providing surge capacity for in-country learning and evaluation activities;
Performing other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE
The ideal Senior Program Associate will be a highly motivated individual with outstanding credentials, analytical ability, and communication and presentation skills. The Senior Program Associate must be able to function with some supervision, complete duties creatively and effectively, and have a strong commitment to excellence. The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of relevant work experience in international development at a research institution, government, bilateral or multilateral development agency, consulting firm, NGO, or think tank. Or a Master’s degree and one 1+ year of experience;
Experience working in WASH, particularly the water sector;
Excellent writing, editing, presentation, and inter-personal skills; strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare compelling presentations and present data in a way that is easily understood;
High level of organization and attention to detail;
Ability to set priorities and handle competing time and resource demands;
Ability to work independently and as a team member;
Willingness to travel;
Enthusiasm, energy, good judgment, and humor.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Experience living and working in a developing country is a plus
Knowledge of Stata or other data analysis software is a plus
Professional proficiency in a foreign language is a plus
How to apply
Qualified candidates should apply by forwarding their resume, cover letter, and 2 writing samples to:mbenson@r4d.org AND jobs@r4d.org. Include ‘Senior Program Associate’ in the subject line. In addition to detailing your qualifications and interest, please also mention your start-date availability.
No telephone or e-mail inquiries please.
Results for Development Institute is an equal opportunity employer.