• Design and execute generative and evaluative research studies • Conduct foundational research as needed to understand user workflows, pain points, and operational contexts • Scope research creatively to balance rigour, timeline constraints, and confidence in recommendations • Collaborate closely with design counterparts throughout the product development cycle - from discovery through validation • Participate in co-ideation sessions, translating research insights into design opportunities • Present synthesized insights with clear, actionable recommendations tied to business impact • Deliver audience-centric narratives that drive decision-making, not just research reports • Track and communicate the impact of research-informed decisions

Role Description GiveWell is seeking a Senior Livelihoods Researcher to help us identify and fund the most cost-effective ways to improve living standards among the global poor. You will have an outsized influence on our funding decisions and help us improve lives on a global scale. Our livelihoods team is organized around thematic verticals, which includes: - Cash transfers - Broader social protection programs - Education programs - Support for small and medium sized businesses in low-income countries As a Senior Livelihoods Researcher, you’ll create and lead ambitious research agendas related to our portfolios of work and answer complex questions that will inform GiveWell’s grantmaking decisions. Your work will combine: - Empirical evidence review - Critical synthesis - Cost-effectiveness modeling - Discussions with subject matter experts - Understanding of the broader context - Your own judgment In the course of your work, you might approach questions like these: - What effect do rural trailbridges have on the consumption of nearby communities? - What are long-run effects of unconditional cash transfers and ultra poor graduation programs on recipients? - What would happen to prices and markets if we took cash transfer and ultra poor graduation programs to scale? - How should GiveWell value interventions which try to reduce the variance of consumption (as opposed to increasing the average)? - Why have several countries in sub-Saharan Africa seen large scale-ups in donor-funded livelihoods programs over the last 30 years but very little movement in poverty headcount rates and median consumption per capita? Qualifications - A quantitatively oriented advanced degree (e.g., in economics, statistics, public policy or related fields) - Substantial professional experience in the livelihoods landscape (broadly defined), which could include experience in academic research and/or in program implementation or funding. - Soft qualities that contribute to success on our team, such as curiosity, ability to communicate confidence levels, and appreciation for strong relationships. Requirements - GiveWell’s mission and methods are personally energizing. - You’re abnormally curious and willing to interrogate others’ work. - You routinely think about and surface value judgments and strategic commitments. - You dislike strong confidence in views that lack evidence. - You love tackling complex problems and reassessing your mental models. - You constantly assess whether you and the team are working on the most important things. Benefits - Fully funded health, dental, vision, and life insurance (100% of premiums covered within the US for you and any dependents) - Four weeks of paid time off per year - 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave - Ergonomic home workstations or coworking space memberships - 403(b) retirement plan Company Description GiveWell is dedicated to finding and funding outstanding giving opportunities in global health and development, sharing the full details of our analysis with everyone for free. Since 2007, we’ve directed over $2.6 billion to cost-effective programs and interventions.

• Planning and conducting qualitative and quantitative research to better understand users’ needs, behaviors, motivations, and goals, in order to inform product and design decisions • Collaborating with product, engineering, and design teams to provide actionable insights and deliverables • Identifying and executing on high-impact projects, triaging requests, determining priority and delivering in time for results to be useful • Contributing your research and perspective throughout the entire product development cycle, from discovery and exploration, to launch and post-release • Creating research roadmaps and leading the execution of those roadmaps • Providing guidance to team members and partners on research best practices • Building and scaling research enablement resources (templates, guides, workflows) so teams can run studies efficiently and consistently • Support participant recruitment and management across internal SMEs and external customers • Partner cross-functionally with Customer Success and Support to coordinate access to customers and streamline research efforts

What You’ll Do - **Lead the full research lifecycle:** Design, plan, and conduct mixed-method research (Qualitative/Quantitative, Behavioural/Attitudinal) to deeply understand customer needs, pain points, and new opportunities. - **Generate and act on insights:** Analyze new and existing research findings, synthesize qualitative data into compelling evidence, and translate complex research into clear, actionable recommendations for cross-functional teams. - **Establish and advocate for research:** Define and manage the user research process (discovery, validation, prototyping) in collaboration with Product Design and Data teams. - **Collaborate and coach:** Work closely with Product Owners and Designers to communicate insights effectively to stakeholders, and coach team members on best research practices and user-centered design principles. - **Execution support:** Handle essential research logistics, including recruiting participants, scheduling tests/interviews, and supporting designers in developing research questions and hypotheses.