Associate Director/ Director, Southeast Asia

Associate Director & Director - Southeast Asia

Locations: Manila, Philippines (priority) or Jakarta, Indonesia

Please note that India is not included in the Southeast Asia office hiring process.

About IDinsight

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to improve lives with data and evidence. We transform how the world fights poverty.

IDinsight is a global nonprofit that equips leaders with the data, evidence and technology to improve lives at scale. We partner with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and funders to support decisions at every stage of their impact journey – from bold pilots to nationwide scale-ups. Our teams bring rigorous evidence and practical insights so leaders can make informed decisions that truly change lives. With our partners, we are pioneering the next frontier of social impact, where data and technology accelerate progress for millions. We help leaders overcome the three main barriers to impact:

1. Figuring out what works
2. Learning and improving
3. Reaching and operating at scale

We work in multiple countries across Asia and Africa. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact, we:

• Support our partners with the full ‘data and evidence’ value chain – from primary data collection to data systems, monitoring evaluation and learning tools, and data science
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches
• Create cutting-edge AI-for-good products that make the delivery of social interventions and learning tools more cost-effective and scalable

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operate in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Learn more about our mission, values, and principles at www.IDinsight.org.

About the Associate Director and Director role

IDinsight Associate Directors and Directors are senior leaders who drive IDinsight’s mission and strategy at scale, shaping evidence-informed decisions that improve lives in some of the world’s most underserved communities. They take on expanded organizational, strategic, and client development responsibilities that shape not just individual projects but IDinsight’s trajectory as a whole.

They are responsible for the following areas of work:

Client development and engagement

• Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for senior counterparts in governments, foundations, and NGOs, applying deep sectoral expertise to proactively identify opportunities, anticipate client needs, and stay ahead of ecosystem shifts
• Drive client development efforts through active origination of new engagements, conversion of leads, and drafting and reviewing project proposals.
• Represent IDinsight externally through thought leadership and public communications (including identifying and attending forums, convenings, and producing written outputs) that advance IDinsight's profile and influence.

Project and portfolio oversight

• Lead 3-5 concurrent projects, managing cross-functional dependencies, anticipating risks, and adjusting resources and priorities proactively in close collaboration with internal Leadership and functional teams.
• Maintain a deep understanding of technical requirements across projects and proactively bring in internal or external expertise to address complex challenges and uphold project quality.
• Own the quality and strategic alignment of key deliverables, by guiding teams in structuring and positioning outputs and by building systems, norms, and a culture of quality
• Communicate proactively with clients, senior leadership, and project teams about changes, roadblocks, and delays, framing challenges constructively and anticipating organizational and client needs before they escalate.

Financial management

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of IDinsight's business model and contribute to a financially sustainable region through sound strategic decision-making and resource stewardship.
• Review budget design and resource allocation processes, ensuring financial planning supports quality delivery, funder expectations, and organizational growth.
• Build trust with clients and funders through timely, accurate, and strategic financial reporting.

People development and team leadership

• Foster a culture of feedback and psychological safety in which all team members feel empowered to share recommendations, voice concerns, and engage in candid, constructive dialogue.
• Champion the professional development of individuals and teams, identifying growth opportunities, supporting recruitment efforts, and contributing to a positive and high-performing team.
• Drive knowledge-sharing, cross-office collaboration, and internal training initiatives that strengthen IDinsight's collective capacity.
• Support DEI working groups and team-building activities, actively contributing to an inclusive, equitable, and cohesive organizational culture.

Qualifications

We recognize that no candidate will check every qualification. Rather than looking for a perfect fit, we're looking for someone with meaningful experience across several of these areas, a clear ability to take on the core responsibilities of the role, and the drive to learn and develop where they have less experience.

Credentials

• Graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in economics, statistics, public policy, development studies, or a related quantitative or social science field.
• 10+ years of progressive work experience in international development, research and evaluation, data analytics, consulting, or program management, with demonstrated senior leadership responsibilities.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Client development and management
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and grow high-profile client relationships, with experience in business development, proposal writing, and senior-level client engagement.
  • Outstanding stakeholder management skills, with a track record of navigating complex partnerships across governments, donor organizations, NGOs, and senior leadership.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex findings into clear, strategic recommendations for executive, donor, and policy audiences.
• Technical and project management
  • Advanced analytical and methodological expertise, with the ability to design and oversee rigorous econometric analyses, mixed-methods research, and complex evaluation frameworks across multiple projects.
  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously, delegate effectively, and ensure high-quality, on-time delivery.
  • Proven ability to develop talent, coaching managers and senior staff, building analytical capacity, and fostering high-performing, collaborative teams.

• Behaviors and mindsets
  • Proactive and solutions-oriented, with the ability to anticipate obstacles, navigate ambiguity, and drive initiatives forward independently.
  • Deep commitment to IDinsight's mission and a genuine passion for evidence-informed decision-making that improves lives in underserved communities.
  • High emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage sensitive interpersonal dynamics, build trust, and inspire teams through challenge and change.
  • Experience working across diverse cultural and geographic contexts, and a commitment to building inclusive teams and centering equity in research design, client engagement, and organizational culture.
  • Resilient, self-aware, and open to feedback, modeling a continuous growth mindset and encouraging the same in others.

Additional preferred qualifications

• Fluency in local language(s) of country placement and/or extensive in-country management experience.
• Track record of thought leadership, including peer-reviewed publications, policy influence, public speaking, or sector-level engagement.
• Expertise in at least one development subsector (such as health, education, AI for good) with existing networks.
• Experience managing complex donor relationships, multi-year grants, or large program budgets.

Candidates will be evaluated for an Associate Director vs Director role based on their qualifications, previous experiences, and performance in the hiring processes. Additionally, candidates may be considered for other available roles based on experience and qualifications.

Nuts & bolts

Location

Candidates will be based in IDinsight’s Manila office with possible significant regional travel depending on project needs and organizational expansion.

Work authorization

IDinsight sponsors employment visas for all nationalities in these locations; however, we will prioritize candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in the aforementioned countries. All candidates who are not currently located in our country offices listed above will be expected to relocate to their office locations at the onset of their employment.

Start dates

Start dates will be mutually agreed upon, taking into account both candidate preferences and project timelines. This recruitment round is part of IDinsight’s efforts to build a pipeline of strong candidates, in anticipation of upcoming projects. While we do not have fixed start dates at this time, we expect opportunities to arise throughout the year. Candidates may be invited to join IDinsight as early as immediately or later in the year, depending on project timing and organizational needs. We welcome applications from individuals excited to contribute to our work and who have some flexibility around when they can start.

Contract term

Candidates hired through this process will initially be offered a 6-month contract. There is potential for extension or conversion to a permanent, full-time role, depending on performance and the availability of suitable project opportunities. We aim to retain high-performing team members where possible and encourage candidates open to both short-term and longer-term opportunities.

Compensation & benefits

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for and are competitive within the global development sector. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer including comprehensive international health insurance, including mental health coverage; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; relocation benefits; a travel stipend; technology and work-from-home stipends; a professional development budget; and more.

Please note, as a non-profit, we are unable to provide compensation similar to leading private sector organizations.

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to
reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work.

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships, and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.