Innovation Lab Director

About StrongMinds

StrongMinds is a global mental health nonprofit on a mission to end the depression pandemic in Africa and beyond. Using Interpersonal Group Therapy (IPT-G), StrongMinds has treated over 2 million people since its founding in 2013, making it one of the most cost-effective mental health interventions in the world. Operating across Uganda and Zambia, and through government and NGO partnerships in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Rwanda. StrongMinds is expanding its reach to bring proven, scalable mental health care to millions more people in need.

The Role

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. We have already started exploratory research and implementation pilots and the IL Director will use learnings from these pilots to 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.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Develop and deliver the Innovation Lab’s multi-year strategy, aligned with organizational priorities, and shape the Lab’s OKRs.
• Represent StrongMinds in relevant global forums, working groups, and conferences related to mental health innovation, digital health, and health systems strengthening.
• Present recommendations, risks, and strategic options to the Global Leadership Team and Board of Trustees.

2. Delivery Model Optimization & the Ultra Low-Cost Model (ULCM)

• Lead the redesign of StrongMinds’ core delivery model(s) to dramatically reduce cost-per-client while maintaining minimum standards of treatment quality and equity.
• Align simplified models with government priorities and health systems ensuring clear pathways for transitioning model ownership to government partners.
• Develop evidence products that governments, NGOs, and funders can use to understand and adopt the optimized model(s).
• Institutionalize ROI tracking — cost, outcomes, and equity — across all Innovation Lab pilots and experiments.

3. Team & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary Innovation Lab team, establishing a culture of curiosity, rigor, and rapid iteration.
• Provide strategic leadership across Research, Digital Transformation, Programs, and Country Teams, and resolve cross-functional barriers affecting delivery of innovation priorities.
• Build internal capacity across the organization by training staff in human-centered design (HCD), adaptive trial methods, and innovation management.

Team & Structure

The Director leads a multidisciplinary team through a combination of direct and cross-functional (matrix) leadership. Direct reports include an Innovation Lab Program Manager (day-to-day program management, field implementation, and cross-team coordination), a Program Coordinator (on-the-ground delivery of the ULCM, including field operations and budget administration), and a Human-Centered Design Lead (user research, prototyping, and service design). The Director is also matrixed with a Research Lead (study design, statistical analysis, and cost-effectiveness modeling) and a Research Officer (research governance, ethical review, and field research quality assurance). The Director retains full accountability for strategy, performance, resource allocation, and cross-functional integration, while delegating day-to-day delivery and technical execution to the relevant team members.

Qualifications & Experience

Desired Education

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.

Preferred Experience 

• 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.

Desirable

• 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.