Learning Partnerships Lead
Youth Impact is a global NGO that connects youth to proven life-changing information through the delivery of evidence-based programs. We are at an inflection point in our growth: we have over 500 staff, three programs in health and education, and have delivered over 800,000 lessons to over 500,000 students. Our culture is unique—defined by continuous learning, a dynamic and youthful team, a fierce commitment to measurement and evidence, and close collaboration with governments. On any given day our leaders will sing and dance, negotiate MOUs, and spend dedicated time with the field team in schools.
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced researcher and partnerships lead to join the 16-person Research and Innovation team at Youth Impact. Youth Impact’s Research and Innovation team drives our organizational learning and evidence agenda. We generate, synthesize, and communicate evidence to improve program impact and cost-effectiveness and to share what works with the world. We lead a portfolio of randomized evaluations, A/B tests, and rapid experiments that inform real-time decision making across Youth Impact’s programs and partners.
Primary Purpose
We are seeking a dynamic, experienced research manager and communicator to lead Youth Impact’s A/B testing partnerships and external research collaborations. This role will sit at the intersection of research, partnerships, and communications—helping to grow Youth Impact’s influence as a global leader in rapid, rigorous, and routine learning.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Drive A/B testing partnerships: Co-design and grow Youth Impact’s iterative learning program. Provide in-house and external technical support to NGOs using randomized methods (A/B testing) to improve impact and cost-effectiveness and scale programming.
- Manage research partnerships: Oversee collaborations with academic partners, non-government organisations, and research institutions, from design and fundraising, to dissemination, ensuring research is policy-relevant and operationally grounded.
- Drive research communication: Translate complex research findings into accessible written products—policy briefs, reports, and thought pieces—for practitioners, policymakers, and funders.
- Strengthen learning systems: Help institutionalize systems and processes that support rapid learning cycles and data-driven decision-making across Youth Impact and partner organizations.
- Document and publish learnings to advance Youth Impact’s role as a thought leader in the global education and evidence community through engagement and knowledge sharing and advocacy.
- Lead research growth and evidence partnerships: Shape and communicate the organization’s research and evidence agenda to donors and partners, catalyzing new funding and scaling opportunities.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in economics, public policy, public health, education, or a related quantitative field.
- 10+ years of experience in applied research, program evaluation, or evidence-to-policy roles in international development or youth-focused programs (particularly foundational literacy and numeracy approaches in education, or adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs).
- Proven experience designing and implementing randomized evaluations, A/B tests, or related quasi-experimental studies, including management of large-scale field data collection.
- Strong quantitative analytical skills.
- Exceptional communication and synthesis skills—able to translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences including funders, practitioners, and policymakers.
- Experience managing external partnerships, such as academic collaborations, research institutions, clients, and funders, with a track record of maintaining productive and trusted relationships.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs across multiple concurrent projects.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, with the initiative to identify opportunities, think strategically, and drive new ideas from conception to execution.
- Collaborative leadership style, with the ability to work effectively across cultures and connect with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Experience building research functions or leading teams in evidence-driven organizations.
- Recognized thought leadership, demonstrated by contributions to global evidence or education communities of practice.
To apply click on the ‘Apply now’ link below.
You will be required to submit the following deliverables:
1. Short answer questions (limit 150 words each)
- Why are you interested in joining Youth Impact?
- How does your experience prepare you for this role?
- Describe your experience communicating research insights.
- Describe your experience conducting quantitative research.
2. CV submission
3. Written sample
Submit a written piece you’ve already produced (max 10 pages) that clearly communicates a research finding or insight to a policymaker or practitioner audience. This could be a policy brief, learning note, donor report section, blog post, or other written product translating research or evaluation results into accessible, actionable insights. We’ll be looking for clarity of communication, relevance of the insight, and ability to bridge research and real-world decision-making. Please include a brief note (2–3 sentences) describing the context of the piece—who it was written for and your role in producing it.
4. Strategic proposal (up to 5 slides):
After reviewing the introduction of our recent working paper, create a short slide deck that outlines a concise roadmap for building momentum for A/B testing globally.
- You may include ideas around areas such as partnerships, communication, capacity building, or ecosystem engagement—but the focus and approach are up to you
- Include both immediate and longer-term milestones on the path
- Use visuals, figures, charts, or graphics to illustrate your thinking
- Ensure slides are presentation‑ready and appropriate for a senior leadership or donor audience
5. Video presentation (max 4‑minute video):
Record a brief video of yourself presenting your slide deck, as if you were briefing a group of senior colleagues at Youth Impact.
Your presentation should walk through your proposal, explaining how your approach would strengthen A/B testing partnerships, research, and learning globally.
Benefits include generous annual leave, sick leave, (including global health insurance provisions), various stipends, professional development opportunities, the ability to work remotely, access to our amazing global networks and much more.
This position was originally posted by Youth Impact and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
