Product Research Manager

About the role

The Product Research Manager will lead Jacaranda Health's Product Research function, providing rigorous, fast-turnaround research that informs the reach, engagement,  retention, and impact/effectiveness of Jacaranda's digital products (PROMPTS, DELTA, PULSE). This role builds the processes, templates, and operating rhythm that allow product research to scale, and over time enables product teams to run lightweight studies themselves, reserving this function's capacity for higher-stakes questions. The role holder owns the technical quality and ethical conduct of product research, and the translation of research insights for product development.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Head of Department, Research

Direct reports: Product Research Analysts

Terms of Engagement: One-year contract, renewable

About Jacaranda Health

Jacaranda Health’s mission is to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in the public health system. Through innovative AI-driven technology and human-centered solutions, we partner with governments to scale impactful, data driven interventions. These solutions include PROMPTS, an AI-enabled platform for mothers, and MENTORS, a facility-based training program equipping frontline nurses with lifesaving skills and knowledge. Our innovations and partnerships have reached over 3 million women across 1,100+ health facilities. As we expand across Kenya, Eswatini, and Ghana, we are looking for dynamic leaders with a passion for impact, to help us transform the future of maternal health. 

Jacaranda Health is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from qualified candidates regardless of race or ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and any other protected characteristics. 

About the team

The Research Design & Evaluation (RD&E) team is the heart of Jacaranda Health, providing evidence for product design, implementation, scale and expansion of Jacaranda’s programming. We pride ourselves on being data and technically adept, working with cutting edge technology to drive high value solutions for maternal health. 

What You’ll Do:

Product Research Delivery

• Design and conduct mixed-methods research (usability testing, lightweight surveys, message and feature experiments, engagement/retention analysis) across PROMPTS, DELTA, and PULSE, answering the reach, engagement & retention, and effectiveness questions in Jacaranda's Research & Learning Agenda.

• Translate product usage data + research insights into clear, actionable recommendations for product, engineering, and design stakeholders.

• Prioritize which questions warrant a full study versus a lightweight test, balancing rigor against product delivery timelines.

• Accountable for the technical quality, credibility, and actionability of product research findings.

Function & Process Building

• Design, implement and own the operating model for product research: intake process, success criteria, templates, and documentation standards.

• Build the enablement layer (guides, templates, training) that allows product managers to run their own lightweight studies over time.

• Manage the function's own timelines, budget, and resourcing during its build-out phase.

• Accountable for product research operating as a credible, repeatable practice, being integrated into Product lifecycles 

Stakeholder Partnership & Technical Representation

• Partner with Product, Tech, Medical and Data leads, embedding research into the product delivery lifecycle (sprint planning, roadmap reviews).

• Represent product research findings to the Head of Department and Technical Team Leadership, connecting product-level insights to Jacaranda's broader product goals 

• Accountable for product research being seen as a trusted, embedded partner to product teams

Team Leadership 

• Define the scope for, and hire, 1-2 Product Research Analysts as demand grows.

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance, structure and quality review of that role's output. 

• Accountable for the analyst's ramp-up, professional growth, and the quality of work.

Who you are:

What you bring

• 5+ years in product/UX research or a closely related mixed-methods research role; experience in digital health, behavior-change, or messaging-based products is an advantage

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's in a relevant field (e.g. HCI, behavioral science, public health, social science) preferred

Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience building and managing a research practice or function from (templates, process, prioritization)

• Strong quantitative literacy: comfort with engagement/retention/usage data (e.g. SMS or product logs), alongside qualitative methods (usability testing, interviews)

• Experience in product decision making and influence 

• Experience partnering directly with product managers, designers, developers, analysts and engineers inside a product/agile delivery cadence

Why join us?

Mission-driven work: Impact the lives of millions of mothers and babies.

Innovation-forward thinking: Lead cutting-edge solutions in maternal and newborn health.

High-growth organization: Shape national-scale programs with global reach.

People-centric culture: Collaborate with an ambitious, passionate, and supportive team.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit applications through this link – Product Research Manager.Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged. No hard copies required or accepted. 

Work permit sponsorship is not available for this role. Candidates must have the legal right to work in Kenya.

Application Deadline: 16th October 2026