Research Project Manager, Penn Development Research Initiative- DevLabPenn
University Overview
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The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Research Project Manager, Penn Development Research Initiative- mailto:DevLab@Penn
Job Profile Title
Manager Research Project B
Job Description Summary
The Penn Development Research Initiative-DevLab (PDRI-DevLab) is hiring a Research Project Manager (RPM) who would be primarily responsible for managing a portfolio of impact evaluation, and other forms of research projects. This portfolio will include projects funded by organizations, such as the World Bank, USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and The US Department of State, among others. The Research Project Manager reports to PIs on individual projects and PDRI-DevLab’s Associate Director as their main supervisor for Lab-wide initiatives. In addition to project-based research and technical support, the RPM also provides support for PDRI-DevLab’s strategic initiatives and for proposal development. The RPM has experience managing complex research projects, has technical skills for research tasks, and can support a variety of organizational management functions such as planning, budgeting, and report writing. This is a full-time, HQ-based, in residence, position. This position is a 2-year term-appointment with the possibility of renewal.
Job Description
PDRI-DevLab affiliates work on projects focused on various aspects of international development including migration and forced displacement, land and the environment, education, health, governance, gender, poverty reduction, and economic growth. Through regular seminars, conferences, collaborative research projects, and dissemination activities, PDRI-DevLab makes it possible for faculty and graduate students at Penn to expand their efforts to conduct research that advances science and policy making, and contributes to the improvement of well-being in developing countries.
Connecting international development researchers at Penn. While many international development researchers are trained to use theory to formulate potential solutions to complex problems and test those solutions in real-world settings, individual disciplinary perspectives are rarely sufficient for solving complex problems. Addressing these challenges requires joining forces with researchers from multiple disciplines. PDRI-DevLab helps to facilitate such collaboration across the Penn campus.
Connecting researchers at Penn to the world. Even the best research can be inadequate for solving problems if it is isolated from the world of practice. Local and international practitioners and various government agencies have valuable platforms for learning and critical expertise in implementing and scaling potential solutions. PDRI-DevLab focuses on connecting social scientists at Penn who work in international development with the community of development practitioners to create rigorous programming, collect monitoring and evaluation data, and conduct impact evaluations of development projects. We bring together scholars and students attuned to the research frontier and with advanced capabilities in experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluation designs, survey design and other data collection tools, and data analytics, including web scraping and geospatial analysis.
As established social scientists, we are adept at identifying opportunities for knowledge generation that will benefit the Penn community of scholars and the scientific community more broadly. As academics trained in applied statistics, we are well-positioned to offer advice on best practices for cutting-edge program evaluation to practitioners. Our setting also gives us access to a range of experts on the frontier of technology relevant to program evaluation.
DUTIES
Research Project Managers (RPMs) are expected to manage a portfolio of research projects, carry out core managerial and coordination functions, and participate in technical work as appropriate, with oversight by PIs and other senior researchers. RPMs are responsible for working closely with the University of Pennsylvania Business Office and grants/contracts team, coordinating with consultants, subcontractors, and clients, as well as delegating to and overseeing the work of junior research staff (where applicable) on individual contracts. RPMs will manage research and evaluation projects through their life cycle from start-up and design phases through the selection of survey firms and their onboarding, data collection, data analysis, periodic reporting, and dissemination of finding.
Specific responsibilities may include:
Project Management
• Establish, monitor, and update work plans and budgets.
• Coordinate research team inputs for contract deliverables.
• Support mobilization and logistical preparations for research team travel.
• Serve as a responsive point of contact for clients, and support contract reporting requirements.
• Work with the Business Office to ensure that financial reporting requirements are met, to monitor project financial status, and ensure compliance with research budgets.
• Support the recruitment of personnel for research grants/contracts as needed.
• Identify and assist in selecting local data collection partners, as needed.
• Oversee the work of local data collection contractors and conduct regular quality control on quantitative and qualitative datasets, using PDRI-DevLab’s standard quality control processes.
Research and Technical Tasks
• Assure high quality deliverables and reports.
• Conduct background research for the development of evaluation designs and data collection instruments.
• Participate in technical work as needed and appropriate, including research design, drafting IRB proposals, data collection and analysis, and client /donor reporting and dissemination.
• As appropriate, the Research Project Manager will be asked to participate in field work, such as training of enumerators prior to data collection, capacity building, program monitoring, or evaluation design, with evaluation teams. These tasks will be graduated to match level of proficiency and skill.
Proposal Identification/Revenue Generation
The RPM is expected to support the identification and proposal development related to new research opportunities and, as time permits, other evaluation-related new bids. The Research Project Manager may be asked to write technical proposals, review draft proposals, and work with the Business Office to develop budgets.
Support for Strategic Initiatives
The RPM will manage key PDRI-DevLab strategic initiatives, including the current pre-doctoral and Visiting Fellows’ programs. This includes helping to set up calls for new fellows and managing the fellows’ selection process. The RPM may be asked to participate in and/or lead new internal university initiatives as opportunities arise, such as representation and client relationship management. In addition, they may be asked to contribute to supporting the lab’s communication efforts (via PDRI-DevLab’s website, social media accounts, newsletter, etc.)
Required Qualifications
• Master of Science and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Degree in International Relations, International Development, Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, or other related subject is preferred.
• Experience writing and managing performance reports, including drafting quarterly and annual performance reports and work plans.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and manage multiple projects simultaneously and provide advice and guidance in a timely fashion.
• Demonstrated expertise in impact evaluation, including familiarity with IE methodologies as well as experience with large-scale surveys and data collection.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee team mobilization, written research products, and quality assurance processes.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and implement pertinent company and client policies and procedures clearly and accurately.
• Ability to travel overseas for short-term assignments.
• Proactive, self-starting, and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to follow through on multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Office suite.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience managing development projects or evaluations is strongly preferred.
• Subject matter expertise in research topics related to immigration and forced displacement is strongly preferred.
• Academic training and/or practical experience in quantitative research/evaluation including familiarity with IE designs such as RCTs and/or quasi-experimental designs.
• Knowledge of and practical hands-on experience with electronic data collection programs (ODK, SurveyCTO) strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of government and/or donor contracting practices.
• Field experience in managing/participating in quantitative evaluations.
• Demonstrated experience managing or carrying out qualitative, geospatial, or other kinds of data collection.
• Experience working with USAID, MCC, or USG client.
• Experience working in developing countries.
• Experience working with refugee or immigrant populations or agencies that serve them.
• Proficiency in a foreign language, such as Spanish or French, a plus.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences
Pay Range
$61,046.00 - $90,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/4653938
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