Senior Policy Associate / Associate Policy Manager

Innovations for Poverty Action; Peru (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Peru seeks a Senior Policy Associate / Associate Policy Manager to advance technical assistance, applied research, and evidence use with government partners in Lima. The role centers on coordinating policy support, guiding research projects, and delivering knowledge products to inform policy decisions.

You will collaborate with government partners, donors, and researchers, support MEL and policy briefs, and ensure IPA protocols and office presence in Lima.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in economics, political science, or other social science disciplines.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience, with at least 2 years working in the public sector or closely coordinating with government.
• Experience preparing concept notes, policy briefs, and/or other communication materials for decision-makers and donors.
• Knowledge of fundamental concepts of monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including theory of change and impact evaluation (RCTs preferred).
• Strong oral and written communication skills in Spanish and English.
• Confidence communicating with diverse audiences, including donors, researchers, and government staff.
• This is an in-person position; candidates must live in Lima, Peru and have permission to work there.
• Master's degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field. (preferred)
• Knowledge and experience in scoping and designing new research, monitoring, or AI-based projects. (preferred)
• Work experience leading or supporting research projects, with RCTs preferred. (preferred)
• Familiarity with the implementation and analysis of qualitative interviews. (preferred)
• Quantitative skills and knowledge of data management and analysis in Stata. (preferred)
• At least one year of experience working with innovation labs. (preferred)
• Excellent time management and organization skills; attention to detail; ability to work independently. (preferred)
• Ability to work in a team, lead small groups of staff, and report to supervisors. (preferred)
• Interest in gender or child development topics, as well as in AI and MEL for Government. (preferred)
• Work experience with, or knowledge of, Peru's Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP), INDECOPI, or RENIEC. (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with IPA Peru Director, Policy Manager, and government partners to carry out technical assistance activities.
• Lead the planning and monitoring of technical assistance activities for government partners to meet assigned objectives and deliverables.
• Lead the preparation of presentations and reports for donors and government partners.
• Lead periodic follow-up meetings with the project team.
• Guide the scoping and development of applied research projects (primarily RCTs) for government partners in collaboration with Principal Investigators.
• Lead the design of monitoring and learning systems for government partners’ interventions and support their implementation.
• Lead the scoping of evidence adaptation and use projects to improve decision-making.
• Support the development of funding proposals for applied research and evidence adaptation projects.
• Lead the development of policy products and the delivery of knowledge transfer to government partners’ teams.
• Work with administrative, human resources, and finance staff, ensuring compliance with IPA protocols across all processes.

Skills

Technical policy coordination

Applied research

Stakeholder engagement

Scientific writing

Bilingual Spanish/English

M&E knowledge

Stata

Education

Master's degree in Public Policy or related field

Bachelor's degree in economics, political science, or social science

Tools

Stata

Job description

Job Summary

IPA Peru has been leading field-based randomized evaluations since 2003, with work spanning Peru and other Latin American countries without an IPA country office. The organization engages closely with key decision-makers and conducts foundational research in education, gender-based violence, social protection, financial inclusion, and health. A core component of IPA Peru's approach is supporting governments in integrating data and evidence into policymaking through initiatives such as Embedded Labs and other technical assistance projects. The Senior Policy Associate / Associate Policy Manager will join the Policy team, contributing to technical assistance activities, applied research, and evidence adaptation efforts in close coordination with government partners, donors, and researchers.

Responsibilities

Technical Assistance Coordination (20%)

• Coordinate with the IPA Peru Director, the Policy Manager, and government partners to carry out technical assistance activities.
• Lead the planning and monitoring of technical assistance activities for government partners to meet assigned objectives and deliverables.
• Lead the preparation of presentations and reports for donors and government partners.
• Lead periodic follow-up meetings with the project team.

Applied Research and Evidence Use (70%)

• Guide the scoping and development of applied research projects (primarily RCTs) for government partners in collaboration with Principal Investigators.
• Lead the design of monitoring and learning systems for government partners’ interventions and support their implementation.
• Lead the scoping of evidence adaptation and use projects to improve decision-making.
• Support the development of funding proposals for applied research and evidence adaptation projects.
• Lead the development of policy products and the delivery of knowledge transfer to government partners’ teams.

Administration and Compliance (10%)

• Work with administrative, human resources, and finance staff, ensuring compliance with IPA protocols across all processes.
• Work from the IPA Peru office or government partners’ headquarters on assigned days and hours in Lima.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in economics, political science, or other social science disciplines.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience, with at least 2 years working in the public sector or closely coordinating with government.
• Experience preparing concept notes, policy briefs, and/or other communication materials for decision-makers and donors.
• Knowledge of fundamental concepts of monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including theory of change and impact evaluation (RCTs preferred).
• Strong oral and written communication skills in Spanish and English.
• Confidence communicating with diverse audiences, including donors, researchers, and government staff.
• This is an in-person position; candidates must live in Lima, Peru and have permission to work there.
• Master's degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field. (preferred)
• Knowledge and experience in scoping and designing new research, monitoring, or AI-based projects. (preferred)
• Work experience leading or supporting research projects, with RCTs preferred. (preferred)
• Familiarity with the implementation and analysis of qualitative interviews. (preferred)
• Quantitative skills and knowledge of data management and analysis in Stata. (preferred)
• At least one year of experience working with innovation labs. (preferred)
• Excellent time management and organization skills; attention to detail; ability to work independently. (preferred)
• Ability to work in a team, lead small groups of staff, and report to supervisors. (preferred)
• Interest in gender or child development topics, as well as in AI and MEL for Government. (preferred)
• Work experience with, or knowledge of, Peru's Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP), INDECOPI, or RENIEC. (preferred)

Location

The duty station for this role is Lima, Peru. This is an in-person position requiring attendance at the IPA Peru office and government partner headquarters (including MIMP and INDECOPI) on assigned days and hours. Candidates must reside in Lima and be legally authorized to work in Peru.

Reports To

Policy Manager

Deadline to Apply

July 15, 2026

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.