Senior Director, Global Poverty Research Lab

Department: Kellogg GPRL
Salary/Grade: EXS/13

Job Summary:

At the Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL)-a research center based at Northwestern University-we generate empirical evidence on the effectiveness of policies and programs to help people throughout the world improve their standard of living. Our projects examine the interaction between poverty and topics such as finance, entrepreneurship, education, gender, agriculture, health, and the environment.

GPRL's research primarily involves designing, monitoring, and analyzing data from multi-faceted randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We test whether interventions and programs such as crop insurance, job training, and cognitive behavioral therapy can improve the well-being of people in the developing world, and what are the most cost-effective ways of implementing them. We conduct or support dozens of RCTs in more than 10 countries in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, China, and Southeast Asia.

We believe we can produce more and better research by creating a common infrastructure whether geographic or sectoral, upon which to then engage in research and policy work. Geographic research clusters in Ghana and the Philippines collect long-term panel data on economic and social outcomes. Our researchers also work to improve research methodologies for using survey data, machine learning, and meta-analysis in the context of international development. For this purpose, the research methods initiative, in collaboration with Innovations for Poverty Action, supports systematic studies into how to improve the methods and measurement of key outcomes in global poverty research.

The Senior Director will focus on providing strategic leadership, attracting novel funding streams, building fundraising strategies, establishing and maintaining key partnerships, within and outside of Northwestern University, raising the profile of GPRL, finding avenues for effective communication and outreach, and identifying opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaborations. The Senior Director will also play a key role as an organizational leader, providing guidance and support to GPRL research initiatives and staff.

Please note: Occasional weekends and evenings as requested and with some possible travel, as required.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Fundraising

• Lead strategic growth planning and oversee the implementation of prioritized action steps for GPRL while engaging faculty, researchers, institutional partners and senior leadership in the process.
• Drive overall vision for the Center, identifying meaningful opportunities for growth and ensuring alignment of programmatic activities with this vision.
• Works closely with the Office of Alumni Relations to secure funding opportunities including grants, donations, and partnerships. Ensure effective management of lab finances in line with university guidelines and funders' expectations.
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with the leadership of peer research organizations and key research and capacity building partners.
• Work closely with PIs to define high-level lines of inquiry and priorities; align current and future projects and initiatives in service of these.

Programmatic Leadership

• Manage a team of researchers and administrators for research project/s of high priority. Lead improved communication strategies.
• Provide guidance and research ideology to research staff, advancing the research mission of the lab.
• Provide guidance to faculty and researchers to define and unify research designs.
• Define initiative/project goals, roles, and responsibilities; build and formalize team; monitor and report on progress to goals.
• Develop/refine operational structure, processes, and procedures to ensure deep collaboration, coordination, and cross-functional work across analysis, and program teams.
• Develop and implement mechanisms/procedures to ensure cross-team collaboration and feedback loops of research findings to inform program and content development and delivery.
• Collaborate with other universities, NGOs, policymakers, and others to collaborate and influence policy.
• Collaborate across the lab, Kellogg, and Northwestern to ensure active partnership between the lab and the NU research community.

Organizational Effectiveness

• Working closely with the Business Administrator ("BA"), the Senior Director oversees the Center's operations and ensures organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Stewards GPRL's financial and human resources, overseeing all centralized operations functions related to personnel, budgeting and financial management, event planning, communications, and knowledge management.
• Reviews and approves all Center-wide tools, policies, and processes (developed by or in collaboration with the BA) to ensure they are aligned with GPRL's values and effectively meet staff needs.
• With the BA, co-leads staff meetings and regular management and mentor meetings to facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration, promote efficiency, and maintain clear channels for feedback and communication.
• Monitors progress toward Center-wide and program-specific goals and objectives.

Communication and Outreach

• Identify opportunities to convene conversations and "ownable" programmatic platforms that showcase GPRL's thought leadership, engage thought leaders and key influencers to position the Lab.
• Authors blogs and newsletters that raise visibility for GPRL and change the way policymakers and researchers think about development.
• Represents GPRL at major relevant conferences and events.

Faculty Support

• Partner with professors, post-docs, and PhD students to report and publish our proprietary data science research.
• Represents the Lab in its participation and research with internal and external conferences and groups.
• Oversees calendar of all programs and events. Onboards guest speakers.

Partnership Development

• Create and lead initiatives with Alumni Relations to identify and establish research partnerships with funders, business, and the community resulting in new or expanded relationships in priority areas.
• Identify, engage, prioritize, and steward research partnerships across NU.
• Negotiate with industry, government, and private sources for access to unique datasets for research that contribute to the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in prioritized areas.
• Facilitate new connections among researchers externally and across broader Northwestern community and incubate new concepts that advance Kellogg and Northwestern's reputation.
• Collaborate with Northwestern partners for corporate/foundation prospects by making solicitations and directing cultivation by faculty and senior administration. Successfully writes grant/gift proposals and award nominations.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree (or the equivalent combination of education & experience) required; PhD optional
• Eight or more years of relevant experience in research in the field of Development Economics and strong familiarity with rigorous research approaches used in this field.
• Experience building consensus for and then launching and leading new programs in an academic setting required as is ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks conforming to shifting priorities, demands and timelines.
• Experience with devising and implementing strategies and systems to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
• Management experience overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder research programs and initiatives, and overseeing staff and operations.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Ability to translate intellectual content.
• Strong relationship builder with excellent communications and interpersonal skills required. Ability to partner thoughtfully and deeply with faculty members.
• Ability to gather resources from disparate parts of the organization to move an idea initiative forward.
• Creative and forward thinking
• Ability to develop and execute a comprehensive cross-functional marketing communication plan
• Strategic thinking ability

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in persuasive writing, resulting in gifts in excess of $500k preferred.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $140,000 - $160,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

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Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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