Economist I/II & Cost-Effectiveness Unit Lead at IDinsight

Key Responsibilities

Building and Leading the CEU (20%)


Cultivate the Cost-Effectiveness Unit into a sustainable practice area within IDinsight, including onboarding and aligning with existing senior leadership at IDinsight
Develop service offerings across four core areas: cost-effectiveness audits, lean intervention design, cost-efficient implementation support, and tech-enabled resource allocation
Create standardized methodologies, tools, and frameworks that can be adopted across the sector
Build a team over time if we establish a robust pipeline to justify additional hires, including recruiting and/or training teammates with cost-effectiveness expertise
Develop public goods including practical guides, templates, and case studies


Client Development and Engagement (20% in steady state, 50% initially)


Identify and develop opportunities with partners where cost-effectiveness work could yield high returns, particularly complex multi-country implementers
Lead engagement with organizations like Pact, CARE, Living Goods, and other BINGOs to embed cost-effectiveness thinking into their operations
Work with partners throughout the project lifecycle—from ideation and design through implementation—not just at the evaluation stage
Build relationships with funders interested in cost-effectiveness to secure project funding from the broader development community


Technical Delivery (50% in steady state, 20% initially)


Lead cost-effectiveness analyses that synthesize existing program data to establish baselines and identify optimization opportunities
Facilitate lean intervention design processes, including Theory of Change workshops and rapid A/B testing to identify lower-cost configurations that maintain impact
Design and implement cost monitoring systems that enable adaptive management and continuous improvement
Collaborate with IDinsight's DSEM team to leverage AI and machine learning for cost optimization
Develop cost models and conduct sensitivity analyses across multiple countries and contexts


Thought Leadership (10%)


Contribute to sector-wide discussions on cost-effectiveness methodology and practice
Publish frameworks and findings from IDinsight's cost-effectiveness work
Potentially support revival of practitioner-oriented cost-effectiveness communities of practice
Represent IDinsight at conferences and with donors on cost-effectiveness topics


Qualifications

Required:


Advanced degree in economics, public policy, or related field (Master's minimum, PhD preferred)
5+ years of experience in cost-effectiveness or cost-efficiency analysis, or closely-related work, preferably within international development
Demonstrated experience building cost analysis systems and frameworks within complex organizations
Track record of translating economic analysis into operational decisions and organizational change
Experience working with large implementing organizations (NGOs, governments, or multilaterals)
Strong skills in cost modeling, sensitivity analysis, and financial analysis
Proficiency with statistical software (Stata or R) and advanced Excel
Experience managing projects and teams
Excellent communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences


Preferred:


Experience with lean program design and rapid-cycle testing methodologies
Knowledge of AI applications for cost optimization and efficiency
Experience developing public goods or sector-wide tools
Track record of securing funding for analytical work
Experience working across multiple countries and contexts
French fluency for West Africa engagement