PRODUCT MANAGER I/II

IDinsight is hiring a Product Manager(PM) with 3-5 years of experience to help advance our work in creating data products for the social sector. In this role, the PM will work with our clients and IDinsight technical and client-facing teams to design and deliver high-quality software. Day-to-day activities could include working with government officials to create a data system aimed at getting socio-economic data to policymakers, engaging with an NGO to understand user needs for a machine learning solution that improves their on-the-ground operations, or working closely with IDinsight senior leadership to define how we communicate our software service offerings to potential clients.

We are a social-impact-oriented organization, so we can guarantee meaningful work tackling some of the world’s most complex international development challenges around the world.

About IDinsight

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide.

IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organization that helps global development leaders maximize their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools, including randomized evaluations and machine learning, to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, and innovative non-profit organizations in Asia and Africa. Our work spans various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in various rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support clients’ use of data and evidence for routine and major decision-making.
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches.
• Create and share tools, knowledge, and ideas that expand the use of data and evidence for social good.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 200 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries worldwide.  Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.  

Grow as an individual while doing meaningful work

We are working to build IDinsight into a global leader in the use of innovative data tools to solve some of the world’s most urgent problems. 

You’ll be joining a growing engineering and data science team and working on highly impactful and innovative projects with our partners. You’ll be joining an entrepreneurial team where you have a strong voice in how the team functions and grows. Software solutions need to be contextually relevant and build on subject-matter expertise to be effective. You will get to work closely with our partners, team of developers, data scientists, economists, social sector experts, and public health specialists to shepherd the design and implementation of solutions.

Learning is a key part of being a manager. 10% of your time would be dedicated to learning new skills and side projects of your choice. You’ll have strong mentorship to guide your career, and you’ll have the opportunity to make interesting and valuable connections.

About the Role

We are seeking candidates with a background in engineering, data science, product & research with some prior experience in a product management role. The ideal candidate should be passionate about solving difficult social problems. 

 The expectations from a successful candidate for this role are:

1. Proficient in roadmap management, capturing and prioritizing diverse inputs to drive impactful projects.
2. An ability to deeply understand customer needs and problems.
3. Skilled in sprint planning and scoping solutions to their smallest coherent state for early delivery.
4. Collaborative leader with a track record of effectively managing stakeholders and leading cross-functional teams.
5. Excellent communication skills, capable of clearly articulating product decisions and rationale.
6. Proficient in leveraging qualitative insights and quantitative data for informed decision-making.
7. Experience in user research, A/B testing, and collaboration with researchers and analysts.

Qualifications

Technical qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 3-5 years of experience working with technology to support our software development capabilities.
• Experience working with software development teams.
• Experience using agile principles and tools.
• Understanding of the software development lifecycle and related concepts such as version control, testing, and continuous integration/deployment.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Required qualifications:

• Proven ability to work alone and with teams in a dynamic, multicultural environment.
• Passion for improving lives through evidence-informed policy.
• Outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English. Fluency in languages spoken in countries where IDinsight works is a plus, particularly Hindi or French.
• Strong values aligned with IDinsight’s stated values.
• Ability and interest in sharing knowledge, mentoring others, presenting work, and reviewing the work of others.
• Deeply passionate about global development and improving lives in disadvantaged populations.
• Open-minded self-starter who will thrive while tackling new, unusual, and unpredictable challenges.

Preferred qualifications:

The most competitive applicants will also have experience in one or more of the following:

• Advanced degree, preferably in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Public Policy, or Economics.
• Previous experience in Product development/management. You have supported the shipping of at least one product that has delivered meaningful results.
• Writing clean code in a production setting.
• Writing user- and developer-facing documentation for software projects.
• Familiarity with software systems architecture.
• Managing cloud infrastructure using a hosting service like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Familiarity with user research methodologies.
• Strong project management skills include translating user requirements into actionable user stories.

Professional development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy and have been noted as highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsighters receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are provided "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen various skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture, and a formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend, and they are encouraged to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Nuts & bolts

Location

This position will be based in one of IDinsight’s offices in New Delhi, Nairobi or Manila. We have a strong preference for candidates with existing work authorization; however, for exceptional candidates, we will consider obtaining employment visas if possible.

Start date

We are hiring for this position on a rolling basis. The start date of this position is flexible, although there is the potential to start almost immediately. We expect a minimum two-year commitment, with regular professional development conversations and potential for a long-term career at IDinsight.

References

Applications should include three references, including email, phone, and title. Briefly state in what capacity you worked with each reference.

Work Authorization

IDinsight can sponsor employment visas for all nationalities; however, we will prioritize candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in the aforementioned countries. All candidates not currently located in our country offices listed above will be expected to relocate to the office location at the onset of their employment.

Compensation

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for and are competitive within the global development sector. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer, including comprehensive international health insurance, including mental health coverage; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; relocation benefits; a travel stipend; technology and work-from-home stipends; a professional development budget; and more. Please note that, as a non-profit, we are unable to provide compensation similar to leading private sector organizations.

How to apply

Please click the "Apply for this job online" button at the top right. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The application asks various questions for us to get to know you and requires a CV and cover letter. 

Please ensure that your CV includes relevant professional and personal experience and details on academic qualifications. CVs can range from one to two pages. Please note that headshot photographs, parental information, birth dates, marital status, and other personal information not relevant to the application do not need to be included in your CV. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to use your cover letter to highlight why you want to work for IDinsight specifically and what has prepared you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. A customized cover letter is an important part of IDinsight’s recruiting process as it allows us to understand your motivations for the position, relevant skills, and clarity of writing. Any application attached without the requirements addressed above will not be considered.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process and frequently asked questions, can be found online at IDinsight Careers. Any queries should be directed to redteamcareers@idinsight.org

N.B. To prevent important email correspondence from going directly into your SPAM folder, thereby missing important application updates, please ensure that you whitelist redteamcareers@idinsight.org

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work. 

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations we work with and the clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is an equal-opportunity employer and strives to create a diverse and supportive workplace.