Senior Policy Manager - J-PAL Global

Organization: J-PAL Global

Location: United States of America

Start Date (Earliest): 30 September 2026

Length of Commitment: Three years or more

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of over 390 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

Plays a key role in translating research by J-PAL affiliates into actionable poverty alleviation policies around the world. Staff connect the dots between economics and policy and are passionate about working with organizations to form partnerships for evidence-informed development policy.

J-PAL is recruiting a Senior Policy Manager or Policy Manager to contribute to this mission of promoting evidence-informed policy. The title and level of the position will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience. The position will be based in Cambridge, MA, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with two in-person work days per week. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Only applications following all instructions at the bottom of this page will be considered.

J-PAL encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work, and we value the diverse perspectives our staff bring to their roles and to the broader J-PAL community. We encourage people from all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the field of economics, to apply to this role. In your cover letter, you are welcome to share how your background and lived experiences have influenced your desire to work at J-PAL (this is entirely optional, just an opportunity for us to get to know you a bit better).

For more information on J-PAL’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion visit this webpage.

• Your work requires a breadth of knowledge and a depth of understanding to support J-PAL’s growing policy efforts. As a Senior Policy Manager, your primary tasks will involve sector management, communication, evidence synthesis and dissemination, and staff supervision.
• Sector/Pillar Management and Supervision (40%):
  Manage Project AI Evidence (PAIE), which identifies, evaluates, and scales innovative applications of AI for social good and in the fight against poverty by bringing together policymakers, researchers, firms and AI practitioners. Work under the guidance of PAIE's Co-Chairs and senior AI policy staff to effectively generate, synthesize, communicate, and translate evidence from randomized evaluations in real-world policy. Senior Managers support the development of the initiative's strategy and vision and take primary responsibility for executing it, building relationships with key policy partners, identifying opportunities for evidence adaptation and scale for AI applications, and helping identify and cultivate donors — including tech philanthropies, individual donors, and bilateral agencies — to secure support for PAIE activities.
  
  In addition, they draft policy materials and manage staff in synthesizing the current state of knowledge on AI in development, oversee the development of evidence products, and organize events for policymakers. Senior Managers may also have the opportunity to oversee the administration of a sector-specific competitive research fund, which involves managing staff to execute specific rounds of funding and leveraging the evidence and policy outputs that result from the funded research.
  
  Senior Managers also supervise and mentor associate-, senior associate-, and manager-level staff on everything including their…