Remote Cost-Effectiveness Unit Lead & Economist

ID Insight, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

IDinsight, a global nonprofit, is hiring a Cost-Effectiveness Unit Lead to drive the CEU practice from data to decisionmaking. You will bridge rigorous economic analysis with practical organizational change, embedding cost-effectiveness into how we operate and plan across projects and regions.

The role combines technical delivery, client engagement, and thought leadership, building robust models, tools, and public goods while guiding multi-country initiatives and mentoring a growing team.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in economics, public policy, or related field (Master's minimum, PhD preferred).
• 5+ years of cost-effectiveness or cost-efficiency analysis, preferably within international development.
• Experience building cost analysis systems and frameworks within complex organizations.
• Track record of translating economic analysis into operational decisions and organizational change.
• Experience working with large implementing organizations (NGOs, governments, or multilaterals).
• Strong skills in cost modeling, sensitivity analysis, and financial analysis.
• Proficiency with statistical software (Stata or R) and advanced Excel.
• Experience managing projects and teams.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build CEU into a sustainable practice area, onboarding and aligning with senior leadership.
• Develop service offerings: cost-effectiveness audits, lean intervention design, cost-efficient implementation, and tech-enabled resource allocation.
• Create standardized methodologies, tools, and frameworks for sector adoption.
• Build a team over time with a pipeline for hires and training in cost-effectiveness.
• Develop public goods like guides, templates, and case studies.
• Lead client engagements with partners to embed cost-effectiveness thinking.
• Collaborate across project lifecycles from ideation to implementation.
• Secure funding by engaging funders for analytical work.
• Lead cost-effectiveness analyses and design lean intervention processes.
• Design and implement cost monitoring systems for adaptive management.
• Collaborate with AI/ML teams for cost optimization.
• Publish frameworks and findings; represent IDinsight at events.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Cost modeling

Sensitivity analysis

Financial analysis

Stata or R

Advanced Excel

Project management

Education

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

Tools

Stata

R

Excel

Job description

IDinsight, a global nonprofit, is hiring a Cost-Effectiveness Unit Lead to drive the CEU practice from data to decisionmaking. You will bridge rigorous economic analysis with practical organizational change, embedding cost-effectiveness into how we operate and plan across projects and regions.

The role combines technical delivery, client engagement, and thought leadership, building robust models, tools, and public goods while guiding multi-country initiatives and mentoring a growing team.