Application Guide
How to Apply for Program Director - Research and Strategic Initiatives
at Verité
🏢 About Verité
Verité is a global nonprofit that partners with corporations, foundations, and governments to eliminate forced labor, child labor, and unsafe working conditions in supply chains. Unlike many NGOs, Verité works directly with companies to embed human rights due diligence into their operations, making it a unique bridge between research and corporate practice. Working here means shaping the field of ethical sourcing with evidence that drives real policy and business change.
About This Role
As Program Director for Research and Strategic Initiatives, you will lead the design and execution of rigorous desk- and field-based research projects for corporate, foundation, and government clients. You will manage teams of researchers and consultants, ensure methodological rigor, and translate findings into client-ready deliverables and original publications. This role is pivotal in expanding Verité’s thought leadership and ensuring their research remains cutting-edge and impactful.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a call with a corporate client to discuss preliminary findings from a field study in Southeast Asia, followed by a team meeting to troubleshoot sampling challenges in a new project. In the afternoon, you’d review a draft report from a consultant, provide feedback, and then work on a proposal for a foundation grant to expand research on migrant labor. You’d end the day preparing for an upcoming trip to conduct field research in Central America.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Verité Is Looking For
- PhD or Master’s in social sciences, public health, economics, or a related field, with 8+ years of experience leading mixed-methods research in labor rights, supply chains, or international development.
- Proven expertise in quantitative research methods, including sampling design, survey implementation, and statistical analysis, ideally with experience in hard-to-reach populations or conflict-affected settings.
- Demonstrated success managing multiple research projects simultaneously, including budget oversight, client communication, and leading diverse teams of staff and consultants across geographies.
- Strong commitment to ethical research practices, worker-centered approaches, and using technology (including AI) responsibly to enhance research efficiency and impact.
📝 Tips for Applying to Verité
Highlight your experience designing field research in global supply chains—be specific about sectors (e.g., agriculture, apparel, electronics) and geographies where you’ve worked.
Show how you’ve used quantitative methods to inform corporate or policy decisions; include metrics like sample sizes, response rates, or how findings influenced client actions.
Demonstrate familiarity with Verité’s research publications and reference how your work aligns with or could expand their thought leadership.
Emphasize your ability to manage client relationships and deliver high-quality outputs on time, as this role is client-facing and revenue-generating.
Mention any experience with AI or technology tools in research (e.g., natural language processing for qualitative data, mobile data collection platforms) to show you can innovate responsibly.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your track record leading rigorous, multi-country field research projects from design to delivery, including sampling strategies and data analysis.', 'Experience managing teams and consultants, with examples of how you ensured quality and ethical standards across diverse contexts.', 'Ability to translate complex research findings into actionable recommendations for corporate and government clients, and into publications that advance the field.', 'Your alignment with Verité’s mission and values, and how you would contribute to their vision of safe, fair, and legal work conditions worldwide.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Verité’s recent research reports and publications to understand their methodological approaches and key focus areas (e.g., forced labor in Malaysia, cocoa in West Africa).
- → Explore Verité’s client list and partnerships to understand the range of sectors and funders they work with, and identify where your experience aligns.
- → Research Verité’s tools and frameworks, such as their ‘Responsible Sourcing Tool’ and ‘Fair Hiring Toolkit’, to see how they operationalize research.
- → Look into the backgrounds of Verité’s leadership and research team to understand their expertise and potential synergies with your own.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on academic research without demonstrating how you’ve applied findings to real-world corporate or policy contexts.
- Neglecting to mention experience with quantitative methods or data analysis, as the role explicitly requires quantitative expertise.
- Underestimating the client-service aspect—this is not a purely academic role; you must show you can manage funder relationships and deliver on commercial timelines.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!