Director, Strategic Research & Evidence

Learning Translation, Influence & Research Uptake

• Translate research findings and child-data findings into leadership-ready insight products, Research Board materials, executive briefs, donor-facing narratives, programme design implications, influence products and practical learning tools.
• Define an evidence-to-decision pathway for each major research product, identifying the decision owner, intended use, audience, timing, format and measure of uptake before products are commissioned or produced.
• Facilitate interpretation and uptake with programme, sector, FO/RO, SO, GAM, advocacy, communications and senior leadership teams so findings inform design, adaptation, fundraising, policy influence and external positioning.
• Track whether research improves decisions, is used by external actors, or contributes to resource mobilisation, aligned with the OP3 success metrics of impact, influence and income.
• Ensure public-facing and donor-facing evidence claims are accurate, proportionate and defensible.

Research Governance, Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead a leveraged research and learning platform that includes core researchers, Health/Nutrition and Faith/Development research capabilities, commissioned researchers, university partners, sector specialists and time-bound working groups.
• Set the annual workplan, quality standards, technical review cadence, escalation process and product standards for applied research, evidence synthesis, AIM/AIM+ insight narratives and OP3 research outputs.
• Line-manage and/or matrix-manage research staff and consultants as assigned, setting priorities, coaching technical quality, managing delivery and ensuring accountability for outputs.
• Build organisational capability in research commissioning, analysis interpretation, responsible data use, research ethics, evidence translation and use of child data insights for decision-making.
• Ensure responsible data practice, safeguarding, privacy, equity, inclusion and child-sensitive research standards are embedded in study design, analysis, dissemination and data use.

Required Education, Training, License, Registration, and/or Certification

• 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.

Compensation

• For positions filled in the United States, the typical salary range for this role is $102,700 to $136,930 USD. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, job level, internal equity and budget. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience and geographic location.

Applicant Types Accepted

• Local Applicants Only

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation with a mission centred on following Jesus Christ in service to the