Senior Associate, Insights - Acumen Academy

Acumen is seeking a highly motivated, thoughtful, and curious Senior Associate, Insights with atleast 5 years of experience to support the delivery of a rigorous learning agenda for a transformative business and economic empowerment program across Africa with a strong focus on young women, leadership and organizational growth and development.  This role will focus on generating high quality insights to inform adaptive program delivery, with a strong emphasis on understanding enterprise growth, work quality, and women’s participation in the green economy.This role will be based out of Acumen’s office in Nairobi or Lagos, with an expectation of working from the office 3 days a week.

 

About Acumen

Acumen is a global force of entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators working together to build a world based on dignity. We were founded by Jacqueline Novogratz on the radical idea that business, when cultivated with moral imagination, can break the cycle of poverty. We invest in transformational companies, build sustainable markets, and prepare leaders with the tools they need to create a more just and inclusive future. Since 2001, we have scaled companies and shaped markets in some of the hardest-to-reach communities on the planet, impacting over half-a-billion lives. To learn more visit acumen.org.

About the Role

As the Senior Associate, Insights, you will support the execution of the program’s learning agenda, working across program teams and partners to generate actional insights that inform program delivery and strategy.

This role sits within the Insights function, focusing on the ‘why’ and ‘so what’ behind program results.  You will lead qualitative and mixed-methods data collection and analyze findings.  You will also synthesize findings into clear insights and contribute to learning outputs that shape adaptive management and thought leadership.

You will report to the Program Insights Lead and program teams across multiple workstreams.  The role requires strong execution, structured thinking, and the ability to translate complex data into meaningful insights.

Accountabilities include:

Execution of the Program Learning Agenda

• Support the implementation of the Program’s multi-year learning agenda, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of learning activities
• Coordinate and execute qualitative and mixed-methods data collection across Program pillars, including surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and feedback tools
• Support the design and development of data collection tools (e.g. surveys, interview guides, tracking tools) aligned with learning questions
• Manage data collection processes across multiple stakeholders, including program teams, partners, and enterprises
• Ensure data is collected, documents, and organized in a structured and usable way

Insight Generation and Analysis

• Conduct qualitative and mixed methods analysis to identify patterns, trends, and key insights across program data
• Synthesize findings across multiple data sources to answer core learning questions
• Translate data into clear, concise, and actionable insights that inform program decision-making
• Identity emerging signals and insights to support adaptive learning and continuous program improvement

Adaptive Learning and Program Support

• Provide input into adaptive learning processes, including after-action reviews and periodic learning sessions
• Support program teams in understanding and applying insights to improve program delivery
• Contribute to tracking learning questions and ensuring alignment between data collection and program priorities
• Surface insights to support strategic reflection and decision-making

Knowledge Products and Thought Leadership

• Support the development of internal and external learning deliverables, including reports, briefs, and blogs.
• Contribute to drafting sections of program learning outputs, ensuring clarity, rigor, and strong narrative
• Help translate insights into compelling stories and evidence that contribute to broader conversations on green entrepreneurship, work quality, and women’s economic participation
• Ensure learning outputs are grounded in high-quality evidence and aligned with program priorities

Skills and Qualifications

• 5 – 8 years of relevant experience in consulting, development, research, or a related field
• Experience in qualitative or mixed-methods research, including designing tools and conducting interviews and surveys
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear insights and recommendations
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to contribute to reports and structured outputs with guidance
• Experience working on complex programs.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders
• Ability to work independently with guidance, while contributing to team thinking and problem solving
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across teams and functions
• Good presenter in public, strong voice in meetings

Desirable 

• Experience in entrepreneurship, MSMEs, or private sector development programs
• Familiarity with climate, green economy, or sustainability-related sectors
• Exposure to large, donor-funded, or multi-stakeholder programs
• Experience supporting the development of knowledge products or thought leadership outputs

Location: Nairobi (East Africa) or Lagos (West Africa)

Acumen is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, differential ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or background.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis. 
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