Director, Research & Analysis

Who We Are:
Yoga Alliance is the largest nonprofit membership association of yoga professionals, practitioners, and advocates around the globe. We believe if more people practice yoga, the better the world will be. We’re here to amplify the power of yoga and to make it accessible to anyone wherever they are, under whatever circumstances by:  

• Uplifting the transformative power of yoga, 
• Surfacing and reducing barriers to the practice, and  
• Building, engaging, and supporting the yoga community. 

Our member-driven community is a diverse collective of wisdom holders, yoga educators, and teachers expanding their expertise; a welcoming space for those newly exploring yoga; a place for seasoned practitioners to deepen their practice; and a supportive hub where community leaders, organizations, and businesses can leverage yoga for social good. 

At the core of Yoga Alliance lies a profound commitment to our people. Here, every team member is empowered to lead, innovate, dream, create, and grow. Diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging guide our way of being in work and in working with each other. We champion a culture of collaboration, where learning from failures is as valued as achieving success. Together, we challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what is possible. 

 

About the Role: 
Reporting to the Head of Strategy, Yoga Alliance is seeking a Director, Research & Analysis to join our team. 

In close partnership with the Head of Strategy and other functional heads, the Director leads and oversees the design, build, and execution of how Yoga Alliance collects data, leverages research, and measures whether its programs and initiatives are working. This role will combine external research (such as journal articles, reports, briefs, papers) with the organization’s data to provide recommendations and solutions toward Yoga Alliance’s strategic plan. The Director will collaborate and support team members with how to analyze and apply research and evidence to make and validate decisions – further moving Yoga Alliance toward a data informed framework.  

 

What You Will Do:

Portfolio Research & Evaluation 

• Lead the design and build of research framework at Yoga Alliance; ensure execution of the framework 

• Be the in house subject matter expert on research and metrics; teach and coach others on application 

• Stay abreast of yoga and wellness space and inject innovation and evolutions along the way 

• Track key performance indicators for project and team work plans and overall portfolio performance 

• Prepare executive-level reports and presentations on portfolio status, risks, and recommendations 

• Conduct post-implementation reviews to capture lessons learned and inform continuous improvement 

• Drive and maintain research and analysis functions that ensure data-driven insights inform portfolio decisions 

• Lead the design of and conduct research  that may include focus groups, stakeholder interviews, listening sessions, member panels, needs assessments, and feasibility analyses in support of strategic initiatives 

• Evaluate program and initiative effectiveness, tracking outcomes against organizational goals 

• Support the development and maintenance of the Balanced Scorecard and other performance frameworks 

• Monitor market trends, sector developments, and peer organization activity relevant to yoga, wellness, and credentialing 

• Curate and synthesize scholarly research to inform organizational strategy and thought leadership 

• Maintain an organized knowledge management system for research assets and data sources 

• Nurture and steward relationships with yoga and wellness researchers 

Data Analysis & Visualization 

• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data from surveys, member data, and external sources 

• Translate findings into clear, compelling reports and visualizations for varied audiences (staff, board, members) 

• Support data storytelling across organizational communications 

• Partner with teams across the organization to identify information needs and design research approaches 

• Oversee and contribute to white papers, impact reports, and other knowledge products 

• Support grant-related research and evaluation requirements as needed 

• Lead the collection, synthesis, and interpretation of member, stakeholder, and community feedback to identify trends, opportunities, and strategic recommendations. 

Additional Responsibilities 

• Other projects and initiatives as necessary 

 

What You Will Bring:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in research, evaluation, data analysis or related role 
• 5+ years' experience in the following: 
  • Designing and executing research studies or program evaluations 
  • Survey design and administration (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey) 
  • Translating complex data into accessible reports or presentations for non-technical audiences 
  • Working with both quantitative and qualitative data 
  • Thought partnership 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in remote, distributed team environments 
• Demonstrated experience with software across a variety of data analysis tools and platforms (e.g. Excel, SPSS, R, or similar; Google Analytics, Tableau); as well as technology skills: Microsoft Office Suite, CRM (e.g. Salesforce for Nonprofits), and project management platforms (e.g. Monday.com), LMSs (e.g. Absorb, Learn Upon), Canva 
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI-enabled tools and large language models (LLMs) to support research, analysis, knowledge management, and organizational decision-making. 
• Demonstrated experience writing white papers, reports, and thought leadership pieces 
• Entrepreneurial, with high tolerance for ambiguity and complexity, and an ability to navigate problem solving in an efficient and collaborative manner 
• Strength in the following core competencies and skills: 
  • Collaboration: Builds strong relationships across teams; creates conditions for cross-functional teamwork and trust. 
  • Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally across levels; provides insight and context that builds understanding. 
  • Judgment and Confidentiality: Exercises discretion and sound decision-making; operates with integrity and diplomacy 
  • Operational Execution: Designs systems that support clarity, accountability, and follow-through across multiple teams and priorities. 
  • Project and Change Management: Leads teams through complex, evolving projects with care, consistency, and attention to outcomes. 
  • Strategic and Systems Thinking: Connects operational details to broader goals; identifies leverage points to improve performance or outcomes. 
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in workplace or community settings. 
• Curious and proactively scans the horizon to stay abreast of technology, creative approaches, and novel ideas to experiment, test, and apply. 
• Ability to travel as needed to Yoga Alliance’s Arlington, VA office to participate in organizational meetings, training, and retreats. 

 

Desired Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, or equivalent) 
• Familiarity with the yoga, wellness, or complementary health fields  
• Understanding of strategic planning frameworks and performance indicators 

We encourage individuals to apply even if they do not have any of the desired qualifications. 

 

What We Offer:
Yoga Alliance provides robust employee benefits including comprehensive health insurance plan offerings that are 100% employer paid for employees and 65% paid for dependents, a matching 401K plan, a generous paid-leave program including parental leave and sabbatical leave, and reimbursement for professional development opportunities. Employees enjoy a casual dress code so they can arrive to work as their most authentic selves. Our organizational culture is supportive and collaborative with conscious attention to body and mind health. 

Location:
This position may be remote, locally based is preferred, and will require the individual to be able to travel, as needed, to Yoga Alliance’s office. Yoga Alliance is based in Arlington, Virginia within sight of the historic northwest region of Washington, DC.

Salary Range:
$100,000 to $120,000 (commensurate with experience). This position is a full-time, exempt position.

Application and Timeline: 
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by September 15 to ensure priority consideration of your application. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis after this priority deadline until the position is filled.

A cover letter is required and all cover letters will be read during the application review process.

Please, no phone calls or walk-ins.

 

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:
At Yoga Alliance, we value a diverse team and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individuals' race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.