Vice President, Global Social and Behavioral Science Research (SBSR) Program

TITLE: Vice President, Global Social and Behavioral Science Research (SBSR) Program

REPORTING TO: President

LOCATION: New York, NY

REQUIRED TRAVEL: Estimated 40% (including international)

JOBS SUPERVISED: Associate Director (International SBSR Operations), Country Directors/Country Representatives, Scientific Director (vacant), and Directors of the Council’s Innovation Hubs, including GIRL Center, GEJE Initiative, PERCC Initiative, and Humanitarian Taskforce (HTF).

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Population Council is a leading international research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and well-being of current and future generations. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world. The Population Council’s Strategic Plan and global research agenda aim to improve health and development outcomes by asking and answering strategic research questions to tackle pressing social, economic, health, education, and climate issues.

Building on the Council’s more than seven decades of global research innovation and impact, and to help realize our strategic plan, the Council is seeking a dynamic and internationally recognized leader to step into the role of Vice President, Global SBSR Program. As a member of the Executive Team, the VP is collectively responsible for advancing the Council’s Strategic Plan and research agenda, ensuring research innovation and operational excellence, and identifying and advancing internal and external priority issues and initiatives.

The VP is responsible for leading an innovative and impactful global social and behavioral science research strategy, maximizing the value of the Council’s distinctive international offices (IOs) and affiliated organizations (AOs) based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), strengthening the Council’s global innovation hubs (e.g., GEJE Initiative, GIRL Center, PERCC Initiative, and HTF), ensuring research talent development and quality, and driving efforts to ensure the evidence generated is shaping the scientific trajectory as well as policy and programmatic impact.

This role involves bringing intellectual thought leadership and entrepreneurial expertise to ensure the Council’s SBSR global research strategy and approach are dynamic, agile, and balance the Council’s core skills and competences (thematic and methodological) with opportunities for innovation, grounded in a clear understanding of the policy and donor trends, evidence gaps, and needs in the fields. The VP will be responsible for expanding the Council’s global SBSR portfolio through strategic partnerships, while also overseeing the financial health of the program.

The VP will have a full understanding of the challenges and opportunities INGOs face and will be able to champion and represent those internally – including with others in senior management and the Board – as well as with external partners and funders. They will identify best practices in research and operations within and will share them to increase skills, knowledge, and experience across the Council writ large. They will support and champion efforts to enable IOs to take on increasing authority and decision-making while maximizing the value of interconnections between IOs and the Council’s offices, programs, and functions. This will include piloting a Regional Centers of Excellence model that leverages the Council’s collective expertise, resources, and innovation.

Additionally, the VP will work closely with the VP/Executive Director at our Center for Biomedical Research (CBR) to ensure alignment between biomedical research and real-world needs. This collaboration aims to integrate social, behavioral, public health, and biomedical research efforts to foster a culture of interdisciplinary science that addresses critical health and development issues effectively.

The VP will also champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all research processes and structures.

The VP will support strategic outreach to thought leaders, policy makers, partners, and funders to raise the visibility and impact of the Population Council’s work. They will represent the Council in various forums, increasing the prominence and influence of the Council’s research through publications, conferences, advisory groups, and other channels.

This position offers a unique opportunity for an international research leader to drive meaningful scientific impacts that address the most pressing issues of our time, while contributing to the Population Council’s mission to develop evidence-based solutions that can transform lives around the world.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Vision and Strategic Leadership:

1. Lead the Council’s global SBSR strategy, ensuring innovation and impact.
2. Represent the Council’s research agenda to donors, policymakers, and global stakeholders.
3. Strengthen the Council’s regional and international offices as hubs for research excellence.
4. Lead a rigorous assessment of the patterns and trends in the global health and development sector in general, and the social and behavioral research in particular, to maximize the value of the Council’s international presence, taking into account both the changing external landscape (including funding, partnerships, and local registration requirements) and the strengths of the Council.
5. Support the President to ensure that the Board of Trustees is appropriately informed and updated about the global social and behavioral science research agenda.

Executive Leadership and Management:

1. Inspire and develop diverse, multidisciplinary research teams across international locations.
2. Ensure effective management of international offices and regional initiatives.
3. Provide strategic direction, leadership, and technical oversight of the Council’s global social and behavioral science research agenda
4. In partnership with the Executive Director for CBR, create an environment that fosters collaboration in research and fundraising throughout the Council.
5. Ensure productive relationships with the Council’s AOs.
6. Increase the prominence and impact of the Council’s research.

Resources Mobilization & Representation:

1. In partnership with the President and the Resource Mobilization Director, implement a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy for the Global SBSR Program.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

We understand that there are many paths to acquiring expertise and experience and strong candidates may not have every qualification listed here. We encourage applications from individuals with diverse and/or nontraditional backgrounds who bring passion, skills, and experience in many or most of these areas.

1. Doctoral degree in demography, public health, sociology, economics or other related fields of study and minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible leadership roles in universities, non-profit research organizations, for-profit research institutions, and/or government and international agencies.
2. Experience achieving large-scale impact from original research and translating others’ research into evidence-based policies.
3. Experience leading programs in LMICs.
4. Proven ability to inspire and lead innovative, impactful global research aligned with the Council’s mission.
5. Track record of securing significant funding from diverse donors, including institutional funders.
6. Demonstrated success in gaining trust and fostering collaboration across international locations.
7. Ability to navigate complex systems effectively (strong deputies can assist in this area).
8. Experience with managing complex international programs and offices, including experience in addressing trends towards localization
9. Excellent English written and oral communication skills with a proven ability to represent the Council to a wide variety of technical and non-technical audiences; proficiency in other languages (particularly French and/or Spanish) a plus.
10. A willingness to travel internationally and participate in remote meetings across multiple time zones regularly.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary range between $275,000 - $300,000 annually, depending on knowledge, skills, and experience.

Excellent benefits package includes:

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance available immediately upon hire;
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution equal to 12% of annual salary (up to a maximum salary of $200,000) after one year of employment;
• 24 annual and 12 sick days per year (accrued semi-monthly) *
• Approximately 10 paid holidays;
• 13 weeks of paid parental leave;
• Educational assistance*
• College tuition support for dependents**

We strive to provide an environment of professional growth and development.

• Pro-rated for part-time staff who work a minimum of 20 hours per week.

• *Employees must work full-time to be eligible for this benefit

Application Deadline: January 14, 2025

When applying through the web portal please attach your CV and Cover Letter in Word or PDF format.

The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of country offices. We are seeking an individual to fill the position described. If you know of a qualified candidate or are interested in this position, please apply at: http://www.popcouncil.org/employment/index.asp.

The Population Council provides equal opportunity; it does not discriminate against any person with regard to age, color, creed, national origin, disability, political belief, veteran status, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Decisions on employment are based on an individual’s qualifications as related to the position for which they are being considered. The Council especially encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups including but not limited to Black people and people of African descent, Indigenous people, people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, including people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or gender expansive, people with disabilities, first-generation college graduates, and those from communities with the most to gain from expanded access to sexual and reproductive health services and information. The Population Council is international in the composition of its board of trustees and its staff, as well as in the nature and deployment of its activities.