ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR (Public Health Expertise Preferred) - Southeast Asia

Location: Makati, Philippines

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 a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of 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, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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

About the Associate Director/Director role

The Associate Director/Director (AD/D) will work closely with the Southeast Asia (SEA) Regional Director and will be supported by other Managers and Directors in the Region and IDinsight’s CEO. The AD/D will assume critical responsibility for driving large pieces of IDinsight’s work and strategy in the SEA Region. 

The AD/D will be supported by high-quality research teams, an excellent operations team that ensures a well-functioning organization, and a communications team to help amplify the Director’s voice in policy circles. They will also be provided with annual performance reviews (including feedback from peers and direct reports) to help them continuously grow and learn as professionals. 

The AD/D will be provided significant autonomy to leverage IDinsight as a platform to drive social impact (in consonance with IDinsight’s mission and strategy), while also being held accountable to clear goals that they will set for themselves in consultation with the SEA Regional Director and other leaders at IDinsight.

This position is based in Makati, Philippines, and will likely include a good amount of domestic and international travel (up to 30% dependent on exact role and subject to adjustments due to COVID-19) in order to fulfill the responsibilities mentioned above. 

Currently, IDinsight is prioritizing candidates with strong expertise in public health, especially in the Philippines, since it is likely that this role will support our impactful portfolio of public health projects in the Philippines and across the region.

Responsibilities

Each Director role at IDinsight is unique and tailored to specific individuals’ strengths. However, at a high level, the AD/D role will include the following:

• Develop and lead high-impact opportunities: Building on their experience, expertise, and networks, the AD/D will help conceptualize, secure, fundraise, and execute impactful initiatives that use data and evidence to drive change. All initiatives should be in line with IDinsight’s mission and strategy but can take various forms, ranging from direct client-service engagements to amplify their partners’ impact, to contribute to public knowledge products aimed at infusing data and evidence into important social sector debates.
• Lead, mentor and guide project teams: Project leadership involves liaising with senior clients regularly, ensuring the highest standards of research quality and ethics, overseeing and mentoring teams (usually 3-5 Managers, with 10-15 members in total), ensuring a safe and enabling atmosphere for colleagues, and keeping within project budgets. Most importantly, Directors are expected to set and drive their projects toward achieving social impact.
• Be a thought leader, a trusted advisor, and an advocate for data-driven reforms: In addition to leading projects, Directors will be expected to apply their considerable experience, expertise, and skills to shape evidence-informed action within one or multiple sectors, regions, or specializations. This includes writing in leading newspapers and journals, speaking at important conferences, harnessing relationships and networks within the impact community to develop trusted advisory positions with senior leaders, and participating in consultative councils within governments, foundations, and/or non-profits.
• Contribute to IDinsight strategy: The Director will be responsible for working closely with SEA and global leadership teams to craft, refine and execute on realizing IDinsight’s strategy in SEA.
• Support organizational development: The Director will also be involved in contributing to global and regional operations such as recruitment, onboarding, and performance reviews. They will be expected to support IDinsight to remain an impact-first, values-based, and nimble organization even as they grow.
• Exemplify IDinsight’s mission and values: Ensuring a strong alignment between incoming Directors and IDinsight’s values is an important priority for them. Directors are the face of IDinsight both externally and internally and will be expected to always and unambiguously exemplify their mission and values.

Qualifications

• An advanced degree (Master’s or Doctoral), preferably in public policy, economics, public administration, international development, business, or public health.
• 10+ years of experience using data and evidence to improve social impact, ideally in SEA.
• Significant experience in public health/public health research, especially in the Philippines, is strongly preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Candidates also fluent in Filipino, and/or other SEA languages will be prioritized.
• Deep passion for development and social impact, and strong alignment with IDinsight’s vision and mission.
• Record of building strong stakeholder and client relationships, especially with governments, foundations, and non-profits in the SEA Region.
• Record of impactful thought leadership and advocacy around important social and/or technical issues.
• Fluency in the role of data and evidence tools – such as impact evaluations, representative surveys, monitoring systems, and/or machine learning – to create insights and impact.
• Ability to be an inspiring leader in a dynamic, multicultural, and values-based environment.
• Attitude to thrive in an entrepreneurial setting, and be able to adapt to dynamic growth and change.
• Eagerness to be a lifelong learner with keen intellectual curiosity.
• Willingness to travel as needed and to work with remote colleagues.
• Excitement to work across multiple development sectors.

Professional development

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

Nuts & bolts

Location and Work Authorization

This position is based in Makati, Philippines. Preference will be given to those with pre-existing work authorization however, IDInsight will seek work permits where possible for exceptional candidates. 

Start date

We are looking for candidates that can start immediately. We expect a 2-year minimum commitment, with regular professional development conversations and the potential for a long-term career at IDinsight.

Compensation

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for, and 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, 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 are rolling and considered as they are submitted. The application asks various questions in order 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 as well as details on academic qualifications. CVs can range from one to two pages. Please note, headshot photographs, parental details, 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.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process and frequently asked questions, can be found online at IDinsight Careers. Any questions should be directed to sea.careers@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 with whom we work and 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.