Global; Senior Director, Accelerator

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 9 countries, our team of 800+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

The Role

At Evidence Action, we do things differently. We don’t just pilot programs—we rigorously test, refine, and scale only the most cost-effective, evidence-based, and scalable solutions that can improve the lives of millions.

Now, as we stand at a pivotal moment for both the global development sector and Evidence Action, we are looking for a (Senior) Director, Accelerator to help chart our course forward. With an expanding pipeline, multiple late-stage pilots in progress, and a forthcoming strategic refresh, you will be at the forefront of that moment.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Accelerator and Programs, you will lead the Accelerator process and oversee the Cost-Effectiveness (CE) team. You will be at the core of our innovation and program strategy efforts.

• You will manage ourAccelerator process—a venture-style engine for identifying and scaling the highest-impact opportunities in health, WASH, and nutrition. In addition to managing the overall process, you will lead the team that directly evaluates programs along our key criteria: evidence, cost-effectiveness, and scale. With four pilots underway and 21 interventions currently in the pipeline, you will lead a rigorous process for testing, shaping, selecting, and funding the next generation of Evidence Action programs.
  
  Programs launched out of our Accelerator have raised nearly $100m to scale their impact.

• The CE team, meanwhile, plays a distinct and equally critical role across the organization. It ensures that every major decision—from early-stage program selection to expansion into new geographies—is grounded in value-for-money analysis. This team models and compares impact per dollar across diverse interventions, supports resource allocation, informs donor strategy, and pushes our organization to be relentlessly focused on maximizing impact at scale.

This is not a typical innovation role. You won’t be brainstorming ideas in isolation—you’ll be managing two high-performing teams that combine evidence, rigor, and creativity to deliver real-world outcomes. You’ll bring clarity to complex questions, align teams around priorities, and turn learning into action.

If you are a strategic, analytical, and mission-aligned leader who wants to help shape the future of global development, this is your moment.

Responsibilities:

Lead the Accelerator Process (~60%)

• Iterate and optimize the Accelerator process, implementing suggested changes from the upcoming Accelerator strategy step back into daily practices.
• Identify, vet, design, and scale up impactful, evidence-backed, and cost-effective interventions via the Accelerator process.
• Work closely with your team and program teams to prioritize and assess programs in the pipeline.
• Guide the…