Program and Research Manager

Job Summary:

The Program and Research Manager will play a central role in advancing CID’s work globally, with a primary focus on Africa and the Middle East. This position will help expand CID’s institutional presence and partnerships across these regions internally within Harvard and externally with key stakeholders by building strategic networks, developing new programming, and translating faculty vision into executable research, convenings, and collaborative initiatives.

Working closely with faculty, staff, and alumni, the Program and Research Manager will support the design and implementation of new CID programming globally, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. The role requires someone who can move fluidly from concept development to operational delivery, and from relationship building and fundraising to research management and program support. This position may require international travel of up to 30% annually.

This position will also contribute to the research outputs directly through managing administrative processes that enable high quality, policy relevant work, including IRB coordination, project tracking, grants support, data analysis, and collaboration across Harvard and external partners.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Program Development, Regional Strategy, and Network Building

• Develop and launch new CID programming globally, and especially in Africa and the Middle East, including research initiatives, policy engagements and events
• Build and strengthen CID’s global networks, especially in Africa and the Middle East, with attention to long-term institutional relationships and opportunities for collaboration and fundraising
• Work with faculty and leadership to identify opportunities for pilot initiatives, strategic partnerships, and new areas of engagement
• Design and manage convenings, workshops, roundtables, seminars, and other events in support of CID’s regional and global priorities
• Engage and coordinate external stakeholders from academia, government, philanthropy, civil society, and practice
• Prepare policy and research briefs, presentations, and summary materials to support programming and dissemination

Research Management, Grants, and Operations

• Provide research management for faculty-led projects and emerging CID initiatives, including work planning, coordination across collaborators, and tracking of milestones and deliverables
• Contribute to background research, landscape mapping, literature reviews, synthesis memos, presentations, and policy relevant written outputs
• Support the development, submission, amendment, and tracking of IRB protocols in coordination with faculty, research staff, and university offices
• Contribute to fundraising and donor engagement efforts by supporting proposal development, briefing materials, and the implementation of activities associated with funded gifts and awards
• Manage research administration processes, including data use agreements, vendor coordination, contracts, and related documentation
• Help develop and edit research papers, reports, policy briefs, grant reports, and other written products for academic, policy, and practitioner audiences
• Manage timelines, deliverables, internal workflows, and project documentation across multiple initiatives at once
• Coordinate with finance, research administration, and sponsored research teams on budgets, post-award management, and reporting requirements
• Support grant development processes, including proposal drafting, narrative development, budget coordination, and compilation of required materials.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public policy, international development, public administration, regional studies, economics, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in program management, research management, international development, public policy, higher education, or a related field
• Knowledge of research methods including statistical methods, econometrics, and randomized control trials demonstrated through coursework and/or professional work experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Fluency in Arabic and French preferred
• Experience supporting research projects, including knowledge of IRB and research compliance processes
• Strong research, writing, and editing skills for multiple audiences
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and move work forward independently
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external collaborators across institutional and geographic contexts
• Previous experience as a quantitative Research Assistant or in a similar role preferred, including knowledge of statistical analysis tools such as Stata, Claude Code, and Qualtrics
• Strong command of Microsoft Office, collaborative work tools, and the effective use of AI tools, including LLMs
• Experience with grant development, budget coordination, and international project administration preferred
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed