Research & Development Manager

DEPARTMENT: Administration – Research & Development

ROLE TITLE: Research & Development Manager

LOCATION: Remote in Olympia, Washington State

LEVEL/SALARY: Volunteer

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer

DESIRED HOURS: Monday through Saturday, Part-time Flexible Hours within 10am-2pm PST

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: C.A.R.E. Wellness Center & Services

C.A.R.E. Wellness Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity with a mission of providing a safe farm stay, holistic retreat, and wellness programs for BIPOC community and allies for equality. Its programs are focused on persons of color and work with vulnerable populations such as BIPOC with justice-involvement, foster youth, and those suffering mental health challenges. The person in this role must be sensitive to these populations and center their duties on wellness.

Our Mission is to provide a safe farm stay, holistic retreat, and wellness programs for black, indigenous, people of color and allies, to recover from Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome via Spirituality, AgroTourism, and Racial Justice.

Our Vision is Connectivity: to Nature; to God; and to Self. Our goal of acquiring farmland is to establish a safe spiritual retreat for people of color to escape constant trauma and begin repairing their fractured foundation and realize self-actualization. Our programs are a research community project with a goal of empowering others to heal from PTSS.

The Founder, Chair, and CEO is a woman of color, Pansexual, and person with disabilities fully committed to the growth of both C.A.R.E. Wellness Center (nonprofit) and C.A.R.E. Family Services, LLC (for-profit), also doing direct services for children and youth. We highly encourage an ethical, organized, and ambitious student or seasoned professional to help support the foundation of this new and unique nonprofit for the community. This is a home-based office welcoming volunteers, guests, and visitors for meetings while fundraising for farmland to headquarter wellness programs.

JOB SUMMARY:

We seek a visionary leader with strong research skills and a passion for equity, sustainability, and mental health. The R&D Manager will oversee research initiatives, manage data analysis, and ensure ethical standards while fostering partnerships with universities, funders, and community stakeholders.

This role combines strategic thinking, creativity, and technical expertise to advance our mission and position programs for academic validation and national replication.

Unique Opportunity: The R&D Manager will also contribute to developing an app and unique systems for intentional communities, working closely with the IT Systems and Program teams to design features for the new app that integrate wellness tracking, community engagement, and Time Bank functionality.

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

This role involves identifying research opportunities, designing and implementing studies, analyzing data, and translating findings into actionable programs and services. We seek a visionary leader with strong research skills and a passion for equity, sustainability, and mental health. The R&D Manager will oversee research initiatives, manage data analysis, and ensure ethical standards while fostering partnerships with universities, funders, and community stakeholders. The officer will work remotely and collaborate with various teams to ensure the integration of research into the center’s offerings.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct comprehensive research on wellness practices, mental health, and sustainable living.
• Design and implement research projects to develop trauma-informed, culturally competent programs.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategic decisions and program development.
• Collaborate with Program, Finance, and Marketing teams to integrate research into offerings and campaigns.
• Partner with IT and R&D teams to develop app features and systems for intentional communities (Circuit app).
• Stay current on trends in wellness, mental health, and community-based interventions.
• Manage R&D budgets and resources efficiently.
• Prepare detailed reports, dashboards, and presentations for leadership and stakeholders.
• Uphold confidentiality and ethical research practices.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Types 35+ WPM; excellent oral, written, and digital communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organizational and project management skills for timelines and deliverables.

PROGRAMS USED:

• Microsoft Suite, SharePoint
• Slack/Yodel for communication
• Research tools (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey)
• Data Analytics (Excel, Power BI, SPSS/R)
• Project Management (Notion)

WORK CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Primarily remote with occasional in-person meetings and events; minimal physical exertion; may involve local travel.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree or higher in Psychology, Public Health, Environmental Science, Data Science, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in research and development, preferably in wellness or nonprofit sectors.
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; ability to translate findings for diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with app development concepts and willingness to collaborate on tech-driven solutions.
• Commitment to trauma-informed care, sustainability, and racial equity.
• Commitment to the values of spirituality, sustainability, and equality.

C.A.R.E. Wellness Center is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all stakeholders.

NEXT STEPS: Please Apply HERE! https://forms.gle/TEe1B5c7krmZxRap7

Watch our video to learn more: Mission Nonprofit featuring C.A.R.E. Wellness Cent