Deputy Director of Design Research

ABOUT YLABS YLabs is a leading global design and research organization working to improve health and economic opportunity for young people aged 10–24. Founded in 2016 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs operates across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central America in partnership with youth to design products and services addressing key challenges in sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, mental health, financial inclusion, and climate resilience. THE ROLE YLabs is seeking a Deputy Director of Design Research to lead its Deep Listening function and shape the organization- wide vision, methodology, and operational approach to user and ethnographic field research. This role is ideal for a seasoned design researcher who can seamlessly lead projects from initial research ideation and ground-level field execution to insight synthesis and strategic presentations for C suite executives and senior stakeholders. They will establish institutional systems, develop frameworks across multiple teams, manage Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, and direct field teams and local Principal Investigators (PIs) across complex regional contexts. JOB TYPE This is a full time position within the Design Department (Job Level: P6 - Deputy Director). The role is scoped for 40 hours per week and is ideally based in East Africa, though candidates within the GMT+0 to GMT+4 time zone on the African continent may also apply. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time for field sprints and stakeholder alignment The initial contract term is 12 months, with the possibility of extension. PAY RATE The pay range for this position is $48,500 - $72,143. This range is regionally benchmarked against the P6 level within YLabs’ Africa salary bands. YLabs pays all full-time staff salaries in the local currency of the staff member’s permanent work location. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Research Strategy & Systems Leadership Inform and implement the strategic direction for research planning and execution ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and impact goals. Build, scale, and standardize institutional systems, toolkits, and operational blueprints across multiple teams to support effective research ownership and execution. Drive the synthesis of qualitative and quantitative insights across projects to inform high-level strategic decisions, program designs, and organizational growth. Serve as an internal and external subject matter expert, advocating for the critical value of grounded, evidence-based design research. IRB, Ethics & Governance Management Provide end-to-end oversight and strategic guidance on all Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, protocol adaptations, and ethics compliance in collaboration with YLabs Research team Oversee the development of rigorous, ethically sound research protocols (including literature reviews, sampling strategies, and consent mechanisms) tailored to local review board requirements. Manage recruitment and oversight of local Principal Investigators (PIs) to navigate regional regulatory frameworks, cultural nuances, and site approvals. Support development of and ensure strict adherence to Human Subjects standards, global safeguarding policies, and data protection protocols across all field deployments. End-to-End Field Execution & Methodological Direction Design and lead rapid-cycle field research sprints utilizing immersive observation, semi-structured 1-on-1 interviews, and participatory focus group discussions. Build and manage pipelines for recruiting and training local community researchers and youth field listeners. Oversee t daily field debriefs, implement reflexivity and positionality checks, and mitigate researcher bias during in-person engagements. Adapt research plans dynamically when facing unexpected field obstacles, security considerations, or shifting group dynamics. Synthesis, Packaging & Senior Stakeholder Engagement Translate raw, complex qualitative field data into structured analytical frameworks, including root-cause analyses, ecosystem maps, personas, and user journey maps. Co-create and iterate insight narratives through participatory sense-making sessions with field teams and local community partners. Synthesise and package research findings into high-impact executive summaries, deep-dive strategic reports, and compelling presentations for donors, C-suite executives, and senior leaders. Translate youth-driven insights into actionable opportunity areas and strategic recommendations for innovation. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES Design Research & Mixed-Method Research Mastery: Demonstrates mastery of design research, qualitative and quantitative synthesis, and ethnographic field methods, with proven success in managing multiple complex research projects simultaneously. Autonomy & Strategic Leadership: Requires no instruction on routine work and operates with complete autonomy on complex organizational initiatives. Makes high-impact strategic decisions independently. IRB & Compliance Expertise: Deep understanding of ethical research protocols, IRB application processes, informed consent procedures, and human subjects protection. System Building & Prioritization: Inherently displays best practices in delegation and team management, establishing systems and structures across teams to enable seamless research operations. Adaptability & Complex Problem Solving: Creatively shifts approaches when facing unexpected field obstacles; demonstrates best practices in navigating barriers and anticipating future challenges. High Emotional Intelligence & Mentorship: Models best practices in professional relationship building, mentoring team members, managing performance improvements, and navigating sensitive interpersonal dynamics with ease. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI): Models culturally competent ways of working; recognizes and addresses personal and structural biases, creates safe spaces for dialogue, and elevates marginalized voices safely and ethically. QUALIFICATIONS Required: Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in design research, user research, qualitative field research, or ethnographic research.Experience conducting such in the economic empowerment sector is considered an advantage. Demonstrated track record of leading end-to-end design research initiatives—from field immersion and protocol design to executive-level presentation. Proven experience preparing and managing IRB applications and working directly with local PIs, ethics committees, or research approval boards. Demonstrated experience building research systems, toolkits, or operational frameworks used across multiple teams or departments. Substantial experience supervising, training, and mentoring researchers and cross-functional project staff. Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with a portfolio showcasing complex research synthesis translated into clear, actionable frameworks Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time to field sites across Sub-Saharan Africa Proficiency with collaborative research synthesis tools (e.g., Miro, Mural, Figma, Dedoose, NVivo). Nice to have: Master’s or PhD in Anthropology, Design Research, Human-Centered Design, Sociology, UX Research, or a related field. Experience living and working in Sub-Saharan Africa (particularly East Africa). Experience working with vulnerable or marginalized youth populations. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This posting will be open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with an expected start date as soon as possible; all applications submitted within the posting period will be reviewed by our Hiring Committee. YLabs recognizes the effort that goes into submitting an application; only successfull candidates will be notified of their application status once the hiring process begins. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. All YLabs offers of employment are conditional on satisfactory background check and criminal record clearances.