Research Associate

IPA Innovations for Poverty Action; Philippines; On-site; PHP 725,000 - 837,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Philippines seeks a Research Associate to lead the implementation and data collection for the Y-RISE project. You will coordinate with Doorways and OUR, supervise field staff, and manage surveys via SurveyCTO for up to 7 cohorts (≈2,000 individuals).

This office-based hybrid role requires English and Filipino fluency, strong STATA skills, and the ability to travel to remote field locations. He/She will report to the Associate Research Manager.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of full-time experience in research or a related field.
• Experience with quantitative data collection and analysis using dual-method approaches (phone and online).
• Proficiency in STATA and SurveyCTO; ability to program surveys.
• Strong writing skills for QA metrics and field reports; English and Filipino fluency.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate implementation and monitor training and partner collaboration.
• Hire, train, and manage enumerators and field staff; ensure on-budget field operations.
• Manage datasets for multiple cohorts and program surveys on SurveyCTO.
• Provide bi-weekly reporting on completion rates, missings, and data quality.
• Support data collection and logistics across IPA projects as needed.

Skills

STATA

SurveyCTO

KIIs & FGDs

English

Filipino

Travel readiness

Excel macros

Data management

Survey programming

Education

Master's degree in economics, public policy, social science, or related field

Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

Tools

SurveyCTO

Survey Solutions

Job description

Job Summary

The Research Associate (RA) leads the implementation and data collection components of the Y-RISE Project on International Migration within the IPA Philippines Country Office. The RA coordinates with external partners - including Doorways and OUR (Onodera User Run) - to monitor training programs, manage registration sampling frames, and oversee multiple survey deployments using remote, phone, and in-person methodologies. Note: Depending on funding status, the RA may also be assigned to other IPA projects.

Responsibilities

Implementation and Partnership Coordination (25%)

• Act as the operational bridge between Doorways and OUR, assisting on trainer selection and monitoring Principal Investigator (PI) training quality.
• Conduct supervision visits and observer evaluations to verify trainer teaching methods; manage participant feedback and session reports.
• Conduct detailed process mapping of OUR's recruitment and screening pathways; track enrollment metrics to ensure target participants are reached.
• Update OUR registration Google Forms with screening questions and consent modules, and monitor the registration process.

Supervision and Management (25%)

• Hire, train, and manage a dedicated team of enumerators for phone and in-person endline surveys.
• Hire, train, and manage field staff who monitor intervention implementation.
• Manage field staff productivity and ensure on-budget field operations with minimal delays.

Data Management (20%)

• Assist the primary RA in managing datasets: generate unique identifiers and process registration data for up to 7 cohorts (up to 2,000 individuals) for transfer to Principal Investigators.
• Program complex surveys on SurveyCTO and host them on secure servers.
• Support the primary RA in performing daily or alternate-day High-Frequency Checks (HFCs) during phone surveys to detect outliers and correct SurveyCTO forms in real time.
• Provide consistent bi-weekly reporting on completion rates, missings, and backcheck errors; ensure secure and timely handoffs of randomization data.

Survey Operations and Technical Leadership (20%)

• Manage a dual-method baseline remote survey (self-administered online and phone) and subsequent follow-up phone surveys.
• Coordinate in-person endline household surveys adhering to standard data management protocols.
• Conduct drop-out phone interviews and test the feasibility of remote data collection (phone/Facebook Messenger) for spillover study scoping.

Project Coordination (10%)

• Engage with community stakeholders and ensure smooth execution of community-related activities.
• Coordinate with relevant offices and stakeholders within and outside the organization; ensure timely submission of deliverables to donors and partners.
• Practice upward management skills, ensuring seamless project continuity and proactive communication when leadership is unavailable.
• Provide data collection, survey programming, or logistical support to other IPA projects as needed based on funding status.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of full-time experience in research or a sector-related field.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex logistics, monitor external partner compliance, and make autonomous decisions to maintain project momentum.
• Experience with quantitative data collection and analysis, specifically utilizing dual-method approaches (phone and remote online surveys).
• Experience conducting Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for process mapping.
• Strong STATA skills and experience in survey programming using SurveyCTO.
• Strong professional writing skills for synthesizing QA metrics, observation notes, and comprehensive field reports.
• Fluency in English and Filipino.
• Strong client-facing and presentation skills.
• Good adaptive skills and willingness to travel to remote field locations.
• Ability to work independently, adapt across tasks, and learn quickly.
• Passion for data-driven decision-making in the development sector and economics research.
• Reliable and thorough in completing work.
• Master's degree in economics, public policy, social science, or a related field is preferred; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is accepted. At least 3-5 years of significant full-time work experience directly related to the tasks and project may substitute for the master's degree.
• Proficiency in Excel macros and in SurveyCTO or Survey Solutions programming. (preferred)
• Proficiency in other local Philippine languages. (preferred)
• Experience living and working in the Philippines. (preferred)

Location

This is an office-based hybrid position located in Ortigas or Iloilo City, Philippines. During standard operations the role requires three days per week in office and two days working from home, with 50% travel to field sites during data collection months. Candidates must be able to travel to remote field locations and work extended hours during field visits and event organization.

Reports To

Associate Research Manager, IPA Philippines Country Office

Contract Duration

6 months (August 2026 - January 2027)

Compensation

65.000-75.000 PHP/mo

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of people living in poverty. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 1,000 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Safeguarding at IPA

At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.