Research Manager

To improve social outcomes, we must first understand social challenges as they are. Intensive contextual research is thus at the heart of all we do. Reboot’s research helps our clients and partners make effective policy, program, and investment decisions, and implement them through robust, appropriate design solutions.

We are seeking a Research Manager to help grow our impact. The ideal candidate is deeply committed to the issues Reboot works on, and has the intellectual courage and curiosity to develop innovative new solutions. You are passionate about unearthing insights about people and systems, and about using these as tools to drive positive change. You have superb qualitative research skills, and are looking to make research more relevant, accessible, and usable for critical decision-making.

This position is based in our New York office, but the ideal candidate will be willing to travel internationally up to 40 percent of the time.

Responsibilities

• Manage the design, execution, documentation, and presentation of Reboot’s research projects from start to finish.
• Train and manage Reboot’s research teams, which may include subject matter experts without formal research backgrounds as well as field teams, in research and synthesis methods.
• Help new clients and partners understand Reboot’s design research approach, and lead discussions on project scope, methodology, and outputs. Plan and execute client workshops. Lead client presentations as appropriate.
• Collaborate with team members, clients, partners, and users to turn research insights into design solutions.
• Spread Reboot’s philosophy and work through frequent writing, public speaking, and teaching engagements, or through other avenues.
• Contribute to process innovation within Reboot to improve our organizational agility, efficiency, and impact.

Qualifications

• At least four years of experience working with both qualitative and quantitative methods in an integrated way. Understanding of diverse research instruments, and can explain the trade-offs of each to a lay audience.
• Holds an advanced degree in a relevant field (eg. anthropology, design, social sciences).
• Has managed multi-country research studies, ideally for both public interest institutions (governments, NGOs, and think tanks) and private sector organizations. Understands the varied demands of each audience, and methodologies best suited for different objectives and institutions.
• Has recruited, trained, and managed field teams in diverse environments, including in the regions where Reboot works.
• Has extensive experience in all stages of the research process, and is capable of leading other team members, including non-researchers, into territory unfamiliar to them.
• Has demonstrated experience translating research insights into actionable strategies and/or designs.
• Ability to work under tight time constraints. Can multitask with ease, manage ambiguity, and adapt to frequently changing priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to effectively synthesize and present complex ideas to diverse audiences. Is comfortable presenting to senior executives and at public events. Has experience communicating ideas in creative ways using different media platforms.
• Fluency in the intellectual issues in at least two of Reboot’s work areas: public policy, international development, governance, and/or social innovation. Specialization within these areas, particularly in open government, education, public health, or financial inclusion, is a plus.
• Written and spoken fluency in English and at least one other language.

To Apply

Send an email to careers AT thereboot DOT org with your CV, a letter telling us about yourself, and three to five samples of your work, with detailed descriptions of your role as related to each. Please ensure that “Research Manager” is in the subject line of your email.

At least two of these must be a complete research engagement, preferably in an international setting and/or where recommendations from the research were produced and operationalized. For your work samples, please describe the rationale for the methodologies selected, the research process undertaken, the challenges faced by the project team (and how they were overcome), and how data synthesis and analysis were conducted.

We are happy to answer questions about Reboot or the position available. Inquiries can be sent to the email address above.