Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a rapidly growing global organization, with extensive operations in 20 focus countries, including Uganda. We design innovative, cutting-edge approaches to solving development problems, rigorously evaluate these programs and promote the adoption of those with proven impact. This occurs both through the dissemination of results to policy makers, practitioners, and donors, as well as through supporting the large-scale implementation of evidence-based programs. In Uganda, IPA has an established local body of evidence in the education, health, governance, and financial inclusion sectors. We have conducted research studies on market linkages for smallholder farmers, the provision of sexual and reproductive health advice via SMR, the success of government intervention to combat youth unemployment in post-conflict settings such as Northern Uganda and the use of mobile technology to enhance communication between levels of the health system and to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health is a key health priority.

The Business Development Associate (BDA) will play a key role in the growth of new business for IPA Rwanda and Uganda and with additional business development support to other East Africa offices. The BDA will work closely with country office leadership to grow IPA’s project portfolio by developing new projects with researchers and partner organizations and preparing proposals for funding opportunities as they arise.

Responsibilities 

The Business Development Associate will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Work with country office leadership to develop new research studies in collaboration with principal investigators and partner organizations. Prepare project budgets and proposals in response to funding opportunities, at times under tight deadlines.
• Outreach to new researchers, partner organizations, and funders to share IPA’s work and explore potential opportunities for collaboration
• Maintain engagement with current/past researchers and partners with the aim of developing new projects and expanding existing projects
• Working closely with IPA’s global business development team and be an active member of IPA’s global business development community of practice
• Coordinate country offices and global teams in the development of large-scale funding proposals for East Africa
• Identify and track funding opportunities, donor interests, actual/potential competition
• Coordinate record-keeping of proposals through updating of Salesforce and PD trackers
• Seek feedback from funders on proposals that are not successful
• Develop training/onboarding materials for project development
• Lead staff trainings on the budget template (specifically as it relates to new budgets at the proposal stage) and on project development
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Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, such as economics, public policy, international development, business administration, Master’s degree preferred
• At least seven years of relevant work experience in project management, research oversight, and business development
• Strong budgeting skills; experience with writing project reports and grant proposals, preferably in the Not-for-profit NGO space/industry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating teams in complex projects
• Ability to engage and network with a wide range of audiences: researchers, policy makers, practitioners
• A desire to commit to this position for at least one year
• Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service to IPA’s partners and PIs
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated successful entrepreneurial experience or demanding professional work experience in developing country settings
• Experience with randomized control trials and/or applied statistics

Application Instructions 

Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. After completing a brief registration, choose the APPROPRIATE CATEGORY job category, then select “Business Development Associate”. Applications require you to include a statement of purpose (cover letter) and CV.