Program Manager, Climate and Environment

Job Summary

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a global research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. The Climate and Environment Program (CEP) is IPA’s newly launched sector program. CEP aims to bring together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to advance a strategic research and policy agenda focused on solutions that simultaneously improve poor communities’ welfare while adapting to climate change, reducing emissions, and protecting our environment.

The Program Manager will work directly with the Program Director and play a leading role in developing and implementing CEP, including supporting overall program management, project and network development, communications, among other functions. The role also involves working collaboratively with researchers, country offices, and other teams across IPA.

Responsibilities

Project development, knowledge management, and internal coordination

• Support the Program Director in identifying, engaging, and cultivating relationships with stakeholders in CEP’s networks, including donors, researchers, and partners.
• Respond to information requests relevant to project development and donor reporting activities.
• Take the lead in developing concept notes and proposals for CEP-sponsored and strategic research and policy projects.
• Support the Program Director in project development and fundraising activities, including coordinating meetings with external partners, fleshing out research agendas, strategy development, gathering input, and writing.
• Review and systematize up-to-date literature in the climate and environment sector to ensure strategic project development.
• Provide technical assistance on climate/environmental evidence to IPA country offices, policy staff, and external stakeholders.
• Organize and maintain up-to-date project, partner, donor, and researcher records for CEP on relevant platforms, including tracking funding opportunities.

Program Management, Financial tracking, and donor reporting

• Support the Program Director in developing CEP’s vision, scope, and research agenda
• Support the Program Director in developing and executing CEP’s work plan.
• Track the different efforts of country offices in the sector to ensure the program can provide timely support.
• With the oversight of the Program Director, review financial transactions and project budgets that come from CEP funds. 
• Where available, manage the selection of projects to receive CEP funds and track their commitments.
• Ensure compliance with deliverables and commitments to donors and lead their development when needed.
• Contribute to building systems that improve CEP’s efficiency and internal management.

External Communications and Engagement

• Support the Program Director in creating evidence syntheses, policy briefs, blogs, and other external communications, including drafting, incorporating feedback, and coordinating with IPA Communications.
• Identify opportunities to elevate CEP’s profile through presentations, concept notes, and events; represent CEP at internal and external engagements.
• Manage CEP’s online presence and organize global policy/academic events in collaboration with IPA Communications team and under the Program Director’s oversight.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree in relevant field from the social, natural, physical or data sciences
• At least five years of relevant work experience in climate and/or environmental policy or international development
• Strong knowledge of climate and/or environmental issues, preferably with a focus on low- and middle-income country settings.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills and familiarity with impact evaluation methods.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent communication, client management, and presentation skills

Preferred

• Flexibility, self-motivation, and ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience writing grant proposals and report and administering grants is a plus.
• Demonstrated experien