Youth Development Labs (YLabs) (www.ylabsglobal.org) designs innovative solutions that address the complex and nuanced challenges young people face today. We work with governments and local partner organizations to create, scale, and evaluate solutions designed with and for young people.
Lead Research Innovation Specialist
ABOUT YLABS
YLabs is a leading global design and research organization designing technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs partners with young people to co-create inclusive digital products and services that improve their lives. Our design process opens spaces where young people’s ideas can become a reality – where they are the architects of the solutions to their most pressing challenges.
YLabs multidisciplinary team delivers youth-driven innovation and impact at scale. Our team combines expertise in youth-driven design with adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioral science, and epidemiology. Based in Rwanda and the USA, we’ve worked in 18 countries to date on projects spanning three focus areas: optimum health and wellness, improved economic opportunity, and increased climate resilience.
Find out more about our projects here: https://www.ylabsglobal.org/work
JOB TYPE
This is a 9-month contract position (extendable based on performance). The position is based in Kigali, Rwanda, but it could also be in East Africa or the surrounding region. If the candidate is not based in Kigali, they should be flexible and willing to travel 50% of the time.
PAY RATE
The pay range for this position is RWF 193,846.15 - RWF 223,846.15 gross per day commensurate with experience. This range is regionally benchmarked for a lead-level position in the Kigali area.
JOB OVERVIEW
The Lead Research Innovation and Impact Specialist will lead research initiatives for a YLabs project. This individual will drive high-impact research, innovation, and strategic decision-making using cutting-edge research methodologies and frameworks. The ideal candidate must be able to operate independently, navigate ambiguity, and manage research and innovation projects with minimal supervision. They will be responsible for generating actionable insights that influence strategic initiatives and innovation across sectors like education, youth entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Research Strategy and Leadership
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Innovation and Insight Development
Strategic Knowledge Management
Capture and synthesize research findings into comprehensive reports, policy briefs, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring insights are actionable and aligned with strategic goals.
Facilitate knowledge-sharing and capacity-building sessions to ensure insights are embedded across teams and projects.
Manage the collection, storage, and dissemination of research outputs, ensuring they contribute to an institutional knowledge base.
Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Integration
Project Management
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in a relevant field such as Development Studies, Development Economics, Health Economics, Social Sciences, or related disciplines.
Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of experience leading research projects, with at least 5 years at a senior level in a similar role.
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
HOW TO APPLY
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with an expected start date as soon as possible.
Application Link
Deadline: 24th March 2025
All Jobs and Opportunities Published on cyizere.com are completely free to apply. A candidate should never pay any fee during the recruitment process. Even if Cyizere, Inc. | Careers team does its best to avoid any scam job or opportunity offer, if you doubt about the eligibility of any offer do not apply and notify us via this email: info@cyizere.com. Remember to never pay any fee to have a job or get any opportunity. If you do so, do it at your own risk.