Fully Remote Role Alert! GiveDirectly (GD) is seeking a Research Director to Lead the Organization’s Research Strategy (great salary & benefits)
Location: This role is fully remote but must overlap with an East Africa timezone by at least 3 hours.
About GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly (GD) is revolutionizing the way we think about international aid by directly transferring cash grants to the world’s most impoverished populations. This approach stands in stark contrast to traditional aid models, where aid often gets siphoned off through intermediaries or spent on unproven interventions. The Brookings Institution estimates that eliminating the global poverty gap would require $70 billion in cash transfers, while the international aid sector currently spends over $135 billion annually, much of it on ineffective programs. GiveDirectly aims to reset this system by establishing cash transfers as the benchmark for foreign aid, similar to how index funds serve as benchmarks in the financial industry.
Since its founding in 2011, GiveDirectly has raised over $1 billion, delivered cash to more than 1.5 million people across 15 countries, and supported large-scale experimental research that demonstrates the positive impacts of direct cash transfers. GD has received widespread recognition for its innovative approach, earning accolades from outlets such as Fast Company, The New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.
GiveDirectly’s culture is driven by values of candor, agility, analytical thinking, and collaboration. With a global team of about 150 core team members and approximately 650 field operations staff, GD’s team comes from diverse backgrounds, including the private sector, NGOs, government, and academia. The organization operates in 21 countries, and its multilingual team speaks 69 different languages.
At the heart of GD’s success are its values: they prioritize the people they serve, aim for high performance, and maintain a culture of inclusivity, transparency, and growth. The organization strives to create a supportive environment where everyone can thrive and develop professionally while delivering impactful results.
About the Role: Research Director
GiveDirectly is seeking a Research Director to lead the organization’s research strategy, manage the research team, and prioritize key learning initiatives. The individual will play a crucial role in shaping GD’s research agenda, ensuring that its work aligns with cutting-edge economic theory and best practices.
As the Research Director, you will be tasked with guiding the organization’s approach to cash transfers, helping to refine both existing programs and new initiatives to ensure they remain impactful and cost-effective. This is a leadership role requiring strong managerial skills, strategic vision, and the ability to translate complex research insights into actionable recommendations for program improvement.
Responsibilities
1. Develop and Execute Research Strategy
- Define research priorities that align with GiveDirectly’s mission and long-term goals.
- Ensure that research supports the organization’s objectives in both impact measurement and fundraising efforts.
2. Own Organizational Learning Agenda
- Identify critical gaps in existing research related to cash transfers and economic development.
- Develop strategies to fill these gaps using mixed methods approaches (both qualitative and quantitative).
3. Program Design and Evidence Integration
- Collaborate with internal teams to ensure that GD programs are informed by the latest research and evidence, enhancing program design and implementation.
- Contribute to proposal development and product design, ensuring that evidence is integrated at every stage.
4. Leadership and Team Management
- Lead a team of researchers and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) staff to execute GD’s learning agenda, driving innovation and improving program outcomes.
- Cultivate a high-performance research team that collaborates effectively across functions.
5. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
- Build relationships with academic partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to drive forward impactful research initiatives.
- Ensure that the findings from GD’s research are communicated effectively and used to guide program improvements and strategic decision-making.
6. Fundraising and Business Development
- Share insights and evidence with donors and other funding partners to support fundraising initiatives.
- Contribute to pitch development and ensure that evidence summaries are available for potential investors.
What You’ll Bring
- 7+ years of experience in research leadership, policy-oriented research, or strategy development, with a focus on international development.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead teams, engage stakeholders, and communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences (e.g., academics, donors, and program teams).
- Proficiency in research methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, with a deep understanding of how to translate research into actionable insights for strategic decision-making.
- A Master’s degree or equivalent is strongly preferred, with expertise in macroeconomics, development economics, or a related field.
- Experience working in international development or philanthropy is preferred but not required.
- Fluency in English is required, and proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
What You’ll Get
- Competitive salary, with a bonus structure aligned to the 75th percentile of similar roles in nonprofit organizations.
- Generous benefits package, including health insurance, allowances for home office setup, and support for learning and development.
- Flexible paid time off, ensuring work-life balance.
- Remote work flexibility, with a requirement for at least 3 hours of overlap with East Africa time zones.
Why Work at GiveDirectly?
GiveDirectly offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment where employees are empowered to make a significant impact. The organization supports flexibility, promotes professional growth, and values the well-being of its team members. Working here means being part of a team that is dedicated to ending extreme poverty through innovative, evidence-based solutions.
If you are passionate about economic development, data-driven decision-making, and empowering marginalized communities, this role offers the chance to lead research efforts that directly impact the lives of millions around the world.
Apply now to join a globally respected organization dedicated to reshaping international aid.
Commitment to Inclusion and Safeguarding
GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to safeguarding its recipients, staff, and partners. The organization follows strict policies to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in its work, including background checks and robust pre-hire screenings.
