I- Job Summary

The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab (MEL) is looking to hire a Senior Research Associate to coordinate its research efforts to foster a culture of evidence-based policymaking in Morocco.

The Senior Research Associate will support the implementation of several impact evaluations conducted by a team of international researchers in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports (MENPS). This position will be based in our offices at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic campus in Rabat.

About The Morocco Innovation And Evaluation Lab (MEL)

The MEL is a collaboration between the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Harvard Center for International Development (CID). The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab emerged from the Morocco Employment Lab, an initiative that was launched in 2020 in partnership with the Millennium Challenge Account - Morocco Agency (MCA-Morocco) and hosted by the Policy Center for the New South. With the support of Community Jameel, the lab is expanding its work beyond employment into sectors such as education, social protection, firm growth, agriculture, and environment.

The MEL works in close collaboration with the public, private, NGO, and philanthropic sectors in Morocco to conduct evaluations that speak to their priorities and share rigorous evidence to inform their decisions.

About The Position

The position offers a unique opportunity for the Senior Research Associate to develop and support the research infrastructure of the Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab and assist a variety of research projects in the areas of data security, data analysis, and field support. The Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab’s scientific directors are Bruno Crépon (ENSAE), Rema Hanna (Harvard University) and Florencia Devoto (MEL).

The Senior Research Associate will be directly supervised by the MEL’s Director and Research Manager. The Senior RA will work closely with senior staff from J-PAL MENA and CID, academic researchers and other field staff to perform a variety of research tasks.

II. Key Responsibilities

Research project management:

• Collaborate with researchers on the design and implementation of data collection plans;
• Oversee field research activities, including the implementation of the evaluation, according to the research design in coordination with researchers and partners;
• Supervise of a maximum of two Research Associates working on the projects;
• Assist with hiring survey firms, including drafting terms of reference;
• Maintain and grow effective relationships with partner organizations;
• Play an active role in researchers and research associate’s onboarding;
• Collaborate with research staff throughout the project lifecycle. This includes supporting with technical questions (e.g. coding in STATA), devising data encryption protocols, personally identifiable data management among others;.
• Ensure organizational research protocols are respected through all research activities, report to J-PAL Global and J-PAL MENA;
• Lead local institutional review board applications;
• Engage with local authorities and undertake administrative procedures to ensure all data collection authorizations are obtained; and
• Develop research public goods, under the supervision of J-PAL Global and J-PAL MENA research teams.
  
  

Reporting And Communication

• Provide periodic updates on project activities to researchers and subject experts;
• Participate in the planning and design of activities undertaken in collaboration with implementing partners;
• Ensure that project activities are on schedule and prepare project update reports according to agreements with funders and partners
• Any other work assigned by the MEL’s Directors
  
  

III- Requirements

Education

• A Master's Degree in economics, public policy, mathematics, statistics or related technical fields including training in microeconomics, econometrics, statistics, and advanced mathematics
• Graduate-level coursework in economics is a plus
  
  

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience, including 2 years of research experience
• Experience with STATA and/or R data analysis software is a must; experience interpreting data analysis; experience with academic writing
• Experience with budget management is a plus
• Experience with living in Morocco is a strong advantage
  
  

Skills

• Very strong quantitative, organisational, and communication skills are necessary
• Fluency in French and in English. Arabic command is a strong advantage
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a team player
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organisations
• Familiarity with evaluation methods and randomized controlled trials preferred
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines