Research Specialist

Position Overview

Title:

Reporting to:

Employment Type

Location:

Start Date

Position Summary

Women’s World Banking seeks a Research Specialist with 5 to 8 years of consulting experience to support and deliver research assignments across the South Asia region. This role focuses on designing and executing applied research that informs product development and policy design for financial service providers. We are looking for a market research professional with demonstrated expertise across the full research cycle, from study design and data analysis to insight generation and reporting.

The ideal candidate will be adept in both qualitative methods and data analytics, with the ability to translate diverse research needs into fit-for-purpose, mixed-method solutions. Familiarity with AI-enabled research and data science tools is highly desirable, reflecting the evolving landscape of research and innovation.

This role requires dynamism, independence, and strong collaboration skills, working within a lean regional team and engaging with external consultants, research agencies, and client partners to translate evidence into actionable insights that advance women-centered financial inclusion.

The position is remote, with periodic travel to project sites or for in-person meetings, and reports to the Research Lead, South Asia.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute qualitative and mixed-method studies (e.g., consumer insights, concept testing, user journeys).
• Apply market research expertise to inform business and policy recommendations for financial service providers.
• Support impact evaluation and measurement frameworks, integrating gender and inclusion perspectives.
• Produce clear, compelling reports and client deliverables linking research findings to strategic decisions.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams including regional teams, global research, and shared services to ensure regional studies both align with global research frameworks and contribute insights that inform global best practices.

Required Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years of experience in consulting and market research.
• Master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Management, Behavioral Sciences, or related fields.
• Working knowledge of at least one data science tool (R or Python) for analysis and visualization of data-driven insights and one of the AI tools.
• Proven expertise in qualitative and market research, with exposure to quantitative/data analytics.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a thin-team structure with multiple external partners.
• Strong analytical, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Readiness to travel as and when required to client sites and project locations.
• Passion for advancing women’s financial inclusion and empowerment.

Success within the first 75 days:

• Master the Role and Deliver Independently:

  Demonstrates a clear grasp of the Research Specialist’s scope and demonstrates mastery of technical skills needed; independently delivers at least one key research component such as instrument design, data analysis, or insight synthesis.

• Build Collaborative Relationships:

  Establishes strong working ties with colleagues, actively contributing to at least one ongoing cross-functional research project independently.

• Understand WWB’s Mission and Model:

  Articulates Women’s World Banking’s mission, strategic priorities, and research objectives in South Asia, ensuring early outputs reflect institutional goals.

• Integrate Systems and Processes:

  Completes onboarding on internal systems, tools, and compliance protocols, and consistently applies these to daily research and reporting activities.

• Demonstrate Proactiveness:

  Shows proactiveness in completing research deliverables, learning goals, and opportunities to integrate innovative approaches.

• Show Early Analytical Impact:

  Produces at least one insight note, data brief, or presentation that demonstrates analytical rigor and aligns with WWB’s gender-intentional research lens.