Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end portfolio of pilots, experiments, A/B tests, RCTs, and restricted-funded technical projects with explicit learning goals.
- Set the overall learning agenda for this portfolio, ensuring each initiative is linked to strategic questions around program enhancement, adaptation, and scale.
- Guide the overall evaluation and learning approach for the portfolio, balancing methodological rigor with operational feasibility and decision relevance.
- Lead project intake, prioritization, and stage-gate decisions so that proposed initiatives have a clear rationale, owner, scope, and decision-use case.
- Shape the design of pilots and experiments in partnership with Programs, Applied Learning, Venn, M&E, and technical subject matter experts.
- Ensure each project has clear governance, workplans, risks, dependencies, decision points, measurement approaches, and reporting requirements.
- Oversee the operational coordination of projects through implementation, maintaining visibility on delivery progress, tradeoffs, and escalation needs.
- Translate findings into recommendations for program design, module refinement, scale, and future investment choices, and ensure learning is integrated back into RTV systems and guidance.
- Lead donor and partner engagement on relevant projects, including concept refinement, progress updates, learning briefs, and final reporting.
- Build and lead a small, high-performing team and establish strong ways of working with matrixed contributors across the organization.
Requirements
- Extensive experience leading applied research, innovation portfolios, learning-driven technical projects, or similar cross-functional work in international development or a related field.
- Strong grounding in evaluation methods, including experimental and non-experimental approaches, with the judgment to balance rigor, speed, and feasibility.
- Demonstrated experience managing initiatives that involve implementation teams, technical experts, data teams, and senior stakeholders.
- Strong ability to translate technical findings into practical recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Nice to Have
- Strong donor-facing communication and reporting experience.
- Strong people management, prioritization, and decision-making skills in fast-paced environments.
Benefits
- Group RRSP matching program, up to 5%.
- Medical, dental, vision, and travel insurance.
- 4 weeks of vacation.
Additional Information
- Travel required: Up to 30%
- Limited international travel may be required
- Years of experience: 10+ years
