Research Director

EO•Abingdon, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Programs, the Research Director is responsible for leading and aligning the gathering, management, and architecture of all data for EO’s portfolio of projects and initiatives. The Director researches and presents data that contribute to the organization’s mission, vision, goals, and objectives in the strategic plan. The Director is responsible for developing monitoring and evaluation tools and processes to measure, track and report on community outcomes utilizing comprehensive community data and other information resources. The Director will collaborate with community stakeholders to build specific partnerships for long-term results, setting priorities through facilitated discussions, and examination of education, health, and economic data. The Director is responsible for translating data and leading evaluation efforts into actionable metrics and sharing findings/learnings with both internal and external audiences. The Director will work closely with program staff to access and analyze data in support of program objectives.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to listen carefully and interpret what is being said
Experience handling multiple assignments at the same time
Enjoy working independently and as part of a team
Ability to solve problems quickly and effectively
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work with ambiguity and under tight schedules
Exhibit a positive attitude
Exhibit a professional manner and appearance
Strong organization, time management, accuracy, and productivity/prioritization skills
High level of trust, integrity, and ethics
Strong commitment to maintaining integrity and confidentiality of information
Advanced understanding and experience in a variety of computer applications, including use of the internet, SaaS products, Microsoft Office products, etc.
Working knowledge of office equipment (computers, printers, copiers, conference phones)
Working knowledge of online remote work technologies
Ability to participate effectively and contribute meaningfully to meetings
Ability to work with HR to recruit, hire, onboard, and train employees
Proven ability to provide senior-level employees with actionable feedback via 1:1 meetings or performance evaluations
Ability to align team goals with the larger company vision through team meetings and status updates
Ability to effectively delegate work
Proven ability to produce results by collaborating effectively
Proven ability to manage administrative project budgets, update metrics, and manage projects effectively
Ability to document role or project-specific processes
Ability to link project goals and objectives to company-wide objectives
Ability to monitor and update Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to evaluate project health and effectiveness
Proven skills in coaching, delegation, and accountability
A deep alignment with EO’s mission to build thriving communities through education, workforce innovation, and wellness
Bachelor's Degree from accredited four-year college or university
Relevant education, training and certifications in measurement, program evaluation, statistics and data analytics in the areas of human service, education and/or community health
Three to five years' experience designing and/or conducting evaluations of programs and interventions at different stages of development in the field of childcare or education and career pathways
Expert level proficiency in Excel, analytical and data visualization software (e.g., Clear Impact, Tableau, Alteryx, etc.)
Experience using survey and interview instruments, Survey Monkey
Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance
Reliable high-speed home internet access

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in economics, statistics or related fields
Experience facilitating data-informed continuous improvement
Mastery of all facets of the research cycle from study design to instrument construction to data analysis and insight generation
Advanced analytical and statistical techniques to include multivariate analyses, predictive analytics, and modeling

Responsibilities

Develop and implement methods to monitor, evaluate, and improve program performance, with a focus on outcomes at the programmatic and community levels.
Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative research using advanced methodologies, including surveys, statistical analysis, and evaluation frameworks.
Lead the collection, preparation, validation, and analysis of data from multiple internal, external, community, regional, and publicly available sources.
Create clear, actionable reports, dashboards, and data visualizations that summarize key findings and support decision-making.
Serve as an organizational expert on research methodologies, data visualization, and business intelligence tools.
Document data, research, and evaluation processes, policies, and procedures, and cross-train staff to ensure continuity and backup.
Collaborate with the VP and AVP of Programs to develop a comprehensive research agenda and ensure organizational research needs are met efficiently.
Drive strategy and execution for data collection, evaluation, and analytics efforts, ensuring processes are streamlined and optimized.
Measure, track, and report community outcomes aligned with the organization’s strategic goals, and support ongoing community input and feedback.
Collaborate with EO staff, community partners, and independent researchers to develop logic models, evaluation plans, and other strategic tools.
Design and lead research requests and special studies as needed.
Develop and manage relationships with institutional partners to support shared learning and joint research and evaluation initiatives.
Facilitate and manage data-sharing agreements with third parties to expand access to relevant data and analytical support.
Coordinate with MarCom to create and maintain standard and custom reports, and train program staff to develop regional- and site-level reports.
Contribute to grant proposals, reports, and fundraising efforts by providing evaluation content, program performance analysis, and relevant population-level context.
Supervise the Research Specialist and the Research Coordinator.