Country Lead – Director of Policy

Innovations for Poverty Action

Leads IPA's country program in Kigali, overseeing research and policy influence with government partners. Ensures strategic goals, financial sustainability, and policy impact in Rwanda.

Posted 6/19/2026full-timeKigali • 🇷🇼 RwandaSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead IPA Rwanda's overall policy impact strategy.
Provide strategic vision and oversight of IPA's Embedded Evidence Labs and scaling programs.
Represent IPA at high-level policy forums and in relationships with senior government officials, donors, and partner organizations.
Proactively engage government and development stakeholders to identify priority research questions and translate evidence into policy action.
Set and implement IPA Rwanda's country strategy in alignment with IPA Global and regional priorities.
Lead country-level planning, including annual work plans and multi-year strategic goals.
Serve as the primary relationship holder with the Regional Director and IPA Global teams.
Maintain IPA Rwanda's visibility and reputation with key external stakeholders.
Provide strategic oversight to the research portfolio, ensuring projects meet IPA quality standards.
Lead efforts to identify and secure new funding opportunities in consultation with the Global Policy team and Regional Director.
Ensure adherence to IPA policies, donor requirements, and legal obligations.

Requirements

What you’ll need

7 or more years of relevant experience in public policy or applied research in the development sector.
Demonstrated success managing teams and complex stakeholder relationships, particularly with senior government officials and donors.
Experience working on quantitative and qualitative research projects.
Proven experience in strategy design and implementation, particularly in government or multilateral settings.
Experience in education and/or social protection sectors.
Experience leading business development opportunities.
Master's degree in development economics, international affairs, international public policy, or a related field.
Fluency in English.
Experience working on evidence-to-policy translation, embedded technical assistance, or institutional capacity building. (preferred)
Demonstrated ability to lead large teams and multiple projects simultaneously. (preferred)
Strong quantitative skills and familiarity with randomized controlled trials. (preferred)
Passion for connecting rigorous research to policy makers and practitioners and communicating what works in development. (preferred)
Commitment to leading a diverse team in a multicultural environment and building staff capacity. (preferred)
Ability to communicate effectively across cultures with multiple stakeholders including academic researchers, government officials, NGO partners, and study participants. (preferred)
Excellent management and organizational skills; ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks efficiently. (preferred)
Strong oral and written communication skills. (preferred)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Safeguarding principles compliance
Ethical conduct commitment
Social responsibility emphasis

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

public policyapplied researchquantitative researchqualitative researchstrategy designevidence-to-policy translationrandomized controlled trialsbusiness developmentinstitutional capacity buildingdevelopment economics

Soft Skills

team managementstakeholder relationship managementcommunicationorganizational skillsmulticultural team leadershipproject managementstrategic visionindependent workcapacity buildingeffective communication

Certifications

Master's degree in development economicsMaster's degree in international affairsMaster's degree in international public policy