What You’ll Do:
Drive
Research Excellence & Strategic Alignment
- Translate organizational priorities into research plans; set and
enforce quality standards for all outputs
- Integrate product research (UX/UI, HCD) into product development
lifecycles; ensure insights translate directly into product decisions
- Design and execute more traditional research methodologies, such as
RCTs and implementation research, applying them to tech innovations that
are operating at scale
- Maintain high speed of learning by optimizing research processes;
balance methodological rigor with rapid innovation
Lead Knowledge Generation & Influence
- Oversee production of strategic knowledge products that position
Jacaranda as a research leader
- Represent Jacaranda at national and international forums; influence
policy and practice through evidence
- Build strategic partnerships with academic institutions, donors and
government stakeholders
Build
Team Capability & Drive Performance
- Coach Research Managers and other team members to deliver
consistently high-quality technical outputs and strategic thinking
- Set clear performance expectations; hold team accountable; address
performance gaps decisively
- Foster a performance-driven culture that values rigor, innovation,
speed, and accountability
Manage
Research Operations & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Manage departmental budgets, timelines, and resource allocation;
ensure projects delivered on time, within budget, to scope
- Collaborate with Programs, Product, Data & Analytics teams to
integrate research into organizational planning cycles
- Implement structured planning tools that enable cross-departmental
coordination
What
you bring
- 9-10 years research experience; 5+ years in senior research or
leadership roles managing teams and complex portfolios
- Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Statistics, Social
Sciences, or related field
- Deep technical expertise in quantitative, qualitative, and
mixed-methods research; proficiency in Stata, R, SPSS, SAS, NVivo, or
similar
- Strong understanding of product-focused research (UX/UI,
human-centered design) and product development lifecycles
- Track record publishing research outputs and presenting at global
forums; experience leading donor, government, and academic partnerships
- Strong management and accountability
How to Apply
