Country Lead and Director of Policy, Rwanda

The Country Lead and Director of Policy, Rwanda leads IPA’s country program in Kigali, providing strategic direction across research, policy influence, and operations. The role oversees IPA Rwanda’s Embedded Evidence Labs and scaling programs, with a strong focus on translating rigorous evidence into policy action with senior government partners and donors. Responsibilities include leading IPA Rwanda’s overall policy impact strategy, providing strategic vision and oversight of Embedded Evidence Labs (e.g., Ministry of Education Lab, Graduation Embedded Lab within the Ministry of Local Government), and scaling programs (e.g., STARS, an evidence-based program incentivizing public school teachers with performance-based bonuses). The role also involves representing IPA at high-level policy forums, engaging government and development stakeholders to identify priority research questions, and translating evidence into policy action. Additionally, the position sets and implements IPA Rwanda’s country strategy, provides strategic oversight to the research portfolio, leads business development and fundraising efforts, and maintains high-level oversight of country office compliance, financial health, and risk management. The role requires working closely with the Regional Director for East Africa and Asia and IPA’s Global Policy team to ensure alignment with global and regional priorities.

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; commitment to leading a diverse team in a multicultural environment and building staff capacity; ability to communicate effectively across cultures with multiple stakeholders; excellent management and organizational skills; strong oral and written communication skills (preferred)