Manager, National Poverty Lab
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- NG
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Lead
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Not specified
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Master’s degree in Economics, Development Studies, Public Policy, Statistics, Data Science, Social Sciences, or a related field is required.
- A minimum of 5 to 7 years of relevant professional experience in social protection, poverty reduction, international development, or a closely related field, with demonstrated exposure to national or
- Strong knowledge of social protection systems and programmes, including familiarity with conditional cash transfers, graduation models, and the institutional architecture of social protection delivery
- Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools, including advanced Microsoft Excel, at least one statistical software package (Stata, R, or Python), and data visualization platforms such as Powe
- Hands-on experience designing, strengthening, or implementing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems, including data collection, management, and analysis frameworks, preferably in a govern
- Proven ability to manage multiple programmes or workstreams simultaneously, including planning timelines, coordinating across stakeholders, tracking progress, and managing deliverables and budgets in
- Demonstrated ability to train, coach, or mentor others in data analysis, statistics, or MEL systems, including building institutional capacity for data use.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical analysis into clear, structured, and policy-relevant insights for non-technical audiences.
- Experience working with federal government institutions or regulatory agencies is highly desirable; familiarity with Nigeria’s federal social protection architecture is a strong advantage.
- Willingness to be a team player and identify connections between work streams.
- Cultural and political sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies, including senior government officials, development partners, and community-level stakehold
- Passion for making data-driven decision-making a reality in the development sector, with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for people living in poverty.
Full description
Job Summary
IPA Nigeria is seeking a Manager to lead an embedded evidence lab established within a federal institution to strengthen evidence- and data-informed coordination of social protection programmes. The Manager will serve as the senior technical lead for the lab, driving a policy-relevant research agenda, strengthening the institution’s data and MEL systems, and building the institutional capacity needed for the sustainability of the lab.
The role requires a practitioner with deep knowledge of Nigeria’s social protection landscape, strong analytical and research skills, and a proven ability to translate complex data and evidence into actionable policy insights. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable designing and conducting rigorous analysis, building data systems, facilitating capacity building with institutional staff, and presenting findings to senior decision-makers. The Manager may also be called upon to contribute to other IPA Nigeria embedded lab engagements as organizational needs evolve.
Responsibilities
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
- Position the lab as a credible, trusted technical partner supporting coordination and evidence-informed decision-making within the federal social protection ecosystem.
- Facilitate the development of inter-agency data sharing and coordination frameworks, and formalize institutional arrangements that improve the flow of programme data across federal and state levels.
- Represent IPA at federal-level policy forums, technical working groups, inter-ministerial coordination meetings, and external engagements, communicating the lab’s work and positioning IPA as a thought leader in social protection evidence and policy in Nigeria.
- Support IPA advocacy efforts aimed at reforming federal reporting frameworks to create institutional demand for outcome-oriented evidence, moving beyond compliance-driven reporting toward adaptive programme management.
Evidence Generation and Research
- Lead the development of the embedded lab’s framework and operating model, including its mandate, objectives, governance structure, defined roles and responsibilities, decision-making processes, workflows, and engagement mechanisms with government partners.
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for core lab functions such as data mapping, evidence intake, data analysis and reporting, research prioritisation, and learning cycles.
- Design and manage primary data collection activities and administrative data reviews, ensuring methodological rigor and direct alignment with the institution’s information and decision-making needs.
- Identify and develop opportunities to leverage large-scale administrative datasets, including state and national social registries and programme management information systems, for generating policy-relevant insights.