The Data Scientist II sits within IPA's Global Research and Data Science (GRDS) team, which provides technical support across IPA's research portfolio and builds the data science, data engineering, and research quality capabilities the organization relies on. The Data Scientist II owns technical projects from initiation to delivery, applying data science methods to concrete research and data support needs. The role combines hands-on technical work with the judgment to plan independently, anticipate risks, and recommend a course of action when problems require escalation. The Data Scientist II also serves as a technical reference for colleagues and represents IPA's technical standards in work with country offices, sector programs, public policy teams, and external partners.
This posting targets the Data Scientist II level; IPA will also consider strong candidates at the Data Scientist I level whose experience and trajectory fit the role.
Responsibilities
Project Ownership and Technical Delivery (50%)
- Lead assigned projects from initiation to delivery: plan tasks, track progress, anticipate risks, and report status and decisions to the manager without requiring follow-up.
- Provide high-quality technical support to IPA country offices, sector programs, public policy teams, and research projects.
- Develop Scopes of Work for direct technical support engagements and conduct research quality audits of ongoing projects.
- Apply reliable technical judgment when advising internal and external partners.
Data Science Methods and Engineering (35%)
- Apply data science methods — including predictive modeling, natural language processing, large language models, and geospatial analysis — to concrete research and data support needs.
- Develop and maintain SQL and Python data models, analytical pipelines, and other software solutions.
- Deliver advanced technical outputs in SurveyCTO, Stata, R, SQL, Python, and other relevant tools.
- Support testing and debugging of global data products and technical tools.
- Ensure reproducibility through version control and well-documented workflows.
- Prepare and maintain research datasets following reproducible data management practices.
Mentorship, Communication, and Team Practice (15%)
- Serve as a trusted technical reference for colleagues; guide Data Research Associates and other research staff on tools, workflows, and IPA's research and data standards.
- Provide code reviews and help maintain sound technical practices across the team.
- Translate complex analytical findings into clear products for research and practitioner audiences, including data visualizations, briefs, and technical documentation.
- Present analysis to internal and external stakeholders, adapting communication to audiences ranging from field teams to senior researchers and partners.
- Stay current with developments in applied data science and machine learning relevant to development research, and share useful methods and tools with the GRDS team.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, statistics, economics, social sciences, or a related quantitative discipline.
- At least three years of professional experience in data science, data engineering, research support, or a related field, with a demonstrated record of owning and delivering technical projects independently. (Data Scientist I candidates: at least two years of relevant experience with demonstrated ability to manage analytical tasks with limited supervision.)
- Proven experience developing data science or data engineering projects in Python.
- Proficiency in SQL for database querying and analytics.
- Experience with version control systems such as Git, and with reproducible, well-documented workflows.
- Strong quantitative skills and a solid understanding of core statistical concepts, including regression, hypothesis testing, and sampling.
- Demonstrated ability to clean, manage, analyze, and document data.
- Clear written and verbal communication in English, with the ability to document, explain, and present technical work.
- Ability to build effective working relationships in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- At Data Scientist II level: proactive communication, surfacing progress, risks, and decisions without being asked, and experience mentoring or serving as a technical reference for peers.
- Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and analytics databases (Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, MotherDuck, or ClickHouse). (preferred)
- Background in applied machine learning, natural language processing, and large language models. (preferred)
- Working knowledge of Stata and SurveyCTO for research support, and of additional analytical software such as R. (preferred)
- Experience with data engineering tools for ELT workflows such as dlt, SQLMesh, or dbt. (preferred)
- Experience with geospatial analysis. (preferred)
- Familiarity with research quality standards and best practices in survey data collection and data management. (preferred)
- Experience with project management tools such as Jira or Asana. (preferred)
- Experience working with international development organizations or research institutions. (preferred)
- Ability to work in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, French, or Swahili. (preferred)
Location
Preferred duty stations are Kenya, Ghana, Colombia, or Peru; any IPA country office will be considered where IPA does not need to establish an Employer of Record. The role is hybrid remote and country office. International travel is required one to two times per year, which commonly involves long flights, long car rides, and carrying luggage.
Reports To
Manager, GRDS
About IPA
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of people living in poverty. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 1,000 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.
Safeguarding at IPA
At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.
