Research and Insights Director at GSM Association (GSMA)

Job description

About the role

The GSMA is seeking an experienced, passionate and driven professional to join the Mobile for Humanitarianism programme as Director of Research and Insights. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the team who deliver the M4H learning agenda and thought leadership. You will be at the forefront of developing and delivering high-quality, innovative and relevant research products to inform the mobile industry and humanitarian community of key trends, insights and analysis that will lead to more impactful digital humanitarian assistance. You will help position the GSMA M4H team as a thought leader on issues related to digital humanitarian assistance and role of the private sector in humanitarian contexts including the opportunities for mobile money, mobile-enabled utilities, the digital gender divide, digital identity and climate resilience. You will work alongside a high-performing and multi-cultural, cross-functional team based in London, Africa, and Asia and report to GSMA’s Head of Mobile for Humanitarianism Programme.

The Director of Research and Insights will have the following responsibilities:

• Leadership of developing and and delivering the M4H learning agenda strategy and overall accountability for the associated research outputs and dissemination activities
• Day to day management of Research and Insights team and cross-functional resources delivering on the learning agenda
• Proactive engagement with research and insights teams across GSMA and M4D on collaborative topics and coordination of joint projects to ensure successful, actionable and high quality outputs
• Proactive engagement with external learning partners to identify opportunities for joint-research and development of strategy to engage and share programmatic insights in a compelling way for multiple stakeholder audiences
• Contribute towards shaping the overall strategic direction of the M4H programme, to ensure that the programme delivers value to GSMA members and the broader ecosystem and continues to be a credible voice on the role of mobile technology in humanitarian emergencies
• Collaboration with other M4H Directors to ensure that research and insights activities are well aligned and informing in-market programmatic activity, innovation opportunity areas and policy and advocacy objectives
• Represent the M4H Programme at external events and work with M4H marketing to target key platforms for knowledge sharing and profiling of programmatic insights
• Support the Head of Programme in evolving the current GSMA Disaster Response research and insights work under the new M4H programme
• Support the Head of Programme and other GSMA teams with insights requirements for external engagements
• Support the Head of Programme where required with representation at key external events and platforms

About You

• Excellent leadership and managerial abilities with experience of line-managing a cross-functional and high-performance global team
• Subject matter expertise in the domain of mobile connectivity, humanitarian assistance and international development
• Strong understanding of the humanitarian sector and familiarity with key stakeholders
• Strong understanding of, and interest in the technology industry and the role of mobile technology and Mobile Network Operators within the humanitarian sector
• Excellent and demonstrable analytical skills, both qualitative and quantitative – able to assess different business models, trends and challenges and identify potential solutions
• Ability to translate challenges, requirements and opportunities into compelling and digestible research and analysis projects
• Strong strategic skill set – able to work on the “cutting edge” of emerging trends in digital humanitarian sphere and determine innovative approaches to exploring these areas
• Experience of working in emerging markets, including field research highly desirable
• Genuine interest in both the commercial and social benefits that are presented the use of mobile technology to address humanitarian challenges
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills including the ability to translate research products into relevant and actionable insights for a set of diverse actors with different incentives and operational realities
• Ability to develop and manage a diverse pipeline of research projects and team members, ensuring impactful delivery of programmatic KPIs
• Ability to effectively engage with Senior stakeholders internally and externally in both the public and private sectors
• Ability to maintain relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders and foster alignment and support to achieve programmatic objectives
• A very strong grasp of the English language, able to express complex technical, commercial or regulatory issues in plain language; French and/or Spanish language skills are desirable but not required.
• Charismatic and energetic team player, with strong public speaking skills, able to inspire others and build constructive working relationships with diverse stakeholders;
• Advanced academic degree in international development, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline
• Ability to work in a matrixed structure, to positively influence peers and support cross functional collaboration across the GSMA;
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly (up to 30% of time).