Director, J-PAL Research - J-PAL MENA at AUC, Grant Position

Reports to: Executive Director, J-PAL

Role Purpose:

The director provides pivotal leadership for Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab MENA at AUC by managing and overseeing its research portfolio, ensuring the highest standards of research ethics, data quality, and security. He or She expands the scope and impact of rigorous impact evaluations conducted by affiliated professors in Egypt and the MENA region. As a member of the senior management team, the director guides the regional research strategy, leads fundraising efforts, and oversees the infrastructure and resources necessary for effective randomized evaluations.

Core Responsibilities:

Research Portfolio Management and Strategy:

• Manage and curate the research portfolio, ensuring rigorous quality, ethical integrity, and alignment with J-PAL's mission to reduce poverty
• Guide research strategy across the region, refining research verticals to address pressing policy needs
• Oversee research infrastructure, ensuring researchers have the resources, data security, and operational support needed to conduct randomized evaluations
• Provide technical oversight, ensuring all projects adhere to J-PAL's high standards for transparency and reproducibility

Fundraising and Business Development:

• Lead fundraising efforts for research initiatives, developing and submitting proposals averaging $15-20 million per year
• Catalyze new research, working with governments, NGOs, and private sector partners to identify opportunities for randomized evaluations
• Steward donor relationships, ensuring continued support for the research agenda and reporting on project impact

Team Leadership and Capacity Building:

• Recruit and mentor staff, building a pipeline of talent and fostering a culture of continuous learning and high performance
• Oversee capacity building, ensuring staff and partners are trained in the latest impact evaluation methodologies

Outreach and Policy Influence:

• Represent J-PAL MENA at high-level conferences, workshops, and policy forums, presenting research findings to policymakers and practitioners
• Translate research into action, writing policy memos and briefs that make complex technical findings accessible to non-academic audiences
• Foster a culture of evidence use, working with partners to integrate rigorous evaluation into their program design and decision-making processes

Additional Related Duties:

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications and Skills:

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in economics, public policy, or a related field is required
• PhD is strongly preferred
• 10–12 years of relevant experience in research, policy or international development
• Extensive experience conducting or supervising impact evaluations, e.g., RCTs
• Demonstrated management experience, including hiring and training diverse teams

Technical Skills:

• Technical: Advanced knowledge of economics and quantitative research, and excellence in statistical analysis, e.g., Stata, R, or Python
• Strategic: Ability to manage complex, multi-year projects and drive strategy for multiple research verticals
• Fundraising: Proven ability to write successful grant proposals and manage large budgets
• Communication: Excellent writing and public speaking skills in English
• Proficiency in Arabic is a strong plus
• Leadership: Strong team management and interpersonal skills

This position is open until November 17, 2026

Placement is based on the candidate's experience and skills. Only candidates who make it to the short list will be contacted.

The American University in Cairo is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

We thank all individuals who have expressed interest in working at The American University in Cairo.