Research and Evidence Generation Director/Pillar 3: Generating Evidence in Food Assistance and Nutrition

Join AIR as a Research and Evidence Generation Director/Pillar 3: Generating Evidence in Food Assistance and Nutrition with our International Development Division (IDD) and make a difference, improving the quality of life for individuals and communities in low and middle income countries. AIR’s IDD work spans the globe with projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East.

Our IDD team is committed and engaged because we drive positive change in the following areas:

• Agriculture, food, and nutrition
• Early childhood development and education
• Refugees and migration
• Social protection
• Water, sanitation, and infrastructure
• Women's empowerment
• Workforce development

Use your experience, knowledge, and education to help us deliver on our mission: to contribute to a better, more equitable world.

AIR is currently seeking a Research and Evidence Generation Director (Pillar 3) for the anticipated USAID-funded Optimizing Food Assistance Programs, Processes, and Products for Nutrition (O3P) activity. The activity will re-emphasize programming aspects of food assistance-driven nutrition programs while focusing on product optimization and process improvement. The activity closely aligns with AIR’s mission to generate and use evidence to contribute to a better/more equitable world and AIR’s areas of expertise in designing and implementing impact evaluations and evidence syntheses in international development. The project involves a strong emphasis on research, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation to contribute to evidence-based policy. The position is contingent upon award. The position is based in Africa.

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here .

The responsibilities for the position include: 

• Lead the strategic design and execution of research and evidence generation activities under Pillar 3. 
• Coordinate trials and research initiatives to enhance understanding in areas such as pregnancy outcomes, nutritional status, food security, dietary diversity, and other priority domains.  
• Foster robust partnerships and collaborations between research entities and operational agencies, promoting a strong evidence-generation ecosystem. 
• Provide technical oversight of all Pillar 3 deliverables, ensuring they meet the project’s quality standards and USAID expectations. 

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• PhD degree in a relevant field such as Nutrition,  Agricultural Economics, Public Health, Economics or International Development. 
• Proven leadership in international development research and evaluation.  
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in research and evidence generation in food assistance and nutrition. 
• Proven track record of leading research initiatives and collaborations in multi-stakeholder environments. 
• Familiarity with USAID projects or other international donor-funded initiatives . 

 Skills:

• Strong research and analytical capabilities. 
• Excellent leadership and coordination skills. 
• Proficient in stakeholder engagement and partnership building. 
• Ability to communicate findings and insights effectively to a diverse audience. 
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of additional languages is a plus but not required. 

Disclosures:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains a drug-free work environment .

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If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov . You can also report it to your state attorney general . Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams .

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