Data Scientist II at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

Data Scientist II at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) – Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Kenya Job Details

About the Role

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is recruiting a Data Scientist II for its Global Research and Data Science team in Kenya. This is a full-time position that combines hands-on technical delivery with independent judgment and mentorship. The role sits at the centre of IPA’s research operations, where you will manage technical projects from inception through completion, apply data science methods to real-world development research challenges, and uphold technical standards across country offices, sector programs, and external partnerships.

The Data Scientist II works with research teams, policy groups, and international partners to translate data into actionable insights. You will own projects end-to-end, guide junior staff on technical practices, and represent IPA’s commitment to research quality and reproducibility. This position is ideal for someone with 3+ years of professional data science or data engineering experience who can work with minimal supervision and communicate complex findings to non-technical audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead projects from initiation through delivery: scope work, plan tasks, track progress, anticipate obstacles, and report status and decisions to your manager without prompting.
• Deliver high-quality technical support to IPA country offices, sector programs, public policy teams, and research initiatives across the development sector.
• Develop Scopes of Work for direct technical support engagements and conduct research quality audits on active projects to ensure data integrity and methodological soundness.
• Apply data science methods—including predictive modelling, natural language processing, large language models, and geospatial analysis—to concrete research and operational data needs.
• Build and maintain SQL and Python data models, analytical pipelines, and software solutions; ensure all workflows are reproducible and well-documented using version control.
• Prepare and manage research datasets following reproducible data management practices; test and debug global data products and technical tools.
• Guide Data Research Associates and other research staff on tools, workflows, research standards, and best practices; provide code reviews and maintain sound technical practices across the team.
• Translate analytical findings into clear outputs for research and practitioner audiences, including data visualizations, briefs, and technical documentation; present analysis to internal and external stakeholders at varying levels of technical literacy.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, statistics, economics, social sciences, or a related quantitative field.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in data science, data engineering, research support, or a related field, with a proven track record of owning and delivering technical projects independently. (Candidates at Data Scientist I level: minimum 2 years of relevant experience with demonstrated ability to manage analytical tasks with limited supervision.)
• Demonstrated proficiency developing data science or data engineering projects in Python.
• Strong SQL skills for database querying and analytics work.
• Experience with version control systems such as Git and with reproducible, well-documented workflows.
• Solid understanding of core statistical concepts, including regression, hypothesis testing, and sampling; proven ability to clean, manage, analyze, and document data.
• For 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.
• 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 to diversity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud computing 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, and familiarity with additional analytical software such as R.
• Experience with data engineering tools for ELT workflows, such as dlt, SQLMesh, or dbt.
• Experience with geospatial analysis; familiarity with research quality standards and best practices in survey data collection and data management.
• Experience with project management tools such as Jira or Asana; prior work with international development organizations or research institutions.
• Ability to work in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, French, or Swahili.

What to Expect

• You will work within a technical team focused on research quality, reproducibility, and practical problem-solving in the development sector. The role requires balancing independent project ownership with collaboration and mentorship.
• This position offers exposure to applied data science methods, real-world development challenges, and the opportunity to influence research standards across a global organization. You will engage with diverse stakeholders including field teams, senior researchers, policymakers, and external partners.
• The Data Scientist II at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) position in Kenya is open to qualified candidates on a rolling basis. Apply below to submit your application and join a team committed to evidence-based development.