Research Director Jobs in Boston, MA

ABOUT UNTIED WAY:

For over 90 years, United Way of Massachusetts Bay has brought people, partners and communities together to solve our region's toughest challenges. Our work is centered on scaling safe and stable housing, strengthening educational opportunities, building economic mobility, centering youth and young adults, and stabilizing the safety net. United Way is advancing transformational impact through investing in communities and organizations, elevating community voice, sharing expertise and knowledge, convening partnerships across sectors and advocating for changes in public policy that scale what works. We believe real, transformative change only happens when people work together. We bring together community-based organizations, businesses, government, philanthropy, and neighbors to respond to today's challenges while building long-term solutions that help everyone thrive.

We offer excellent benefits including a BCBS PPO plan, dental, 401k retirement savings with company match and a discretionary employer base contribution. Our PTO policy offers summer hours and a three-day closure for Thanksgiving. We also offer a hybrid work schedule, with a minimum of 2 fixed days in office per week. Additional in person work will be required based on the needs of the position and the organization.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Director, Research and Evaluation plays a lead role in enabling UWMB to share its expertise and knowledge and disseminate research to support data-driven decision-making. They do this by leading evaluation efforts to articulate and document UWMB's impact and opportunities for growth and change, as well as by facilitating the translation of research evidence into practice and policy.

The Director will collaborate with their colleagues across the organization to implement appropriate methods of data collection and analysis, support engagements with independent evaluators and researchers, develop evidence-based content to advance systemic change, and support the production of new research that drives UWMB's impact. They are an experienced champion of data-informed continuous improvement and of centering participants in research, evaluation, and measurement activities. They are also an organizational leader in closing the loop between learning and action.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead measurement and evaluation efforts that articulate and document UWMB's impact and opportunities for growth and change

• Partner with staff in other departments, evaluation consultants, and/or other external parties to develop strategic tools such as logic models and measurement plans
• Support colleagues in building mechanisms for collecting data that is essential to assessing performance into their administrative processes
• Support colleagues in developing systems for collecting and analyzing feedback from partners and other community members as needed
• Identify and gather data and analysis available from third parties that supports UWMB's evaluation and learning efforts
• Analyze available qualitative and quantitative data to address questions about UWMB's impact, the efficacy of its investments, and potential actions to take
• Produce reports (i.e. written documents, presentations, visuals) of findings from measurement and evaluation efforts for internal and public audiences
• Contribute evaluation and research-related content to grant proposals

Facilitate translation of research evidence into practice and policy

• Partner with colleagues throughout the organization to create educational content such as fact sheets, infographics, presentations, and reports for various audiences (e.g. nonprofit partners, philanthropic organizations, policymakers, volunteers and donors) informed by UWMB's and others' research and learning efforts
• Keep internal documentation and knowledge-sharing tools (e.g. style guides, fact sheets) up to date with current results and evidence
• Co-author reports, briefs, and other products to disseminate findings from research and evaluation
• Build relationships with relevant researchers and research institutions to advance UWMB's research agenda
• Supervise students and fellows as they conduct literature reviews, landscape analyses, and other research about the fields in which UWMB works
• Cultivate opportunities to present UWMB's research and expertise at conferences and other events
• Represent UWMB and our research partnerships publicly at conferences and events

Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

• At least 6 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and/or the social sciences, preferably with a focus on human services, public health, or economic justice
• Bachelor's degree required, graduate degree preferred
• Experience facilitating data-informed continuous improvement
• Experience delivering professional reports and presentations on evaluation and research for audiences of practitioners, administrators, and policymakers
• Experience designing and/or conducting evaluations of programs and interventions at different stages of development in the field of childcare, economic development, asset building, housing, education, or youth development
• Experience obtaining and using public data to provide context and support program evaluation
• Knowledge of best and emerging practices in equitable and culturally responsive research, evaluation, and measurement
• Knowledge of best practices in privacy protection and responsible data sharing
• Strong written, oral, and visual presentation skills
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills
• Ability to provide top notch customer service to colleagues internally as well as to external partners in our research and learning efforts
• Ability to quickly learn to use new technology and software
• Ability to prioritize, manage and hold oneself accountable for completing multiple tasks both independently as well as part of a diverse team
• Advanced level of proficiency in using Microsoft Office tools, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Proficiency in PowerBI and MAXQDA is a plus.
• Experience teaching, coaching or training is a plus
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the mission of United Way of Massachusetts Bay

United Way of Massachusetts Bay is committed to hiring individuals who reflect the diversity of our communities.