Data Scientist II

Job Summary

The Data Scientist II role is part of the Global Research and Data Science (GRDS) function at Innovations for Poverty Action. This team supports IPA's research work with technical expertise while strengthening the organization's capabilities in data science, data engineering, and research quality. In this position, you will independently lead technical assignments from start to finish, using data science approaches to solve research and data-support problems. The role requires both practical technical delivery and strong judgment: you will plan work on your own, spot risks early, and know when to escalate issues. You will also act as a dependable technical resource for colleagues and help uphold IPA's standards when working with country offices, sector teams, public policy teams, and outside partners.

This hiring process is aimed at the Data Scientist II level, but exceptional Data Scientist I candidates may also be considered if their background and growth trajectory align with the responsibilities.

Project Ownership and Technical Delivery

• Take full ownership of assigned projects, from the initial planning stage through delivery, including task planning, progress tracking, risk anticipation, and proactive status updates to the manager.
• Deliver high-quality technical assistance to IPA country offices, sector programs, public policy teams, and research projects.
• Create scopes of work for direct technical support assignments and perform research quality audits on active projects.
• Use sound technical judgment when advising both internal teams and external collaborators.

Data Science Methods and Engineering

• Apply modern data science techniques such as predictive modeling, natural language processing, large language models, and geospatial analysis to real research and data-support needs.
• Build and maintain SQL- and Python-based data models, analytical pipelines, and related software solutions.
• Produce advanced outputs using SurveyCTO, Stata, R, SQL, Python, and other applicable tools.
• Assist with testing and troubleshooting global data products and technical tools.
• Maintain reproducible workflows through version control and clear documentation.
• Prepare and manage research datasets using reproducible data management practices.

Mentorship, Communication, and Team Practice

• Serve as a trusted technical contact for colleagues and guide Data Research Associates and other research staff on tools, workflows, and IPA data standards.
• Review code and help strengthen reliable technical practices across the team.
• Turn complex analytical work into accessible outputs for research and practitioner audiences, including visualizations, briefs, and technical documentation.
• Present analytical results to a range of stakeholders, tailoring communication for field teams, senior researchers, and external partners.
• Keep up with developments in applied data science and machine learning relevant to development research, and share practical methods and tools with the GRDS team.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, in computer science, data science, statistics, economics, social sciences, or another quantitative field.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in data science, data engineering, research support, or a similar area, with evidence of independently delivering technical projects. Data Scientist I candidates should have at least 2 years of relevant experience and the ability to handle analytical work with limited supervision.
• Hands-on experience building data science or data engineering solutions in Python.
• Strong SQL skills for database querying and analytics.
• Experience using version control tools such as Git, along with reproducible and well-documented workflows.
• Strong quantitative ability and a solid grasp of core statistical ideas such as regression, hypothesis testing, and sampling.
• Proven ability to clean, organize, analyze, and document data effectively.
• Strong written and spoken English, including the ability to document, explain, and present technical work clearly.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural setting with respect and sensitivity to diversity.
• For the Data Scientist II level, you should communicate proactively, keep others informed about progress, risks, and decisions, and have experience mentoring peers or serving as a technical reference.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure, and analytics databases such as Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, MotherDuck, or ClickHouse.
• Background in applied machine learning, natural language processing, and large language models.
• Working knowledge of Stata and SurveyCTO for research support, as well as additional analytical tools such as R.
• Experience with ELT-oriented data engineering tools such as dlt, SQLMesh, or dbt.
• Exposure to geospatial analysis.
• Familiarity with research quality standards and best practices for survey data collection and data management.
• Experience using project management tools such as Jira or Asana.
• Experience working with international development organizations or research institutions.
• Ability to work in Spanish, French, or Swahili.

Location and Working Arrangement

The preferred duty stations are Kenya, Ghana, Colombia, or Peru. Other IPA country offices may also be considered where IPA does not need to establish an Employer of Record. The position follows a hybrid arrangement between remote work and country-office presence. International travel is required one to two times each year and may involve long flights, long car rides, and carrying luggage.

Reporting Line

This role reports to the Manager, GRDS.

About the Organization

Innovations for Poverty Action is a research and policy nonprofit focused on identifying and scaling what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. The organization brings researchers and decision-makers together to design, evaluate, and refine evidence-based solutions so that findings can be turned into practical impact. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with more than 600 academic researchers to conduct over 1,000 evaluations across 52 countries, contributing to programs that have reached millions of people worldwide.

Safeguarding

IPA is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for everyone, especially children and vulnerable adults. Selected candidates will be expected to follow IPA's safeguarding principles and uphold ethical conduct, social responsibility, and high standards of behavior in support of the organization's mission.