Senior Researcher

Position Overview

GiveWell is a research organization dedicated to identifying and funding cost-effective giving opportunities in global health and well-being. They rely on donor research to inform their giving. GiveWell has experienced significant growth, increasing from $1.5 million in 2010 to over $300 million in 2023.

The organization is seeking exceptional Senior Researchers to contribute to directing hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the most impactful programs. These researchers will play a key role in our funding decisions, helping to save and improve lives globally. They will create and lead ambitious research agendas, answer complex questions, and inform high-impact grantmaking decisions through rigorous evidence review, cost-effectiveness modeling, and thoughtful judgment. Researchers may eventually transition into Program Officer roles or continue focusing on research leadership, depending on their preferences and the organization's needs.

• Location Type: Remote
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Salary: Not specified (Implied to be competitive)

The Role

Senior Researchers are the intellectual leaders of GiveWell’s work. They will:

• Join a small senior team in setting ambitious research agendas.
• Prioritize research questions that matter most.
• Inform the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars to dozens of grantees.
• Communicate externally about GiveWell’s work.
• Mentor and advise other team members.
• Shape a research agenda combining rigorous evidence review, cost-effectiveness modeling, discussions with subject matter experts, contextual understanding, and their own judgment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute ambitious research agendas.
• Conduct thorough reviews of empirical evidence.
• Perform cost-effectiveness modeling.
• Engage with subject matter experts.
• Analyze complex global health and poverty alleviation issues.
• Address questions such as:
  • The impact of improved water quality on all-cause mortality.
  • The impact of building footbridges in rural communities.
  • Modeling the general equilibrium effects of cash transfers.
  • Prioritizing programs that reduce poverty versus programs that reduce deaths.
  • Accounting for opportunity costs of other actors' contributions.
  • Analyzing uncertainty in cost-effectiveness estimates.
  • Applying results from older trials to predict current impacts.

Requirements

• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information.
• Experience with cost-effectiveness modeling is desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team.
• (Likely) Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., economics, public health, development studies).

Application Instructions

• Applicants should refer to GiveWell's website for specific application instructions and deadlines.