Director, Strategic Research & Evidence

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Statistics, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Public Health, Data Science, Economics, Social Sciences, International Development, Evaluation, Implementation Science, or a related research-intensive discipline.
  
• Formal training in quantitative methods, research design, evaluation, data analysis, or equivalent professional experience.
  

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE.

• At least 12 years of progressive experience in applied research, evidence synthesis, impact evaluation, statistics/biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, economics, data science, or development/humanitarian evidence roles, including senior multi-country leadership responsibilities.
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead a research and evidence agenda or portfolio across multiple countries, sectors, stakeholders and evidence products.
  
• Proven technical expertise in quantitative and/or mixed-methods research using large household survey or programme datasets, including sampling, weighting, variance estimation, subgroup/equity analysis, trend or change analysis, and clear articulation of what claims evidence can and cannot support.
  
• Experience synthesising evidence across multiple data sources, including AIM/AIM+, programme monitoring, evaluations, operational research, grant/sponsorship evidence, external datasets and commissioned studies.
  
• Experience commissioning and overseeing external research studies, including research questions, TORs/RFPs, protocols, analysis plans, quality assurance, ethical review, data-use agreements, publication plans and dissemination plans.
  
• Demonstrated experience translating evidence for senior leaders, programme teams, donors, boards and external audiences, including technical writing for non-technical decision-makers.
  
• Proven ability to work across sectors such as health, nutrition, WASH, livelihoods, child protection, climate/resilience, fragile contexts, humanitarian programming, and faith and development, drawing on sector specialists where required.
  
• Experience building or managing partnerships with universities, research institutes, donors, foundations or external technical partners.
  
• Strong applied skills in statistical software and/or data pipelines such as R, Python, Stata, SPSS or equivalent; familiarity with business intelligence tools such as Power BI or equivalent.
  
• Proven experience leading virtual, matrixed and cross-cultural teams and influencing senior stakeholders without relying solely on direct line authority.
  

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be fluent in English.
  

TRAVEL AND/OR WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The position requires ability and willingness to travel up to 15% of the time.
  
• Ability to work effectively in a global, virtual, matrixed environment across time zones.
  

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND/OR OTHER QUALIFICATIONS.

• PhD or doctoral-level research training, or equivalent record of senior applied research leadership, publication and commissioned research oversight.
  
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications, externally cited research, donor-facing evidence products, policy/influence products, public learning products or equivalent rigorous technical documentation.
  
• Experience with child wellbeing, public health, nutrition, WASH, livelihoods/resilience, child protection, faith and development, climate, or humanitarian research.
  
• Experience with longitudinal, ex-post, quasi-experimental, causal inference, econometric, psychometric, index-development, evidence synthesis, or implementation science methods.
  
• Experience with responsible data governance, data protection, research ethics, IRB processes, safeguarding, and use of personally identifiable or sensitive data.
  
• Experience securing or shaping research grants, foundation funding, university co-investment, Support Office co-investment, or publication partnerships.
  
• Working proficiency in a second WV operational language such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic.