Product Research Manager

Product Research Manager

Product Research Manager

• Job Type Full Time
• Qualification BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
• Experience 5 years
• Location Nairobi
• Job Field Data, Business Analysis and AI , ICT / Computer , Research and Development

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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

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