Research and Development Strategist

Job Title: Research and Development Strategist

Reports To: Director of Advancement

FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt

Employment Status: Full-time

Work Location: Hybrid

Effective Date: September 2026

The Research and Development Strategist ensures Healthy Birth Day, Inc.'s (HBD) educational materials and programs — including our maternal health prevention program Count the Kicks — are grounded in current evidence and best practices, as well as easy to understand among a broad audience of expectant parents and medical professionals. This role oversees HBD's research platform and hallmark tool, the Count the Kicks app, monitoring and translating relevant research into actionable updates across app features, educational content, and business lines to keep the organization's guidance accurate and aligned with the latest science.

The Strategist works cross-functionally to support the development and refinement of products and programs, contributing research-informed recommendations on educational content and feature development, and identifies and cultivates partnerships with funding agencies and academic institutions. This position plays a key role in maintaining consistency and credibility across all of HBD's products and services, ensuring what the organization offers — and how it is presented — reflects both the needs of its audience, best practices and a strong evidence base.

• Oversee scientific evaluations and research related to Count the Kicks programming and tools, collaborating with CEO and ensuring research platform aligns with overall strategic vision of HBD
• Translate and communicate research outcomes to internal staff, partners, and external audiences

• Oversee improvements to Count the Kicks products and programs.
• Act as project manager for the Count the Kicks app by working across teams to increase registrations/downloads, evaluate app survey feedback and platform functionality to identify opportunities for improvement, collaborate with the app development team to enhance user experience, optimize performance, and support user engagement and satisfaction.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, technologies, and best practices.
• Oversee research and app project budgets, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.

• Research and secure funding specifically for research initiatives and project development.
• Prospect aligned grant funders; collaborate with internal teams to develop compelling grant proposals.
• Execute the grant application process and facilitate implementation of grant-funded initiatives.
• Develop and manage grant budgets, ensuring projects are completed on time and within scope.
• Track and report on grant outcomes to funders and internal leadership

• Ability to apply understanding of varied learning capacities and health literacy principles — including grade-level readability — to the development of accessible, evidence-based maternal health resources, with particular attention to known disparities in birth outcomes.
• Ability to think strategically and align R&D efforts with business objectives.
• Highly organized and self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs and products.
• Experience in strategy and partnership development.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and communicate scientific research to guide program decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Positive attitude and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Strong…