Lead, Research & Evaluation (Arlington)

• Support design and implementation of program and policy evaluations using mixed-methods approaches.
• Independently develop logic models, theories of change, and measurement frameworks for programs and initiatives.
• Develop and contribute to evaluation plans, indicators, and data collection strategies.
• Design and test survey instruments, interview guides, and data collection tools.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses appropriate to project scope.
• Synthesize findings into reports, slide decks, and briefs for internal and external audiences.
• Perform quality assurance reviews of analytic outputs and reports.

• Develop program and project evaluation plans, including evaluation questions, indicators, data sources, and analysis approaches.
• Collaborate with internal teams and partners to align evaluation designs with program goals and implementation realities.
• Draft and support Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and related research ethics documentation.
• Coordinate IRB amendments, renewals, and reporting requirements as needed.
• Ensure evaluation activities follow appropriate human subjects protection and data privacy standards.

• Manage day-to-day execution of research and evaluation projects from initiation through closeout.
• Develop and maintain project work plans, timelines, and deliverable trackers.
• Coordinate with external research partners and vendors.
• Support development and finalization of contracts and scopes of work.
• Lead regular partner check-ins and document decisions, risks, and next steps.
• Coordinate internal review and approval workflows for research deliverables.

• Maintain and manage research and evaluation project workflows using project management platforms (e.g., Asana).
• Develop and maintain project task structures, timelines, reminders, and accountability tracking.
• Support team-wide project management standards and workflow consistency.
• Document and transfer workflow processes to support continuity across team members.

• Support survey programming and testing in Qualtrics or similar platforms.
• Coordinate data collection processes and monitor fielding progress.
• Support data quality checks and documentation.
• Maintain research workflow and tracking systems.

• Work closely with Marketing & Communications staff to plan and support dissemination of research and evaluation findings.
• Contribute ideas for dissemination products tailored to different audiences.
• Translate technical findings into clear, audience-appropriate summaries and presentation materials.
• Coordinate internal review and approval of dissemination products tied to research and evaluation outputs.

• Work with program, policy, and partnerships teams to translate learning needs into evaluation questions.
• Support proposal development with evaluation approaches and measurement plans.
• Contribute to internal learning agendas and evaluation strategy discussions.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public policy, public health, social science, evaluation, or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of direct experience designing and implementing program or policy evaluations.
• Demonstrated experience independently developing logic models and evaluation frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience developing evaluation plans for programs or initiatives.
• Experience translating program models into measurable outcomes and indicators.
• Experience serving in a primary evaluation or research role on at least one multi-month project.
• Experience with survey design and qualitative data collection.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.
• Strong project management skills across multi-partner initiatives.
• Experience managing external vendors or research partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present data findings in a clear and concise manner to different audiences. 
• Working knowledge of human subjects research requirements and IRB processes.
• Experience with mixed-methods evaluation approaches.
• Working knowledge of basic quantitative analysis methods.
• Experience with qualitative analysis and synthesis.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with statistical software (R, SPSS, Stata, or similar).
• Willingness and ability to participate in anticipated in-state and out-of-state travel, including overnight travel, as requested (up to 10-15%). 

• Experience with survey platforms and data collection and visualization tools (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience in nonprofit, public sector, or social impact settings.
• Experience with federally funded or multi-site projects.
• Familiarity with aging, health, or public benefits programs.
• Experience using project management platforms such as Asana or similar workflow tools strongly preferred.
• Experience drafting or contributing to IRB applications preferred (PI experience not required).
• Experience supporting dissemination of research findings.

• Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk. 
• Occasionally required to walk. 
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. 
• Frequently required to talk or listen. 
• Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
• Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds). 

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.