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

Position Summary:

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.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

Research and Evaluation

• 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

Program Management, Evaluation & Analytics

• 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.

Grant and Funding Pursuit

• 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

Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities:

• 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 ethical standards and a commitment to the organization’s mission.
• Proficiency with software platforms, including Salesforce, cloud-based document management, Google Suite, and other productivity tools.
• Ability to foster a positive, inclusive workplace culture.
• Strong understanding of data analysis and research methodologies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in research, product development, health, healthcare, or a related field required.
• 3 - 5 years of proven experience in program management, implementation and evaluation.

Supervisor Responsibilities:

• None

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Primarily office-based or remote work requiring prolonged periods of sitting and computer use.
• Occasional lifting or moving of program materials or supplies.
• Travel to local and national events, which may involve walking, standing for extended periods, and carrying light materials.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends, around events and meetings.
• Hybrid work environment with the ability to work from home or from an office in the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area.

Travel: Occasional travel to community events or conferences may be required.

Hours: 40 hours per week, Exempt

B****enefits: Comprehensive health benefits package, short-term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, 11 paid holidays and paid time off. Opportunity for an annual bonus in good financial years if goals are met or exceeded during annual review.

About the Company:

Healthy Birth Day, Inc. (HBD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of stillbirth. We foster a welcoming and inclusive culture and are best known for the Count the Kicks public health awareness campaign, which educates and empowers expectant parents to track their baby’s movements during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Healthy Birth Day provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Diversity of knowledge and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.