Director of Learning and Eval

Job Description

Job Description

The Director of Learning and Evaluation leads organization-wide learning, evaluation, performance measurement, data governance, and data systems for LAYC's integrated youth and family programs. The Director sets standards and priorities to ensure program data are credible, secure, and useful; advises executive and program leaders; leads the L&E team; supports grant development; and helps staff use evidence to guide decisions and improve programs. The role also leads program measurement, data quality, governance, and cross-partner learning for a collective impact partnership in Maryland (ENOUGH), which LAYC serves as Community Quarterback.

JOIN US AND SUPPORT YOUTH TO LIVE, WORK, AND STUDY WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY!

Latin American Youth Center’s (LAYC) mission is to empower youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through comprehensive and innovative programs that address youths’ social, academic, and career needs. To achieve this mission, LAYC provides services and opportunities to approximately 4,000 individuals annually to support academic achievement, promote healthy behavior, and guide youth towards successful adulthood.

We believe in a future where all youth pursue their dreams, reach their goals and acquire the skills and self-confidence to live a life of purpose, connection, contribution and joy.

COMPETITIVE BENEFITS

In addition to a friendly work environment, we are pleased to offer the following benefits to our employees.

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with prescription coverage.
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability and supplemental life insurance
• Matching 401(k) program beginning at hire
• 3 weeks paid vacation leave per year; PTO is accrued, increasing to 4 weeks with tenure.
• 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days paid sick leave per year and 4 wellness days. Sick and wellness days are prorated during your first year based on your start date, then available in full in subsequent years.
• Eight weeks paid parental leave, including adoption and foster care.
• Health club discounts
• One to two days per week of telework for most positions (eligible after first 60 days).

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational leadership

• Utilize evaluation methodology, theory, practice, and findings to improve the services provided to LAYC/MMYC’s participants and their families in close cooperation with LAYC/MMYC’s Senior Team, Directors, and L&E staff.
• Promote a culture of reflection, learning, and use of data to inform decision-making and strategic planning with staff from all levels within LAYC/MMYC.
• Lead data and evaluation capacity-building activities with program staff, including trainings on LAYC/MMYC’s performance management software, Efforts-to-Outcomes (ETO), data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Create, lead, and revise policies and protocols related to best practices in data collection, monitoring, and management, as needed.

Department administration

• Supervise team of L&E Specialists and consultants.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operation of the L&E department.
• Oversee department budget and other administrative tasks.

Data management and analysis

• Oversee the quality and accuracy of LAYC/MMYC’s data collection infrastructure, including the ETO database; work with data monitors from every department to ensure timely, routine monitoring of data quality and completeness.
• Oversee all quantitative and qualitative data collection and manipulation, analysis, and reporting efforts to measure program success, using a variety of tools including Excel, Python, R, and Power BI to analyze and visualize data trends.
• Design, modify, and oversee various data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups to collect community feedback, and routinely assess community needs and assets. This may include creation and modification of guiding materials such as survey administration methodology, interview guides, and focus group protocols for LAYC/MMYC and partner organizations working collectively.
• For ENOUGH, lead the Data Working Group and shared measurement framework; monitor partner data submissions for timelines and quality standards; review data-sharing and quality protocols; build partner capacity; and facilitate shared reporting and cross-partner learning.

Data communication

• Work in collaboration with LAYC/MMYC’s grants and development departments on fundraising proposals related to new and existing programs, including creating or updating evaluation plans, logic models, and other data- and measurement-related deliverables.
• Collaborate with program staff to ensure reports and responses for LAYC/MMYC funders meet all reporting requirements related to outputs, outcomes, and evaluation results.
• Produce written reports and presentations to disseminate findings through publications and presentations to a variety of audiences such as LAYC/MMYC staff, youth, LAYC/MMYC’s Board of Directors, funders, and professional associations.
• Act as liaison between LAYC/MMYC and partner organizations; oversee the execution of data sharing agreements with community partners, including those working together under a Collective Impact framework.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, education, social work, public health, or related field that includes background in research and evaluation, statistics, and/or nonprofit management. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience in performance measurement, monitoring and evaluation, or related research practices working with or within non-profit organizations.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience building, customizing, and working with a client relationship management (CRM) software package. Preference for experience working with ETO. Preference for proficiency with Business Object Web Intelligence software (ETO Results).
• Demonstrated capacity to provide leadership and training in making data-informed decisions.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Academic or professional experience and training in quantitative and qualitative research/evaluation methods, including familiarity with conducting guided interviews, focus groups, and the use of related data collection and analysis techniques.
• Experience in creation, design, and modification of program logic models / theories of change.
• Experience with survey design, administration, and analysis. This includes item creation and modification of existing questions and response categories.
• Prior experience with project budgeting and planning and execution.
• Experience evaluating youth development programs or social programs highly desirable.
• Knowledge or experience with projects guided by the Collective Impact approach highly desirable.
• Comfort working with ‘messy’ data that may need to be regularly cleaned or updated, or that may need to be transformed or interpreted in different ways.
• Ability to communicate evaluation concepts to multiple audiences, including LAYC/MMYC/MMYC staff, youth/participants, parents, media, LAYC/MMYC/MMYC Board of Directors, and funders.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work well and communicate with culturally diverse populations.
• Complete criminal and child abuse/neglect clearances.
• Flexible, energetic, positive individual with commitment to youth development in a high quality, respectful environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 10 lbs. May require the ability to travel locally and/or regionally.

LAYC/MMYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing opportunities without regard to age, race, color, pregnancy, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or status within any other protected group.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume.