[Hiring] Innovation Lab Director @StrongMinds

Role Description

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Innovation Lab Director is a senior strategic leader responsible for driving StrongMinds’ transition from a proven but resource-intensive delivery model toward radically more scalable, cost-efficient, and sustainable approaches to mental health care that can be delivered sustainably by government.

At the heart of this role is the Ultra Low-Cost Model (ULCM) — StrongMinds’ bold commitment to delivering effective mental health treatment at less than $1 per client. The IL Director will lead the redesign of StrongMinds’ delivery model(s), build the evidence base for what works at scale, and explore revenue-generating innovations that help sustain the mission without displacing free care for those who need it most.

The IL Director provides executive oversight of a complex, multi-country portfolio spanning research, human-centered design, digital innovation, and implementation. Success in this role depends on aligning internal teams and external partners around a shared strategic direction and ensuring that innovation investments deliver measurable improvements in cost-effectiveness, scalability, and impact.

This role demands a leader who can operate at the intersection of clinical rigor, design thinking, and entrepreneurial ambition. The Director will manage a portfolio of experiments across multiple countries, make evidence-based decisions about what to scale and what to stop, and serve as StrongMinds’ principal representative for the Innovation Lab with governments, funders, academic institutions, and global mental health partners.

The Director works with a high degree of autonomy, supported by the COO and the Global Leadership Team, and is expected to set direction, drive execution, and deliver measurable results.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in public health, mental health, behavioral science, health innovation, international development, health economics or a related discipline.
• A PhD and clinical background in mental health (e.g., psychology, psychiatry, clinical social work) is a strong advantage.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven experience managing a portfolio of experiments or pilots — including the discipline to discard what isn’t working and double down on what is.
• Strong understanding of digital health, AI-enabled solutions, and their application in LMIC health contexts.
• Hands-on experience implementing or evaluating digital health tools is highly desirable.
• Track record of working with governments on health systems integration, model adoption, or policy development.
• Experience building and leading teams in a start-up or innovation lab environment, including recruiting talent and fostering a culture of experimentation.

Benefits

• Demonstrated track record of designing, piloting, and scaling innovative health delivery models in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), ideally including mental health or community-based health programming.
• Experience with Interpersonal Group Therapy (IPT-G) or similar evidence-based group therapy models.
• Familiarity with human-centered design (HCD), adaptive trial methodologies, or lean experimentation frameworks.
• Strong budget management skills, with experience managing grant-funded portfolios.
• Existing networks within the global mental health ecosystem (WHO, Wellcome Trust, Grand Challenges, Lancet Commission, etc.).
• Experience with futures thinking, scenario planning, or strategic foresight methodologies.
• Understanding of regulatory environments for digital and paid health services in East/Southern Africa.

Location Note

This role can be based anywhere with at least 6 hours of time-zone overlap with East Africa Time (EAT), with regular travel to StrongMinds country programs in Uganda and Zambia, and periodic international travel.