Manager, Innovation job at Evidence Action

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 9 countries, our team of 800+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.

Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.

Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

The Role

You will oversee Evidence Action’s new In-Line Chlorination Innovation Team, under the Safe Water Now Program. Evidence Action's Safe Water Now program provides access to safe drinking water across Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and India through water chlorination. Backed by rigorous research showing chlorination can reduce child mortality by more than 20%, safe water is one of the most cost-effective health interventions globally.

The program's newest intervention, In-Line Chlorination (ILC), automatically treats water as it flows through piped systems, requiring less behavior change from end users than existing solutions. As ILC scales up, core questions remain about how to optimize device performance, reduce operational costs, and strengthen community engagement. Answering these questions well will shape whether ILC can become a scalable, cost-effective model reaching millions more people. Evidence Action is investing in a dedicated Innovation team to find those answers.

You will lead that effort. Based in Mbale, Uganda, you will hire and build a dedicated team and run rapid field pilots to test the most promising improvements to the ILC model. Where pilots succeed, you will ensure those innovations are scaled across the portfolio and into future geographies. The role sits at the intersection of Evidence Action's Uganda country team, the Regional team in Kenya, and the Global team in the United States, with visibility and input from program leadership at every level.

Direct Reports

• Senior Associate, Innovation and Learning
• Senior Associate, Innovation and Data Insights

Responsibilities

Managing Rapid Field Activities: Design and execute short, focused field pilots that produce clear recommendations on whether innovations should be scaled into the broader ILC program

• Define pilot scope, success criteria, and decision points; continuously monitor progress and iterate on both pilot design and the intervention being tested
• Ensure data reliability throughout, including robust measurement protocols and routine sense checks on field data
• Recommend accelerating, modifying, or terminating tests based on early signal rather than running every pilot to completion

Technical Ownership of ILC: Serve as a technical owner of ILC device performance and design, working closely with Evidence Action engineering teams across the region

• Develop deep familiarity with device types, infrastructure configurations, and modifications deployed across countries to to help prioritize pilots and identify novel innovations to test
• Engage with external technical experts and partners as needed to support device design and testing approaches

Prioritization and Planning: Contribute to prioritizing which innovations to test and in what sequence, working closely with the Global and Regional program teams

• Translate high-level priorities into concrete testing plans with defined timelines, resource requirements, and decision points

Documentation and Knowledge Capture: Ensure pilot results, operational learnings, and technical decisions are systematically documented to inform the ILC operational handbook and new geography playbook

Coordination with Country, Regional, and Global Teams: Manage the interface between the Innovation team and the Uganda country team, including clear communication on scope, timeline, and device management changes

• Ensure innovation work does not disrupt ongoing program operations and deliver outputs the program team can act on
• Coordinate regularly with Regional and Global teams on progress, findings, and strategic direction

Key Performance Indicators

• Number of Completed Pilots: You will be assessed on how many pilots are completed each year, targeting ~2-3 months per pilot, iterating continuously on design throughout each pilot.
• Number of Decisions made from Pilots: You will be assessed on how much each pilot aids overall decision-making, ensuring each recommendation is evidence-backed, has robust data, and answers the core question with enough detail to adopt, improve, or stop the new approach.
• Adoption of Improvements: You will be assessed on how many of the proven ideas ultimately are deployed across the program, such as in operational manuals or in future trainings.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Water Sciences, Environmental or Applied Sciences, Economics, or a related field. Candidates with a Master's degree in Water Systems, WASH, Hydrology, or a technical research discipline are strongly preferred, though exceptional field practitioners with a Bachelor's degree are warmly encouraged to apply

5+ years of demonstrable experience in technical field operations and applied research program management

Experience designing and executing field pilots or structured experiments that resulted in operational changes at scale, not just reports

Background in WASH, water quality, or a closely related technical field; engineering training strongly preferred

Experience building and managing small, multidisciplinary teams, particularly those including technical field staff

Data fluency: able to design testing protocols, identify measurement issues, and distinguish meaningful results from noise. Statistical expertise not required but must be a critical consumer of data

Demonstrated ability to work across complex organizational structures with multiple stakeholders and no single clean reporting line

Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration; able to scope and launch activities quickly under time pressure

Strong documentation and communication skills; able to translate field findings into clear recommendations for diverse audiences

Position Location

This role will be based in Mbale, Uganda, with regular travel to field sites.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of Uganda employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Uganda for roles based in Uganda.

Note: Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis.

Benefits

Evidence Action provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees worldwide*. Benefits include:

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical cover for self and dependents)
• Pension/Retirement savings options
• Paid leave
• Avenues for engagement and recognition

• Define pilot scope, success criteria, and decision points; continuously monitor progress and iterate on both pilot design and the intervention being tested
• Ensure data reliability throughout, including robust measurement protocols and routine sense checks on field data
• Recommend accelerating, modifying, or terminating tests based on early signal rather than running every pilot to completion
• Develop deep familiarity with device types, infrastructure configurations, and modifications deployed across countries to to help prioritize pilots and identify novel innovations to test
• Engage with external technical experts and partners as needed to support device design and testing approaches
• Translate high-level priorities into concrete testing plans with defined timelines, resource requirements, and decision points
• Ensure pilot results, operational learnings, and technical decisions are systematically documented to inform the ILC operational handbook and new geography playbook
• Ensure innovation work does not disrupt ongoing program operations and deliver outputs the program team can act on
• Coordinate regularly with Regional and Global teams on progress, findings, and strategic direction

• Data fluency: able to design testing protocols, identify measurement issues, and distinguish meaningful results from noise. Statistical expertise not required but must be a critical consumer of data
• Demonstrated ability to work across complex organizational structures with multiple stakeholders and no single clean reporting line
• Comfortable with ambiguity and rapid iteration; able to scope and launch activities quickly under time pressure
• Strong documentation and communication skills; able to translate field findings into clear recommendations for diverse audiences

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Water Sciences, Environmental or Applied Sciences, Economics, or a related field. Candidates with a Master's degree in Water Systems, WASH, Hydrology, or a technical research discipline are strongly preferred, though exceptional field practitioners with a Bachelor's degree are warmly encouraged to apply
• 5+ years of demonstrable experience in technical field operations and applied research program management
• Experience designing and executing field pilots or structured experiments that resulted in operational changes at scale, not just reports
• Background in WASH, water quality, or a closely related technical field; engineering training strongly preferred
• Experience building and managing small, multidisciplinary teams, particularly those including technical field staff