Senior Research Manager

Vital Strategies is a global public health organization working in 80+ countries to strengthen public health systems. It has offices in New York City, Paris, Singapore, Jinan, São Paulo, Addis Ababa. Vital develops and oversees programs that address leading causes of morbidity and mortality, providing expertise in project implementation and management, strategic communication, epidemiology and surveillance, and other core public health capacities. Our specific programs include RESET Alcohol, road safety, food policy, tobacco control, overdose prevention, and initiatives to strengthen public health data systems to guide policy and decision-making. Activities are based in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, and in seven U.S. states. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

Vital Strategies is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Research Manager, located in New York City, will be responsible for managing the conduct and dissemination of social behavioral and policy change research within the PAC division of Vital Strategies. Reporting to the Vice President, Behavioral Insights and Evaluation, and drawing from the wider expertise available within the research unit, the Senior Research Manager is expected to work closely with relevant program directors, managers, and network of partners.

This role will be responsible for the implementation of research that guides the development of and evaluates the impact of communication interventions designed to promote social and policy change; develop training and capacity-building initiatives; publish reports and research findings; and engage with external partners and stakeholders to strengthen the use of social behavioral data and insights in program delivery.

This is a full-time, New York City-based role, where candidates are expected to adhere to a hybrid (2-days per week in office) schedule. Vital Strategies offers highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $90,000 USD. The candidate must have authorization to work legally in the US at the time of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Design and oversee the delivery of program-specific social behavioral and policy change research and evaluation studies, utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure programmatic and policy relevance with Vital colleagues and partner inputs.

• Design and/or tailor research instruments, including protocols, questionnaires, sampling plans, and implementation strategies.
• Liaise with partners and agencies in collaborating countries.
• In collaboration with partners, oversee project implementation, ethical clearances, and troubleshooting as needed.
• Develop and maintain efficient research operations policies and procedures.

2) Develop and deliver capacity-building programs and training initiatives related to social behavioral and policy change research.

• Design and implement training curricula tailored to internal and external partners.
• Conduct workshops, seminars, and training sessions to build capacity and expertise in social behavioral and policy change research practices.
• Mentor and provide professional development opportunities for junior researchers, consultants, and interns.
• Provide advice and mentoring to on research methodologies, practices and knowledge transfer to program team members and partners, as relevant.

3) Liaise and foster relationships with external partners, including researchers, government agencies, and NGOs, to integrate research insights into programmatic and policy initiatives, build collaborative partnerships, and promote knowledge translation and adoption.

• In collaboration with program colleagues, develop and implement strategies to promote the adoption of evidence-informed practices and innovations derived from research findings within partner organizations, government programs, and community initiatives.
• Organize and participate in knowledge-sharing forums, workshops, and convenings to disseminate research findings, discuss implications, and foster dialogue among stakeholders to drive evidence-informed policy and programmatic decisions.
• Collaborate with partners and program colleagues to co-create knowledge dissemination materials, such as policy briefs, guidelines, toolkits, and training modules, to facilitate the practical application of research insights.
• Support partners in evaluating the impact of adopted practices and providing ongoing guidance to refine and improve implementation efforts based on emerging evidence and lessons learned.

4) Produce program and policy-relevant and actionable research reports, documents, and analyses with visually appealing data visualizations.

• Develop and maintain quantitative and qualitative datasets on topical program areas for ongoing projects and papers.
• Direct and/or conduct advanced statistical analyses as necessary.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and drafts of academic papers with compelling data visualizations.

5) Collaborate with leadership in building a social behavioral and policy change research practice that is reputed as scientific, rigorous, timely, and relevant.

• Build and maintain a network of research agencies, consultants, and other implementation partners to provide high-quality research.
• Develop and implement internal quality management tools and processes to ensure research accuracy, integrity, and timeliness.

Qualifications:

Education and Degree –

• A master’s degree in a relevant field such as science, social science, statistics, economics, or a related discipline. Ph.D preferred.

Skills and Abilities –

• Demonstrated advanced statistical skills applied to social science data is required, including multivariate regressions, psychometric analysis; ability to produce high-quality and interpretative data visualizations is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research writings that may include technical reports, white papers, academic writings
• Excellent project management skills. Ability to engage in multiple projects and develop approaches to resolve a wide range of issues. Individual should be detail-oriented, creative, inquisitive, committed and self- motivated.
• Strong organizational skills, including ability to work across organizational functions
• An approach that emphasizes collaboration; proactive problem-solving; and attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills (spoken and written), including ability to convey complex technical concepts to various audiences both orally and in writing in a clear, concise manner.
• Ability to organize, plan and implement work assignments, manage competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills, demonstrated problem solving abilities, and experience in requirement gathering in a multi-stakeholder setting required.
• Ability to multi-task and work collaboratively with others.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes innovation, professional growth, and knowledge sharing
• High level proficiency in a second language preferred

Experience:

Required -

• A minimum of 8 years of progressive professional experience
• Experience managing research projects from start to finish
• Knowledge of statistics and quantitative research methods, required; must be expert in using data analysis software like SPSS, STATA, NVivo or Atlas
• Experience in the use of statistical software; experience with data visualization software a plus
• Strong managerial skills, with a track record of program design and management
• Experience in international public health
• Experience in social science research
• Experience in running workshops/teaching/presenting

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work flexibly with colleagues across time zones.
• The position may involve up to 5% travel to various international locations, depending on organizational needs

#LI-Hybrid