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

Who you are:

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