Senior Associate

Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Senior Training Associate to launch and grow the Lighthouse Collaborative, a new initiative designed to move proven AI and other social-sector innovations beyond pilots to strengthen public systems using learning-driven approaches.

You will work with partners to identify and scale high-impact NGOs and social enterprises, shaping policy-relevant evidence and tools for governments and funders across LMICs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in economics, political science, education, international development or related field.
• Strong technical understanding of econometrics and/or randomized evaluations.
• Minimum four years of relevant professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Launch and grow the Lighthouse Collaborative, a new initiative by J-PAL and The Agency Fund.
• Help scale high-impact NGOs/social enterprises by moving pilots to scale in public systems.
• Build partnerships with governments, philanthropic donors, or multilateral institutions.
• Support evidence-informed policy and scale in diverse policy sectors.
• Work at J-PAL Global office at MIT in Cambridge, MA.

Skills

Econometrics

Randomized evaluations

Education

Bachelor's degree in economics, political science, education, international development, or related fields

Job description

Posting Description

SENIOR TRAINING ASSOCIATE, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) , to join a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. The Senior Associate will play a central role in launching and growing the Lighthouse Collaborative, a new initiative developed by J-PAL and The Agency Fund. The Collaborative seeks to help proven AI and other social-sector innovations move beyond pilots to strengthen public systems, thereby improving outcomes, equipping policymakers with better tools, and reaching millions of people. The Lighthouse Collaborative will bring together partners to identify and help massively scale high-impact NGOs / social enterprises in low- and middle-income countries. These "Lighthouses" will combine demonstrated impact and cost-effectiveness with strong learning systems and delivery models that can work through government.

Job Description

The full job description is available here.

Job Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in economics, political science, education, international development, or other related fields
• training in and a strong technical understanding of econometrics and/or randomized evaluations
• a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience

• Experience in launching or scaling an early-stage social venture
• working in or with nonprofits or social enterprises
• building partnerships with governments, philanthropic donors, or multilateral institutions
• managing complex initiatives in international development
• supporting evidence-informed policy and scale
• or working in a specific policy sector or cross-cutting area such as climate, gender, health, education, social protection, or AI for social good

Commitment of three years preferred.

This position is based at the J-PAL Global office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA.

Visa sponsorship is not available.

10/15/2026