Research Manager, Research Lab

Department: Kellogg GPRL

Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Job Summary: The Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL) at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is committed to addressing the challenges of overcoming poverty and improving well‑being in the developing world. As part of this work, GPRL is committed to aggregating global evidence by conducting rigorous meta‑analysis and delivering open, usable synthesis for policymakers, funders, and practitioners.

GPRL is comprised of a team of Research Managers who support the Principal Investigators (PIs) in the development and management of research projects in applied development economics research. Under the direction of GPRL leadership, this Research Manager will be primarily responsible for evidence advisory projects considered complex by the inclusion of large budgets spanning multiple investigators, teams, sites, and subcontracts.

The Research Manager will lead rapid evidence reviews and evidence synthesis to inform program design and cost‑effectiveness recommendations for bilateral donor agencies, ensuring completion of contract requirements and client specifications for assigned projects.

Additional tasks will include overseeing day‑to‑day operations of GPRL Pillar 4 work, including identifying & securing needed resources; creating, implementing, monitoring, and updating project plans; facilitating meetings with appropriate parties; tracking tasks/deliverables to ensure timelines, milestones and/or goals are attained; monitoring and reporting progress as appropriate; and resolving or escalating issues timely.

Supervisor provides objectives and deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective and deadlines and overall compliance with policy and procedures. EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, and/or far‑reaching implications.

• Provides complex technical and evidence‑based advisory leadership in determining research priorities & the plan, design & execution of research projects, ensuring that programs of investigation meet specified objectives.
• Leads and contributes to rapid evidence reviews and evidence syntheses that generate actionable cost‑effectiveness recommendations for bilateral donor agencies.
• Plans, develops & implements new processes & protocols to support research studies & maximize/extend study capabilities.
• Oversees completion of study activities per protocol.
• Ensures that study and project activities are completed in compliance with appropriate rules & regulations & reviews study progress, and recommends revisions, amendments, and/or other project changes as necessary to better meet the needs of sponsors.
• Reviews scientific literature & evaluates & recommends applicable techniques & procedures.

• Analyzes, evaluates & interprets data and evidence to determine relevance to research and program design.
• Synthesizes findings from large bodies of literature to produce policy‑facing reports and cost‑effectiveness recommendations for donor decision‑makers.
• Translates complex research findings for non‑technical government and donor audiences.
• Assists PI in developing statistical methods & models to analyze & report data based upon study requirements.
• Prepares results & may co‑author research papers and policy‑facing reports for presentation & publication & disseminates information via seminars, donor briefings, and external events.
• Leads development of donor proposals and grant submissions to obtain financial support; contributes analytical content and project design to multi‑partner funding applications involving bilateral donors, foundations, and research institutions.
• Acts as a liaison between bilateral donor agencies, collaborating research organizations, and academic institutions.
• Cultivates and manages long‑term partnerships with senior staff at bilateral aid agencies to support program development and fundraising objectives.
• Manages ongoing relationships with bilateral donor agencies and academic and implementing partners, serving as a primary point of contact for external stakeholders.
• Ensures that…