Job Description

JD- Research Support Assistant Language Requirement: Telugu and English Joining Location: Hyderabad/Remote Sector- Education About the Organization The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research centre working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of 194 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. J-PAL South Asia, based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in India, leads J-PAL\'s work in the South Asia region. J-PAL South Asia conducts randomized evaluations, builds partnerships for evidence-informed policymaking, and helps partners scale up effective programs. Over more than ten years of existence, J-PAL South Asia has conducted 193 ongoing and completed randomized evaluations. About the position J-PAL South Asia at the Institute for Financial Management and Research seeks qualified applicants for the position of Research Support Assistant to support impact evaluations in India. The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. The Research Support Assistant will join a team of world-class researchers from leading universities in the world and will gain first-hand experience implementing randomized control trials in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research Read more about our work and projects Project Specific Details- Schools with better management practices are associated with higher student learning, particularly during major school disruptions such as COVID-19. But there is limited experimental evidence on the causal effect of improving school management practices on achievement, especially in developing countries. Existing efforts are often limited due to low adoption of the management practices by school leaders, potentially due to training programs that lack follow-up and a structure of accountability. We are conducting a randomized evaluation of a large-scale leadership training program in Telangana. We will evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of each treatment on school leader management practices and student outcomes, both in the short run and over the 3-year duration of the program. These results will help inform the value and design of school leadership training, which is especially policy-relevant given India\'s new National Education Policy (NEP) that mandates 50 annual hours of professional development for principals. Interventions to improve school leadership practices are especially promising given the instability and uncertainty of direction due to COVID-19. The Principal Investigators on the project are: Dr. Ketki Sheth - Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Todd Pugatch - Associate Professor at the University of Oregon, and Dr. Lee Crawfurd - Research Fellow at the Center for Global Development. Key Responsibilities Research Support Assistants work closely with academic researchers and other field staff to perform a variety tasks including, but not limited to: Designing survey questionnaires, conducting qualitative research, running pilot exercises, refining study design and survey instruments Managing teams: Recruit, train, and supervise both field-based and data operations teams consisting of project assistants, field managers, field-based surveyors, data entry operators and other field and office staff Supervising data collection and data entry to ensure good data quality during both these phases Co-ordinating with the Administrative and Finance team on a variety of tasks related to field staff contracting and payments Overseeing the implementation of the evaluation in accordance to the research design in association with our partner organization Ensuring that the project complies with IRB and JPAL data collection and security protocols with the help of the Research Associates and the Research Manager Maintaining relationship with partner organizations at both headquarters and field levels Assisting with data cleaning and preliminary data analysis Assisting in preparation of documents and presentations for donor reporting as well as dissemination activities Reporting to PIs on all of the above mentioned activities Any other task as assigned by the Research Associates, Research Manager, AD Research or ED Desired Qualifications A Bachelor\'s/Master\'s degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, education or related fields Experience living in a developing country is a strong plus Previous experience in development research preferred Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills Fluency and excellent communication skills in English Fluent speaking and reading skills in Telugu Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations Knowledge of Stata (strongly preferred) or other data analysis software is preferred Familiarity with randomized controlled trials/clinical trials/quasi-experiments preferred Ability to deal with unstructured and changing environments Ability to work independently and in rural field locations Note on Work Authorizations: Candidates must have work authorization to work in India.

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