Consultant - Policy And Partnerships

Organization: J-PAL South Asia

Location: New Delhi / remote

Engagement: 30 hours per week

Duration: 3 months

Work Experience: 2-3 years

Start Date: 21st September

About J-PAL South Asia

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,100 affiliated researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

J-PAL South Asia (J-PAL SA), based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR), works with governments, researchers, and development partners across the region to generate, translate, and institutionalize evidence for policy. The Policy team develops relationships with government, civil society, academic, and funding partners; supports the generation and dissemination of research; and works to translate rigorous evidence into policy and practice.

Position Overview

J-PAL South Asia is seeking a Consultant to support the Policy team for a three-month period. The Consultant will work closely with the Policy Manager to support the delivery of a new research initiative, including the development and launch of a Request for Proposals (RFP), applicant outreach and coordination, application management, and review processes.

The role will involve working across multiple workstreams simultaneously and coordinating with researchers, NGOs, funders, J-PAL colleagues, and other external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of assigned workstreams, work independently with limited supervision, manage competing priorities effectively, and consistently produce high-quality written and operational outputs.

This is a fast-paced role suited to someone who is highly organised, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable taking a project from planning through execution.

Key Responsibilities

• RFP Development and Launch
• Support the development and finalisation of RFP materials, including the RFP webpage, application documents, budget templates, proposal templates, FAQs, and other applicant-facing materials.
• Coordinate inputs and revisions across internal teams and external partners to ensure that RFP materials are accurate, clear, consistent, and ready for launch.
• Applicant Outreach and Communications
• Support outreach to J-PALs researcher network, NGOs, academic institutions, and other relevant organisations to generate interest in the RFP.
• Coordinate 1:1 calls and meetings with prospective applicants and respond to or route questions regarding the application process.
• Support the organisation of applicant information sessions or Q&A webinars, as needed.
• Identify emerging questions or areas of confusion among applicants and proactively recommend ways to address them.
• Application and Data Management
• Set up and maintain an organised system to manage expressions of interest, full proposals, applicant information, review committee feedback, and final decisions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date application trackers and supporting documentation on Google Drive and other relevant systems.
• Track applications through each stage of the process and flag missing information, delays, or issues requiring follow-up.
• Support the preparation of summary information and analysis for internal decision-making.
• Review Committee Coordination
• Prepare templates and materials to support Review Committee assessment of expressions of interest and full proposals.
• Coordinate the circulation of proposals and pre-meeting materials to Review Committee members.
• Maintain review trackers and consolidate feedback and decisions.
• Support the organisation of Review Committee meetings, including scheduling, agendas, materials, and follow-up.
• Draft and communicate decisions to applicant teams following the review process.
• Policy, Research, and Partnership Support
• Conduct desk research and prepare background notes, briefing materials, presentations, concept notes, and other written outputs as required.
• Support preparation for meetings with researchers, NGOs, funders, and other partners.
• Participate in external meetings and calls, take notes, and ensure that agreed next steps are followed through.
• Support other policy, partnership, communications, and research-related activities as required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors or Masters degree in public policy, economics, international development, social sciences, management, or a related field.
• 2–3 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in policy, international development, research, consulting, programme management, or a related field.
• Experience working on RFPs or proposal management is preferred.
• Experience working on projects involving multiple stakeholders is preferred.
• Experience working with development-sector organisations is an advantage.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong ability to manage multiple workstreams, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, including the ability to maintain clear systems, trackers, and documentation.
• Strong ownership and ability to work independently, proactively identifying next steps, following through on commitments, and keeping workstreams moving with limited supervision.
• Ability to anticipate challenges, identify gaps or bottlenecks, make decisions independently where appropriate, and escalate issues when needed.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear, concise, polished, and audience-appropriate outputs.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills