Director of Impact

Engineers Without Borders USA•Denver, CO

1d•$105,000 - $125,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Impact provides strategic leadership for how Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) defines, measures, learns from, and communicates the collective impact of its programs. Reporting to the COO, the Director leads the organization’s Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) strategy and stewards its Theory of Change. The role works across Programs, Development, Marketing & Communications, and with local partners in the U.S. and internationally to strengthen evidence-based program design, measure meaningful outcomes, and develop concept notes suitable for institutional funding. The Director will help EWB-USA move beyond measuring deliverables to understanding what changes, why it changes, and how the organization and its partners can increase and sustain impact. The role combines organizational strategy, data and evaluation, partner relationships, program design, learning, and external communications. During the first 18–24 months, priorities include implementing an organization-wide PMEL strategy, refreshing the Theory of Change to reflect the 2027–2030 strategy, developing core indicators and results frameworks, and establishing evidence agendas and partner-owned systems in Uganda, Ecuador, and the U.S. Measurement in other countries will be proportionate to program context and scale. The position is hybrid or fully remote, with a preference for Colorado residents. EWB-USA’s head office is in Denver, Colorado, and occasional travel to Denver and other domestic and international locations is required. Remote candidates will not be considered if located in California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Minnesota. Compensation is $105,000–$125,000. EWB-USA offers medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, potential for unlimited PTO, a matching 401(k), and a flexible and collaborative work environment.

Requirements

At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning, impact, program design, international development, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing PMEL/MEL strategies and results frameworks.
Experience working with theories of change, logical or results frameworks, indicators, and mixed-method approaches to evaluation.
Demonstrated ability to translate evidence and complex programmatic ideas into clear strategies and program concepts.
Experience developing concept notes, program designs, or technical components of institutional funding proposals.
Experience working collaboratively with local organizations, implementing partners, or community-based organizations.
Strong facilitation skills and demonstrated ability to build capacity rather than simply provide technical direction.
Strong analytical, writing, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to work across cultures, disciplines, and organizational functions.
Ability to balance methodological rigor with practical realities, available resources, and the needs of program teams and partners.
Ability to foster teamwork and develop and mentor others.
Leadership skills and ability to drive strategic direction.
Strategic thinking skills and technical expertise.
Ability to meet the physical demands of extended computer work, frequent group and one-on-one meetings, occasional lifting or moving of up to 15 pounds and rarely up to 50 pounds, and occasional domestic and international travel.
Must submit a cover letter and resume; the cover letter must indicate interest in the job and organization.
Remote candidates cannot be located in California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Minnesota.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in international development, public health, engineering, evaluation, social science, public policy, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience with WASH, infrastructure, climate resilience, community development, systems strengthening, or locally led development.
Experience with institutional donors and foundation-funded programs.
Experience designing or managing evaluations and research partnerships.
Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative data analysis and visualization.
Experience strengthening the MEL capacity of partner organizations.
Record of publishing, presenting at conferences, or representing an organization in sector networks.
Spanish or other relevant language skills.

Responsibilities

Lead EWB-USA’s organization-wide approach to defining and understanding impact, including translating and periodically refining the Theory of Change into practical results frameworks, outcomes, indicators, learning questions, and measurement approaches.
Develop and maintain an organization-wide impact framework and help leadership use evidence and learning to inform program priorities and strategic decisions.
Lead development and implementation of an organization-wide PMEL strategy and systems aligned with EWB-USA’s Theory of Change and strategic priorities, including adapting approaches to the U.S. context.
Establish core organizational indicators while supporting program-specific and donor-specific measurement needs; strengthen data collection, quality assurance, analysis, reporting, and use.
Partner with program teams and local partners to develop proportionate monitoring and evaluation plans, and build staff and partner capacity to collect, interpret, and use evidence.
Partner with the Volunteer Engagement Team to define and measure volunteer outcomes and provide technical support for volunteer measurement tools.
Lead portfolio-level analysis, identify opportunities for evaluations, research partnerships, and case studies, and support evaluation design and management with external evaluators and research partners where appropriate.
Carry program logic into grant-level MEL plans and tracking systems when grants are secured; lead results content for donor reports and manage grant-required evaluations with Development and program teams.
Work with local partners and Programs staff to identify community and systems-level needs, opportunities, and emerging program concepts; facilitate collaborative design that centers partner knowledge, priorities, and leadership.
Develop evidence-informed concept notes with clear program logic, results frameworks, and learning approaches for institutional donors, foundations, and corporate partners; maintain a pipeline of investment-ready concepts with Development.
Support proposal development with technical narratives, program logic, results frameworks, M&E plans, and evidence of past performance; assess funding opportunities against program strategy and partnership principles.
Develop and manage an organizational learning agenda; facilitate cross-program and cross-country learning and translate findings into recommendations for program improvement.
Develop impact briefs, case studies, learning products, and evidence summaries with Programs and Marketing & Communications; support white papers, research briefs, sector publications, and conference presentations.
Build EWB-USA’s evidence base and external credibility on locally led community engineering, community health, and WASH, working with Marketing & Communications to ensure evidence is used consistently and accurately.
Advise the Leadership Team and Programs leadership on impact, evidence, program quality, and learning; champion reflection and continuous improvement; collaborate across organizational functions and support impact-related planning and reporting.
Within the first 18–24 months, establish and implement the PMEL strategy, refresh and operationalize the Theory of Change, create regular evidence-use mechanisms, develop partner-owned frameworks and baseline data in priority countries, and put grant-level MEL systems in place when funding is secured.
Apply core indicators consistently in Kenya, Peru, and Guatemala, and use light-touch, proportionate core measurement elsewhere.