Research Manager for LatAm

About us

Good Business Lab is a not-for-profit worker well-being research organization. We design and evaluate programs that can find common ground between worker well-being in blue-collar settings and business interests, and then through our newest initiative GBL ventures develop and scale products based on our research. We've worked with corporates such as Shahi Exports, Radnik Exports, H&M, Gap Inc., and GANNI, and are backed by funders such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and academics at the world's top universities such as Harvard Business School.

Our founding team brings together two US-based academics who are professors at the University of Michigan and UC San Diego and have PhDs in economics from Yale University and the head of Organizational Development at Shahi Exports, India’s largest apparel manufacturer. Our work is spread across labour-intensive industries (e.g., garment, electronics, and automobile manufacturing, retail, and food service) in the global south and we maintain offices in India, the US, and Latin America.

We have over 100 global full-time staff across offices worldwide, 17 completed and 16+ ongoing projects across gender, skilling, workplace environment, and health issues, and over 200,000 workers directly impacted.

Overview

Projects include looking at the effect of managerial training on firm productivity in the quick service restaurant industry, the effect of marketplace and pricing structures on consumers’ benefits and choice to use online versus in person shopping in the food retail industry, as well as the impact of new product introduction on production dynamics in the automotive industry.

Who are you?

• Graduated with a Masters degree in economics/statistics required; have Masters or a PhD in economics
• Good data analytics experience is a must
• Ability to work in a team, manage multiple projects on the ground and be self-motivated
• Strong communication skills, fluency in Spanish and English
• Previous research experience or professional experience
• Programming experience in statistical software (Stata preferred;Python, R or Matlab encouraged)
• Previous experience working on grants and IRB applications is a plus

What will you do?

Research Managers at GBL work closely with academic researchers, the research implementation team, data manager and other staff to help implement various projects. They typically manage up to 2-3 projects and mentor Research Associates.

• Primary Responsibilities (60-70% time):
  • Set priorities for projects in consultation with researchers
  • Maintain clear communication between researchers and GBL staff and clarify expectations
  • Anticipate challenges to research projects and work with researchers to address them
  • Identify and mitigate risks to research projects
  • Ensure that the project has sufficient material and human resources
  • Ensure that projects follow GBL standards and protocols in consultation with Data and Field teams
  • Ensure alignment between the research team and implementation partners
  • Assist with the responsibilities of Research Associates (for example data cleaning, survey planning, surveyor hiring) as required
• Other Responsibilities (30-40%):
  • Assist with screening and hiring Research Associates
  • Prepare reports for funding agencies
  • Lead training session of Research Associates and other staff
  • Help improve the procedures, policies, and culture of GBL
  • Represent GBL at meetings with external stakeholders (by delivering presentations, for example)
  • Contribute to GBL’s communications (blogs and articles) as requested
  • Ensure compliance with Institutional Review Boards
• What should you be comfortable with?

  • A dynamic environment with competing priorities.

  • Working in a team with shared responsibilities.

  • Independently coordinating with coworkers to accomplish goals.

  • Being resourceful in new environments and scenarios.

  • Problem-solving in high-pressure environments.

Perks of working with us

• Flexible leave policy: Time away from work can be extremely helpful for maintaining a healthy work/life balance. GBL encourages managers and leadership to set the example by taking time off when needed and ensuring their team members do the same. Our leave policy for our LatAm team is aligned with the Colombian Substantive Labor Code.

• Flexible working hours: We recognize that a better work-life balance can improve employee motivation, performance, productivity, and reduce stress. The basis of our norms pertaining to this is a system of trust in each other and our common goals.

• Training and Development: GBL team members can set aside 10% of their work time / around 4 hours a week to improve their skills/knowledge on a subject that they think will help them perform their job better. We encourage all employees to focus both on technical and soft skills. We also facilitate employee mentorship programs.

• GBL Care Systems: As an organization, we are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of our team members and creating a thriving work environment- because that gives us, together, the best chance at achieving our shared mission and sparking joy at work. We do this by partnering with organizations for workshops and other wellbeing-related initiatives.

• Growth-oriented review policy: To foster collaboration, we have adopted regular reviews and check-ins among team members. We see a manager's role beyond what is expected from them by conventional management thinkers. Apart from delivering high-quality work, managers are responsible for the holistic development of their team members. This can be achieved through practices inspired by coaching philosophy. In addition we have informal virtual and in-person hangs and activities such as game nights and peer support groups.

Our commitment to diversity

GBL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We offer traditional monetary workplace benefits such as insurance and travel allowance. We are a young and growing company making us the ideal ground for team members to experiment, take on dynamic roles, and grow with us. We focus on happiness, output, and quality of work. Note: By clicking on the 'apply for this job' button, you confirm that you understand and accept GBL’s Privacy Policy. You also understand that GBL has zero-tolerance against sexual harassment/ exploitation /abuse/misconduct ("SEA"). You confirm and declare that you have never been convicted by any court of law and/or you have never been subjected to any sanctions or inquiry or proceedings (be it disciplinary, administrative, civil, or criminal) arising from an investigation in relation to sexual harassment/abuse/misconduct or left employment pending investigation and refused to cooperate in such an investigation