Senior Research Manager

GiveDirectly is the first - and largest - nonprofit that lets donors like you send money directly to the world’s poorest. We believe people living in poverty deserve the dignity to choose for themselves how best to improve their lives - cash enables that choice. GiveDirectly is seeking a Senior Research Manager to take technical ownership of the impact learning agenda for Large Lump Sum (LLS) programs, specifically focusing on national and regional poverty graduation objectives.

Role Overview

The Senior Research Manager will be responsible for maintaining the organization's Theory of Change, defining measurement standards, and leading strategic research projects to enhance the efficacy of cash transfer programs.

Core Responsibilities

Technical Ownership of Impact Learning Agenda

• Maintain the “canonical” Theory of Change (TOC) for GD’s LLS product, with deep understanding of the current evidence and emergent hypotheses.
• Develop a clear, shared prioritization for impact-focused learning questions based on this TOC.
• Support Product Leads and the Partnerships team in developing variations of the LLS Theory of Change, including reviews of research from economics, sociology, and psychology.
• Proactively identify opportunities to address key questions through M&E or new research projects.

Measurement and Analysis Best Practices

• Own the development and application of standard outcome-focused indicators for LLS programs.
• Support M&E colleagues in the RME team to ensure indicators are appropriately embedded across the organization.
• Develop standardized training materials for data collection and data quality checks.
• Ensure that LLS indicators and mechanisms are appropriately captured in GD data.
• Develop models to predict GiveDirectly’s longer-term impact from LLS programs and own the creation of cost-effectiveness and ROI models.

Supporting LLS "Default" Product Design

• Provide analytical capacity and on-call research synthesis for Product Leads and Program teams.
• Support periodic updates to the “canonical” LLS theory of change based on lessons from research and M&E.
• Serve as key reference point for the use of evidence about LLS programs in all LLS proposals.

Technical Ownership of Strategic Research Projects

• Lead RME team engagement in all proposals with a substantive research element around the LLS product.
• Strategically identify and cultivate research partnerships with individuals and institutions.
• Directly own strategic research projects on LLS programs, maintaining end-to-end management of these partnerships.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply online through the official application portal. You can access the application form via GiveDirectly on greenhouse.io.