Senior Associate, Insights

About the role

Acumen Academy is seeking a Senior Associate, Insights to drive a rigorous learning agenda focused on enterprise growth, work quality and women’s participation in the green economy across Africa. The position will be based in Nairobi or Lagos and will support evidence generation, synthesis and adaptive learning for a multi‑stakeholder program.

Key responsibilities

• Design and conduct qualitative and mixed‑methods research to capture field evidence on entrepreneurship, MSMEs and climate‑related initiatives.
• Synthesize research findings into clear, actionable recommendations and written reports for donors and program partners.
• Collaborate with programme teams to integrate insights into strategy and implementation plans.
• Manage research projects, timelines and stakeholder coordination to ensure timely delivery of outputs.
• Contribute to knowledge‑sharing platforms and thought‑leadership materials.

Required profile

• 5‑8 years of experience in research, consulting, development or strategy roles.
• Strong capability in qualitative or mixed‑methods research design and analysis.
• Proven ability to translate complex evidence into concise recommendations.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience in entrepreneurship, MSMEs, climate or large donor‑funded programmes is a plus.

Required skills

• Qualitative research methods
• Mixed‑methods research

What we offer

• Opportunity to influence high‑impact development programmes across Africa.
• Collaborative environment with multi‑sectoral partners.
• Professional growth in a leading social‑impact organization.