Executive Vice President, Evidence

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action is an organization dedicated to implementing data-driven interventions that affect lives on a massive scale. We focus on overlooked global health challenges, deploying solutions backed by high-quality research, including work by Nobel laureates. Our team of over 900 people operates in 11 countries, reaching more than 500 million individuals and collaborates closely with governments to scale effective programs.

• The Deworm the World initiative has provided over 2 billion treatments, significantly lowering worm infections and resulting in over $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Safe Water Now has saved the lives of upwards of 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator program explores new global health opportunities by testing cost-effective interventions that have high potential for benefit.

We foster a work environment where innovation, autonomy, and collaboration thrive, encouraging disruptive thinking while maintaining a hands-on approach. Our culture is purpose-driven, emphasizing flexibility and collective impact.

Role Overview

We seek an Executive Vice President (EVP) of Evidence to lead the strategic development and transformation of our Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) teams, Cost-Effectiveness division, and epidemiological efforts. This pivotal leadership role demands rigorous data oversight, organizational influence, and external credibility, ensuring the integrity of evidence that shapes program design, implementation, and scaling.

Reporting directly to the CEO and part of the Global Leadership Team (GLT), the EVP will chart the direction for evidence strategy, align technical teams across disciplines, and advocate evidence-based decisions within and outside the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Unify and lead the evidence function, integrating MLE, cost-effectiveness, and epidemiology into a coherent framework driving programmatic learning and improvement.
• Work closely with GLT and program leaders to develop a robust cross-program evidence strategy, tailoring methods to organizational learning and operational needs.
• Act as a technical partner to enhance evidence visibility and applicability across teams, advancing cost-effectiveness analysis tools and strengthening feedback loops between impact projections and real-world costs.
• Embed continuous monitoring and learning practices in programs, employing techniques such as A/B testing to sustain performance improvements post-launch.
• Define where Evidence Action's unique evidence generation adds value versus external collaborations.
• Establish and implement quality assurance standards addressing weaknesses, assumptions, and uncertainties in evidence and impact models.
• Develop consistent evidence review systems, including milestone-based program evaluations and stage gates.
• Manage data quality assurance independently from evidence generation, setting methodological standards, conducting re-surveys, and ensuring transparency in issues.
• Provide evidence-led recommendations guiding program scaling, iteration, or closure, collaborating with regional leaders for contextual insights.
• Strengthen internal technical management capacity to support programs effectively.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team through organizational change, fostering collaboration and trust across diverse units.
• Utilize modern tools and AI to enhance evidence generation and data-driven decision-making at scale.
• Serve as a senior ambassador of evidence for the organization, engaging donors, board members, and technical partners on methodology and evaluation philosophy.
• Promote a culture of transparency and learning, including sharing lessons from unsuccessful initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated courage to act on evidence by identifying and raising uncomfortable findings to senior leadership and advocating for necessary strategic adjustments.
• Proven experience leading technical teams focused on quality assurance in low- and middle-income country contexts with strong operational rigor.
• A background combining academic expertise with hands-on program implementation experience to lead effectively from within operational settings.
• Advanced quantitative expertise (PhD or equivalent) enabling comprehensive assessment of evidence quality, application of diverse analytical methods, and leadership alongside senior technical staff; familiarity with cost-effectiveness or health economics is essential.
• Strong leadership skills in managing change, delegating across broad responsibilities, and cultivating trust among multicultural and cross-disciplinary teams.

This Position Does Not Include

• Audit or compliance functions; focus is on building systems for effective evidence use and generation.
• Producing external academic publications as a primary activity.
• Fully remote work; requires substantial field presence and proximity to program implementation.

Location and Travel

The role location is flexible with preference for countries where Evidence Action maintains offices, particularly India, Kenya, or Nigeria. Travel will account for approximately 20% of the time within and outside the assigned country.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Options for pension and retirement savings.
• Paid time off benefits.
• Opportunities for employee engagement and recognition.

Benefit specifics vary by country in accordance with regulations. Compensation will be competitive and based on individual experience, qualifications, and internal pay scales.

Equal Opportunity

Evidence Action is committed to equitable representation and inclusive hiring practices. All individuals are encouraged to apply regardless of personal characteristics.