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 former experiences. Here are some examples of the key qualifications most successful candidates should possess:

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to monitor multiple simultaneous workstreams and keep geographically distributed teammates up to date on project updates and responsibilities.
• Ability to develop strong slide decks that are concise and visually appealing and to facilitate effective online or in-person presentations and workshops.
• Ability to efficiently identify, comprehend, and synthesize relevant information based on academic literature, project documentation and resources, as well as primary or secondary data.
• Prior experience working in international development and with a global team. Ability to comfortably interact with both US-based clients and stakeholders across all of IDinsight’s regions (e.g., Western and Northern Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, South Asia, and South-East Asia). Willingness to take regular early or late calls to accommodate stakeholders across various time zones.
• Strong communication skills and ability to interact effectively with a fully remote team.
• 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

• Willingness to work on a Learning Partnership with an International NGO for ~1.5 years and quickly familiarize yourself with new sectors.
• Excited to proactively engage in both strategic and conceptual as well as analytical thinking and discussions to draw insights and develop ideas and recommendations.
• 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 place a high value on being a team player

• Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter and fast learner; resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges
• Intellectually curious and willing 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.
• Embodies our organizational values and demonstrates a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their daily interactions.
• 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

• Besides English, proficiency in at least one other of the following languages is an asset: French or Spanish.
• Proficient in statistical analysis and data collection software, such as Stata, SPSS, R, SurveyCTO, and/or Open Data Kit.
• Familiarity with local context as well as working proficiency in the local language(s) of the country of placement.

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