Associate & Senior Associate

Associate & Senior Associate

Location options for this role are within any of IDinsight’s countries of work across Africa and Asia – with preference for our six primary offices in Delhi, Manila, Lusaka, Nairobi, Dakar, or Rabat

About this Opportunity

Currently, we are accepting applications but not hiring immediately. This is an evergreen posting for our talent pool at IDinsight, and we review applications on a rolling basis.

Applying is an expression of interest in joining our talent pool for future roles at IDinsight. It is not an offer, and it does not guarantee consideration for any specific role.

When a suitable opening arises, shortlisted candidates from our talent pool are invited into our standard competitive hiring process alongside any new applicants. This typically includes interviews, exercises, and reference checks. Final selection is based on fit and merit as assessed through that process.

We keep applications on file in the talent pool for 6–12 months and reach out only when there is a specific role match.

About IDinsight

We're a global data and evidence advisory, working with governments, philanthropies, and non-profits to improve lives at scale, using technology and AI where they can deliver the most impact.

IDinsight is a global nonprofit that equips leaders with the data, evidence and technology to improve lives at scale. We partner with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and funders to support decisions at every stage of their impact journey – from bold pilots to nationwide scale-ups. Our teams bring rigorous evidence and practical insights so leaders can make informed decisions that truly change lives. With our partners, we are pioneering the next frontier of social impact, where data and technology accelerate progress for millions. We help leaders overcome the three main barriers to impact:

1. Figuring out what works
2. Learning and improving
3. Reaching and operating at scale

We work in multiple countries across Asia and Africa. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support our partners with the full ‘data and evidence’ value chain – from primary data collection to data systems, monitoring evaluation and learning tools, and data science
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches
• Create cutting-edge AI-for-good products that make the delivery of social interventions and learning tools more cost-effective and scalable

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.

About the Associate & Senior Associate role

IDinsight’s Associates and Senior Associates are high-performing early-career professionals passionate about experiencing the front-line realities of evidence-informed decision-making. These roles provide a rich, varied experience with responsibilities ranging from client interactions and management, in-depth research and analysis, data collection management, and team building. We seek intellectually curious, resilient, and team-oriented individuals who – in addition to developing professional and technical skills – are highly motivated to grapple with the difficulties and unpredictability of trying to improve lives at scale.

Associates and Senior Associates are responsible for the following areas of work:

Managing project team workflow, systems, deliverables

• Driving the day-to-day execution of the project work according to project plans and leading internal coordination efforts for their team
• Conducting and supporting fit-for-decision and right-fit research design, data collection or acquisition, technical analysis, and results visualization/packaging, etc. for project tasks
• Creating client deliverables, including reports, slide decks, and oral presentations to inform decisions and actions of clients
• Developing strategic communications to build awareness of IDinsight projects and learnings, contribute to sectoral knowledge, and shift the sector towards more evidence-informed policy and practices

Supporting their team in developing strong client relationships

• Engaging with client and stakeholder relationships
• Contributing to client development, including developing proposals and concept notes

Leading data collection activities

• Overseeing all data collection activities to ensure quality, including managing data collection teams
• Traveling to project sites, IDinsight offices, embedded client locations, and other areas as per project needs

Contributing to internal team building

• Developing, piloting, and implementing internal systems or other organizational contributions (e.g., event management) for IDinsight, in coordination with functional teams such as Operations, Communications, Finance, etc.
• Contributing to office life and culture building, such as facilitating All Hands Meetings; leading team building efforts at team retreats; participating in Social Cultural Committee events; and engaging with the DEI Working Group.

Associates learn professional, technical and life skills while working on some of the world’s most critical problems. No two experiences are the same. Some work deeply on one project for their entire program commitment, while others work across a variety of projects. Workstreams can immerse Associates in remote, front-line program contexts, deep statistical analyses, and/or high-level, strategic interactions.

Associates and Senior Associates will be staffed on IDinsight projects according to various factors including organizational need, timeline and availability, team dynamics, skills optimization, and professional growth and development. While we aim to factor in individual preferences whenever possible to staffing decisions, they are one of many factors in the project staffing process.

Career development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy. Associates and Senior Associates receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and considerable autonomy in their work. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen a variety of skills. Real-time feedback and structured reviews are regularly provided to enable maximum professional growth. Additionally, Associates and Senior Associates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to utilize to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Alumni paths

The Associate and Senior Associate experience has prepared former IDinsighters for outstanding educational and professional paths. Associates have progressed to IDinsight management and leadership roles, started their own organizations, and joined leading private and non-profit institutions, such as Bain & Company, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Facebook, GiveDirectly, International Monetary Fund, Lyft, McKinsey & Company, One Acre Fund, SocialCops, The Bridgespan Group, the World Bank’s Young Professional Program, and more.

