The Senior Director Research, Innovation and Capacity provides overall leadership on developing and delivering on a coherent research agenda to inform WVI’s evidence-based policy work, positions, advocacy and external engagement. In doing so the Senior Director guides full use of the existing resources developed by field offices (Program and citizen-driven data; vulnerability maps, CVA databases, CWB reports, Horizon), by other WV teams (Global Impact) or by external stakeholders. The role is also responsible to create the mechanisms needed for the appropriate identification and support of innovations in research methodologies, policy work, as well as the relevant external trends, to advise the Policy development group. Additionally, based on the identified gaps, solutions, innovations and trends, the Senior Director will support the development of the advocacy, policy and external engagement community of practice that will be responsible for the knowledge management and the internal communication of the relevant content.
The Senior Director for Research, Innovation and Capacity reports directly to the Partnership Leader, Advocacy and External Engagement and is part of the A&EE Leadership Team.
- Develop and deliver a global research agenda that informs WVI’s evidence-based policy, positions, advocacy and external engagement, ensuring Partnership-wide alignment around the identified trends, gaps and industry innovations.
- Liaise with academic partners, research institutions, on policy-related research to build World Vision's evidence-based public policy contents.
- Identify, build external relationships and networks; develop effective partnerships with leading research institutions and international research programs, government agencies.
- Collaborate with universities and research institutions to build new body of evidence to enact policy changes.
- Lead and oversee the quality of our advocacy research, and ensure the coordination with the overall research agenda.
- Positions the right evidence (research, innovations from the field, trends, etc.) in support of our agreed-upon strategic priorities for Advocacy and External Engagement and in line with the Global Impact Framework.
- Management of the Research, Innovation and Capacity team.
- Create a functional mechanism for the identification of innovation and external trends in WVI and the industry.
- Provide overall leadership for Knowledge Management in Advocacy and External Engagement.
- Minimum 7 year leadership experience working in child rights, international development/humanitarian field and/or government or multilateral context.
- Strong research experience, including knowledge of citizen-driven accountability, participatory community-based methodologies and child rights and participation in assessing evidence and impact.
- Significant field experience and/or understanding in international development or humanitarian contexts.
- English language fluency.
Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
- Excellent communications skills, verbally and written, particularly from a research perspective.
- Excellent trends and analysis skills.
- Excellent team leadership and management skills.
- Strong understanding of World Vision Partnership and Our Promise.
- Strong understanding of global trends, debates and agendas related to development and humanitarian issues.
Work Environment/Travel:
- The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 20% of the time.