Director of Evaluation - Communities & Collaboratives #LI-PG1

NEBRASKA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION: 

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation is a nonprofit created to support children, young adults, and families with the overall goal of giving our state's kids what they need to thrive. We do this by building strong communities that support families. Our mission is to create positive change for Nebraska’s children through community engagement and we believe in a Nebraska where all children will have the resources and support to thrive. 

SUMMARY: 

The Director of Evaluation for Communities and Collaboratives will work closely with NCFF supported communities and collaboratives to understand their needs as it relates to evaluation capacity and for evaluation support. They will work to help identify gaps within and across community collaboratives related to evaluation processes and products aligned with identified goals and targets and they will support training and professional learning focused on research and evaluation efforts.?This person will play a key role in understanding the status of data collection, management, and use within and across community collaboratives. They will collaborate with the Assistant VP of Data Science to develop strategies that support communities access to, analysis of, and use of information and research and evaluation tools.  

This person will work closely with the Vice President for Research and Evaluation, the Associate Vice President of Evaluation Processes, and the Director of Evaluation for Organizational Initiatives, to support the coordination and alignment of research and evaluation efforts across NCFF in support of a systemic approach to Community Well Being. 

The Director of Evaluation for Communities and Collaboratives will work with statewide partners to understand the work of NCFF in the context of the statewide focus?on Community Wellbeing and participate in ongoing development and refinement of the Statewide Strategic Plan. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES: 

• Work closely with Community Coordinators, Central Navigators, Early Childhood Community Coordinators, and other key community leads to support their evaluation efforts of the Community Collaboratives as they build systems supporting and promoting Community Wellbeing. 

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with community partners (local, regional, state, and national as applicable)  

• Foster relationships with local evaluation contacts designated through external evaluation contracts to ensure community needs are met.  

• Foster working relationships with other external evaluation consultants as needed. 

• Assist in research and evaluation efforts related to the Connected Youth Initiative (CYI). 

• Serve on internal and external workgroups related to community collaborative evaluation efforts.  

• Support the coordination and alignment of research and evaluation efforts across NCFF in support of a systemic approach to Community Well Being. 

• Support the implementation of participatory evaluation approaches that involve community members in research and evaluation efforts 

• Attend conferences, workshops, seminars in-person and online to support evaluation efforts. 

• Facilitate training and professional learning activities for supported communities. 

• Travel across the state of Nebraska to assist with service arrays, focus groups, community events, and initiative programs related to evaluation efforts when appropriate.  

• Integrate, promote, and ensure a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion into all processes and products, using strategies for culturally competent evaluation. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This role has no supervisory responsibilities.  

WORK DIRECTION RECEIVED: Works with minimal direction.  

SCOPE/NATURE OF DISCRETION: Delegated discretion; authority to initiate and carry out actions that are deemed essential. 

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty independently and satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. This position requires someone with a combination of training, skills, and experience in research, evaluation, and project management. Also desirable are skills and experience in human services and/or nonprofit work. 

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY: 

Commit to and actively work toward equity, diversity, and inclusivity in all aspects of duties related to staff, internal and external stakeholders, contractors, consultants, trainers, and external agencies.  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

Required:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in a field relevant to the Nebraska Children and Family Foundation’s work (such as applied research and evaluation, policy evaluation, child welfare, education, public health, etc.) and 3+ years of work experience in program evaluation, data analysis, and reporting or related certifications and at least 5 years of work experience.  

• Experience using both qualitative and quantitative methods for design, analysis, and reporting. 

• Experience with analysis software. 

Knowledge:  

• Understanding of best practices for program evaluation and research, including an understanding of co-creation and equity-focused evaluation and research based on cultural competence principles. 

• Familiarity with and interest in issues facing children, families, youth, and communities in Nebraska. 

• Strong interest in work that improves conditions and outcomes for children, families, youth, and communities in Nebraska.  

• Familiarity with collective impact principles. 

• Experience working with third party evaluators: procurement, oversight, contract, and relationship management. 

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 

• Working knowledge of office equipment and applicable computer software  

Abilities: 

• Provide technical assistance to non-researchers on use of research and data 

• Work with people from diverse backgrounds including those with and without strong evaluation/research skills 

• Possess strong interpersonal skills, particularly with community members across diverse settings 

• Possess strong oral and written communication skills 

• Possess strong organizational skills 

• Ability to provide training and facilitation  

• Create and use data tools such as Excel 

• Data analysis and interpretation  

• Report preparation and presentation 

Preferred:  

• Experience working with local, state, and or federal agencies. 

• Experience with data management software such as Clarity, QuickBase, Power BI, SPSS 

• Post-Bachelor's degree educational pursuits (masters level work, advanced certifications, etc.) 

Equivalency Statement 

An equivalent combination of education, work experience, volunteer experience, and lived experience will be considered. We recognize that individuals will meet these requirements in different ways and encourage all that do to apply.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret documents such as grant solicitations or governmental regulations.  

• Ability to support the creation of grant proposals and to create progress reports as well as routine reports and correspondence.  

• Ability to respond to common inquiries about the organization from the public and/or business community.  

• Ability to effectively present information to public groups. 

QUANTITATIVE SKILLS: 

• Ability to interpret and explain a variety of data presentations in tables, graphs, and other visualizations. 

• Ability to read and interpret demographic, qualitative, and quantitative evaluation, research, and/or report data.  

REASONING ABILITY: 

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in unique situations.  

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.   

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.   

• Ability to interpret statistical research findings (such as Census data) and to interpret mathematical data accurately in written communications.   

• Ability to plan, schedule, and manage multiple activities at once. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.  

• The employee frequently is required to use hands.  

• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Flexible schedule including possible evenings and weekends, 

• Ability to travel within the state of Nebraska including overnight stays 

• Hybrid in Nebraska