Alumni have also enrolled in graduate and Ph.D. programs, including the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University; Columbia Business School, the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, the Harris School of Public Policy and the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, Harvard Business School, Georgia Institute of Technology, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, London School of Economics, the Sloan School of Management and the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton, UCSF Medical School, University of Southern California, Yale Law School, Yale School of Management, IIT - Bombay and more.

Qualifications

IDinsight Associates and Senior Associates come from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, including economics, data science, policy research, development projects, engineering, environmental science, political science, public policy, literature and more. Given that no Associate or Senior Associate comes in with the same exact background as another, we’re typically looking for candidates with a broad range of qualifications and previous experiences. Here are some examples of the key qualifications most successful candidates should possess:

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Strong analytical skills, with exposure to (either via professional work experience or academic coursework) the basics of econometrics, data, and research analysis tools, and quantitative and qualitative research processes or an ability to quickly understand these topics.

• Strong writing skills with the ability to translate technical jargon into well-structured, writing-based deliverables (e.g., policy briefs, project memos, analytical reports, external blog posts, and more).
• Ability to understand complex concepts and topics quickly even with limited prior knowledge or exposure and a willingness to invest in learning new concepts, skills, and methods without being prompted.

Behaviors and mindsets

• Highly organized, attentive to deadlines, and able to manage a high volume of work with efficiency.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, can effectively engage with stakeholders ranging from school children to senior government officials to internal colleagues, and places a high value on being a team player.
• Intellectually curious and a willingness to share your opinions with the team, question the status quo, and encourage others to expand their perspectives
• Excels in diverse team environments, consistently treating colleagues across our global organization with respect.
• Deeply passionate about combating poverty worldwide and improving lives in disadvantaged populations.
• Willingness to travel for extended periods of time where safety precautions and restrictions allow, including to remote and rural areas.

Additional preferred qualifications

• Proficient in statistical analysis and data collection software, such as Stata, SPSS, R, SurveyCTO, and/or Open Data Kit.
• Familiarity with local context and working proficiency in the relevant local languages of the placement state or region.

Associate vs. Senior Associate role evaluation

Candidates will be evaluated for an Associate vs. Senior Associate role based on their qualifications, quality of relevant work experience, and performance in the hiring processes. Additionally, candidates may be considered for other available roles based on experience and qualifications.

Relevant work experience includes, but is not limited to, creating quality research and analysis deliverables; managing data collection processes, including overseeing data collection teams; experience of working with governments, engaging with client and stakeholder relationships, including contributing to client development efforts; working within very similar contexts and with matching scopes of the role at IDinsight (e.g., complexity of workstreams, organization/team size, span of control, etc.).

Nuts & bolts

Location

Our preference is for this position to be based in one of IDinsight’s country offices – Delhi, Manila, Lusaka, Nairobi, Dakar, or Rabat. Preference will be given to those with pre-existing work authorization in these countries; however, IDinsight will seek work permits where possible for exceptional candidates.

Work authorization

IDinsight is able to sponsor employment visas for all nationalities in these locations; however, we will prioritize candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in the aforementioned countries. All candidates who are not currently located in our country offices listed above will be expected to relocate to their office locations at the onset of their employment.

Start date & Commitment

Because this is an evergreen posting, start dates are mutually agreed as opportunities arise, taking into account both candidate preferences and project timelines. This recruitment round is part of IDinsight's ongoing effort to build a strong talent pool in anticipation of upcoming roles. While we do not have fixed start dates at this stage, we expect opportunities throughout the year — successful candidates may join as soon as a matching role opens, or later in the year, depending on project timing and organizational needs.

We expect a 2-year minimum commitment, with regular professional development conversations and potential for a long-term career at IDinsight. We welcome applications from individuals excited to contribute to our work and who have some flexibility around when they can start.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer, including comprehensive international health insurance with mental health coverage, paid vacation, sick leave, parental leave, relocation benefits, a travel stipend, technology and work-from-home stipends, a professional development budget, and more.

How to apply

Click the "Apply for this job online" button at the top right. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — there is no deadline. The application asks various questions in order for us to get to know you, and requires a CV.