Director of Research and Data

We seek a Director of Research and Data to join ReFED’s Data & Insights team. You will support ReFED’s ability to deliver impactful research, insights, and thought leadership necessary to scale the adoption of evidence-based food waste solutions. This position will report to the Vice President of Data & Insights. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change within a dynamic, mission-driven organization.

About The Organization

ReFED is a U.S.-based nonprofit working to catalyze the food system to take evidence-based action to stop wasting food. We do this by cultivating and convening the food community, delivering actionable evidence and insights, and seeding and accelerating food waste solutions. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has produced first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In 2021, ReFED launched the Insights Engine, an online data center serving as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Reducing food waste will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing the use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 47 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity. We are growing our team to further build our capacity to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that makes the best use of the food we grow.

We are a team of doers, and we get a lot accomplished. We create outsized impact, and everyone on the team contributes to accomplishing our shared goals. Learning and professional development are heavily embedded in ReFED’s culture. We promote cross-functional work to embrace diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills to ensure we are an inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.   

About The Work

The Director of Research and Data will be a vital member of the Data & Insights team at ReFED. Working closely with a four-person team, including the Research Manager, Climate Manager, and Vice President of Data & Insights, this role is designed to support our capacity to scale, increase the complexity and creativity of our research, and produce thought leadership that influences and informs food businesses, food waste solution providers, capital providers, NGOs, and governments. This role will involve a mix of strategic planning, project management, partnership development, and applied quantitative and qualitative research to produce insights for our various audiences.

• Strategic Planning:
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive research agenda that aligns with the organization's strategic goal of advancing evidence-based food waste solutions. 
• Support the Vice President of Data & Insights to identify key research areas, prioritize projects, and deliver high-quality research and thought leadership.
• Project Management:
• Oversee day-to-day project execution, manage timelines, lead biweekly sprints and quarterly planning.
• Manage and mentor 2-4  team members, fostering a collaborative team environment and a culture of continuous learning.
• Manage high-level contractor relationships and negotiations (e.g., identify needs, oversee RFP processes, etc.).
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Communications, Product & Engineering, and Business Initiatives to integrate research insights into communication strategies, product development, and implementation.
• Partnership Development:
• Explore and execute research and data partnerships with the public and private sectors for data collection, data integration, or other purposes.
• Applied Research:
• Define research and execute methodologies, data collection strategies, and analytical frameworks and conduct qualitative and quantitative research.
• Contribute to publications and products that elevate food waste reduction strategies and communicate insights to diverse audiences through a range of mediums, including reports, presentations, and digital media. 

• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in research and thought leadership positions, with a proven track record of developing and executing strategic research agendas and managing and conducting applied research projects. 
• Proven management skills, with the ability to deliver multiple projects on time and within budget.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with experience producing thought leadership pieces.
• Experience mentoring staff members, fostering their development, and enhancing the overall research capacity of the team.
• Proven ability to establish and manage contractors and some experience managing partnerships with private sector entities, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions.
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to thrive in a fluid, entrepreneurial environment, and willingness to “roll up the sleeves” and extend beyond formal responsibilities as needed.
• Experience in the food system or a sector within the food system. Broader experience in the environmental or climate space is also highly desirable.
• Experience working with communications, product, and engineering teams.
• Data wrangling skills using tools like Python and R and experience implementing statistical, machine learning, and deep learning models is desirable but not required.
• Formal training and/or demonstrated proficiency in mixed methods research, including design research, qualitative studies, and quantitative analysis.

• Are a curious, creative problem solver who loves tackling the unanswered questions.
• Thrive in a dynamic, high-growth, remote organization.
• Have a strong commitment to reducing food waste.
• Champion diversity, equity, justices and inclusion within the research team and across the organization.

• Experience working in nonprofits or food businesses.

ReFED values a diverse range of skills and experiences and encourages all interested candidates to apply, even if they don't meet all of the criteria listed. Our organization recognizes that everyone brings unique perspectives and strengths to the team, and we are committed to considering all applicants fairly and thoroughly. If you are passionate about our mission and excited about the role, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself!

Our Recruitment Process

Our recruitment process includes the following steps:

* Initial screening interview over video call.

* 2-3 interviews over video call with different members of the team.

* Skills assessment over video call which may or may not include an assignment to complete beforehand and present during the skills assessment meeting. All necessary information and guidance will be provided in advance.

* References, usually three, will be requested, and reference checks will be conducted.

We strive to maintain clear and frequent communication throughout the recruitment process, however, due to capacity limitations we may not be able to respond to every initial application. Our process always includes input from multiple team members with diverse backgrounds and perspectives from across the organization.

Our Operating Environment

ReFED is a distributed organization, with a team of 20+ working remotely from various locations across the United States. We use a range of digital collaboration and connectivity tools to facilitate our work, including Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Airtable, Salesforce, Miro, MS Office, Adobe, and Insperity. We also use Atlassian products such as Jira and Product Discovery.

Our remote culture is built through a variety of means, including 2-3 annual in-person gatherings. These events include our annual team retreat, department retreats, and the Food Waste Solutions Summit, a national convening of the food waste movement that we host annually. We also foster team connections through informal virtual get-togethers, ask-me-anything sessions with our Board and Advisory Council members, and peer recognition on our shoutouts channel in Slack. We also have a “Big Dill” spot bonus program and engage in conversation through our watercooler channel in Slack. Our in-person events are essential for team building, learning, and fun.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment

ReFED is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all individuals have equal opportunities to contribute and grow. We recognize that our success is rooted in the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of our team members, and we strive to foster a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and promoting individuals regardless of their gender identity, sex, race, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We acknowledge that systemic barriers limit opportunities for certain groups, and we are dedicated to actively working to remove those barriers and promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in all aspects of our organization. Our commitment to JEDI is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuously learning, listening, and improving our practices to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for all.

Asch Harwood is the hiring manager for this position. All correspondence should be addressed to Asch. Applications must be received by January 5, 2025, to be fully considered.