Program Manager, Data Science for Development

Job Description

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) seeks a full-time Program Manager to lead our data science for development (DS4D) sector. This sector brings together research initiatives and activities that facilitate the use of novel data sources and data science tools for addressing issues of global poverty.

The Program Manager will be responsible for managing the DS4D sector’s research programs and initiatives, including those focused on targeting aid, digital financial services, data privacy, measurement, and geospatial analysis for development. The Manager will do this by managing existing portfolios of research (follow the links above for examples), conceptualizing new areas of research, fundraising, building partnerships, and engaging in communications to support researchers who are working in this space. The Manager will not be responsible for technical data science applications but should be conversant with related research and technologies, as well as topics related to international development.

Position Details

The Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) seeks a full-time Program Manager to lead our data science for development (DS4D) sector. The Program Manager will be responsible for managing the sector’s research programs and initiatives, including those focused on targeting aid, digital financial services, data privacy, measurement, and geospatial analysis for development. The Manager will do this by managing existing portfolios of research (follow the links above for examples), conceptualizing new areas of research, fundraising, building partnerships, and engaging in communications to support researchers who are working in this space. The Manager will not be responsible for technical data science applications but should be conversant with related research and technologies, as well as topics related to international development.

The position reports to the Executive Director of CEGA, works closely with CEGA Faculty Co-Director Josh Blumenstock, and supervises at least one Program Associate. It requires strong project and people management skills, experience in — and a passion to learn about — data science and related technologies, as well as topics related to international development.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Overseeing competitive research portfolios: With support from the Associate, oversee the competitive research grant-making processes, including drafting requests for proposals (RFPs), tracking applications, coordinating peer review, etc.
• Fundraising: Expand CEGA’s data science sector by identifying fundraising sources and helping to write funding proposals. Build partnerships with AI/ML centers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to jointly fundraise.
• Disseminating research: Present at convenings with policymakers; identify publication outlets, update program websites, and draft policy briefs, articles, and blogs about research findings.
• Community building: Strengthen relationships between CEGA and the wider data science community, including other departments in Berkeley, universities, and technology companies in the Bay Area. Build a community of practice that connects academics and other partners to share research related to data science and development, developing training tools and resources targeted at LMIC scholars and graduate students. Design and host virtual and in-person convenings.
• Budgeting and tracking: Manage program budgets and finances for funded initiatives. Maintain project and personnel tracking in Salesforce (and other systems) to lead program monitoring and evaluation.
• Applying data science expertise: Use your knowledge of ML, AI, and data science for development to liaise with computer science faculty and donors and design programs that support research and build capacity in data science for development. Advise on the development of new DS4D projects as needed. Confidently translate insights from technical projects for a broader audience.
• Developing CEGA internally: Contribute to CEGA-wide activities to improve the center, including internal working groups, process documentation, outreach and communications, and events.
• Managing people: Supervise one or more Associate, including work plan design, performance management, and professional development.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, computer science, information science, international development, public administration/policy, business, or a related social science field. Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• Project Management: Demonstrated skills in project management and interest in and knowledge of economic development.
• Communication: Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific findings into accessible, non-technical blogs, policy briefs, media outputs, presentations, and project descriptions.
• Organization: Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including a demonstrated spirit of innovation and proven attention to detail, an ability to multitask, and responsiveness to deadlines. You are a strategic thinker, well-organized, and service-oriented.
• Cultural competencies: Comfort working in a diverse and multicultural environment with colleagues, partners and policymakers from around the world. You display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Attitude: A love of learning and passion for data science, international development, and the rigorous research that informs it. You are agile, adaptable, self-motivated, hard-working, and collaborative. You have a sense of humor with a positive attitude in approaching challenges and uncertainty.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in academia, non-profits, industry, or a social enterprise. Experience managing grants and/or contracts, and success writing research grant proposals is preferred. Familiarity with the digital financial inclusion space is also preferred.
• Technical Skills: Comfort working in or learning MS Office and Google Suite, WordPress, and Salesforce. Competency in R, Python, or a related programming language is preferred.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation (and the title designation of “Senior”) is commensurate with experience and ranges between $80,000 – $95,000. UC Berkeley offers a competitive benefits package. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/forms_pubs/misc/benefits_of_belonging.pdf

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the UC Berkeley jobs website careers.berkeley.edu, using Job ID #33855. Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when applying. In addition to a current CV, candidates should submit a cover letter outlining (1) qualifications for the responsibilities listed above, (2) specific interest in the position, and (3) three academic and/or professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Please note this position is not eligible for US visa sponsorship, though foreign nationals with permission to work in the US are encouraged to apply.

About the Organization

About CEGA

CEGA is a West Coast hub for research on global development headquartered at UC Berkeley. We work with public, private and nonprofit partners around the world to identify the major problems facing people living in poverty for which evidence is scarce. With close ties to Silicon Valley, we embrace the transformative power of technology while recognizing that it is not a silver bullet.

CEGA has a network of 140+ academic researchers based at universities along the West Coast of North America, including several University of California campuses, Stanford University, and the University of Washington. Our faculty affiliates design and test solutions for the problems of poverty, generating actionable evidence for policy-makers in low- and middle-income countries. Through careful matchmaking, competitive grant-making, and research dissemination activities, CEGA ensures that the scientific evidence we produce improves the lives of people living in poverty.

CEGA is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion – please read our values statement here.