Director of Research and Evaluation

The Organization

Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. We work with schools and in communities to provide the mentoring relationships, safe spaces, and evidence based programming that are proven to help girls succeed. Girls build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead change in their lives and effect change in the world. Girls Inc. also works with and for girls to advance legislation and policies that increase opportunities for all girls. Together with partners and supporters, we are building a new generation of leaders. Learn more at www.girlsinc.org.

OUR MISSION

To inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

OUR VALUES

The Girls Inc. Strategic Plan, Leveraging the Network and the Brand, reaffirmed the values that underlie our work:

• Respect the dignity of each human being.
• Recognize and support the strength in every girl.
• Appreciate, embrace, and advance diversity.
• Drive for results anchored in accountability.
• Operate collaboratively.

Position Summary

The function of the Girls Inc. Research Department is to ensure that Girls Inc. learns about girls and young women and the challenges and issues girls face, thus helping to generate support and solutions by identifying and providing information, knowledge, research, and processes that serve as the foundation for Girls Inc. programming, operations, advocacy, and public education, as well as support for organizational decision-making. The Director of Research is charged with oversight of that work and approves all research activities at Girls Inc.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Actively bring current research and best practice to bear on existing, developing, and potential Girls Inc. programming, public education, and advocacy efforts, maintaining the organization’s currency and sound reputation for research and statistics about girls and the issues they face
• Design and lead all Girls Inc. research projects, either by serving as principal investigator or by guiding Girls Inc. staff or external research consultants. Provide inspiring leadership and effective management of the current Outcomes project, a collaboration between the national organization and member organizations, to measure the outcomes we want for the girls we serve. Develop and implement a plan to institutionalize the work of measuring outcomes across the Girls Inc. network
• Design, develop, and implement strategies for evaluating the Girls Inc. Experience as well as new and ongoing initiatives
• Initiate and manage publications to increase knowledge about girls and young women
• Manage the research and information functions, including sustaining the excellence of Affiliate Central and the development and reporting of any surveys of affiliates
• Work closely with the Program & Training Services Department, taking the lead in establishing the research base of programming, assuring the consistency of programs with girl-focused research and with the Girls Inc. goals and values, as well as providing the rationale/need statement logic model, evaluation tools, and resources for programs and initiatives
• When appropriate and feasible, initiate and implement strategy for getting Girls Inc. programs and programming recognized as best practice and model programs in public and private listings
• Work closely with the Development Department to conceptualize and develop major fundraising proposals and budgets with significant research and evaluation components that support the Girls Inc. Strategic Direction
• Participate in organizational planning and decision-making
• Serve as a Girls Inc. spokesperson, advocate for girls and organizational representative; participate in public policy, visibility and public relations initiatives to increase understanding of girls’ issues and Girls Incorporated
• Seek and manage relationships with researchers in academic and independent institutions, youth development professionals, program developers, trainers, policy makers, evaluators and other individual and organizational experts on the strengths and needs of girls and young women. Represent the organization in strategic alliances with organizations and institutions in these fields
• Serve as staff liaison to the Girls Inc. National Board about research and information matters, including administering the Girls Inc. Institutional Review Board
• Encourage a work environment in which racial, ethnic, gender and religious differences are valued and managed productively
• Conduct other duties as assigned by the President and Chief Operating Officer

Supervisory Responsibilities

Research and information staff includes two full time regular staff members: one Senior Research Associate and one Research Associate as well as a National Urban Fellow.

Qualifications/Required Skills

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral level degree in appropriate social science field preferred
• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of Girls Inc.
• Knowledge of research on girls’ growth and development; of programmatic responses to girls’ strengths and needs, interests and opinions; of research design and evaluation in assessing educational and service programs; of communication with diverse audiences through many media; of proposal writing and marketing; of voluntary organizations and their structure; and of budget preparation and fiscal management
• Previous experience in designing, developing, implementing and reporting on youth development programs and action research
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex program development, research and evaluation projects
• Financial management and supervision of staff; and a record of successful proposal development
• Superior writing and public speaking skills
• Sophisticated computer/information technology skills

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities

Girls Inc. Benefits

• 2 day hybrid work schedule out of our Washington, DC office
• Vacation, Sick, & Personal Time + 12 company holidays
• Healthcare, vision, and dental insurance
• 401(k) available with up to a 5% employer match
• Wellness Stipend

Equal Opportunity and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusiveness

Girls Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. Diversity and inclusiveness is defined as the acceptance, tolerance, honoring and valuing differences in culture, lifestyles, heritage, and knowledge. This includes all the similarities and differences that make us diverse internally, externally, or situationally and may include, but not be limited to: age, appearance, communication style, economic status, educational background, employer, gender identification, geographic location, job type/title, language, race/ethnicity, learning style, management status, marital status, mental abilities, nationality, parental status, physical abilities, political affiliation, religion, seniority/tenure, sex/gender, veteran status, work experience, or work location.

Compensation

Competitive salary, incentive and benefits will be offered, commensurate with the role and the final hire’s experience. Depending on the job relevant knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, network and location of the final hire, the base salary is anticipated at an annual rate in the range of $142,000 to $150,000.

Contact

EnterGain is the exclusive recruiter on this project. Interested, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply directly to this posting.

Disclaimer

The job description above is intended to set forth the general nature of the work that will be expected of the person who takes on this role. The job description is not, however, meant to be construed as an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities required for this role. From time to time, all colleagues may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities as needed, and the priorities within each role evolve over time based on the needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of Girls Inc
• Knowledge of research on girls’ growth and development; of programmatic responses to girls’ strengths and needs, interests and opinions; of research design and evaluation in assessing educational and service programs; of communication with diverse audiences through many media; of proposal writing and marketing; of voluntary organizations and their structure; and of budget preparation and fiscal management
• Previous experience in designing, developing, implementing and reporting on youth development programs and action research
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex program development, research and evaluation projects
• Financial management and supervision of staff; and a record of successful proposal development
• Superior writing and public speaking skills
• Sophisticated computer/information technology skills
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities

Benefits

• 2 day hybrid work schedule out of our Washington, DC office
• Vacation, Sick, & Personal Time + 12 company holidays
• Healthcare, vision, and dental insurance
• 401(k) available with up to a 5% employer match
• Wellness Stipend
• Equal Opportunity and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusiveness
• Competitive salary, incentive and benefits will be offered, commensurate with the role and the final hire’s experience
• Depending on the job relevant knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, network and location of the final hire, the base salary is anticipated at an annual rate in the range of $142,000 to $150,000

Responsibilities

• Recognize and support the strength in every girl
• Appreciate, embrace, and advance diversity
• Drive for results anchored in accountability
• Operate collaboratively
• Research Department is to ensure that Girls Inc. learns about girls and young women and the challenges and issues girls face, thus helping to generate support and solutions by identifying and providing information, knowledge, research, and processes that serve as the foundation for Girls Inc. programming, operations, advocacy, and public education, as well as support for organizational decision-making
• The Director of Research is charged with oversight of that work and approves all research activities at Girls Inc
• Actively bring current research and best practice to bear on existing, developing, and potential Girls Inc. programming, public education, and advocacy efforts, maintaining the organization’s currency and sound reputation for research and statistics about girls and the issues they face
• Design and lead all Girls Inc. research projects, either by serving as principal investigator or by guiding Girls Inc. staff or external research consultants
• Provide inspiring leadership and effective management of the current Outcomes project, a collaboration between the national organization and member organizations, to measure the outcomes we want for the girls we serve
• Develop and implement a plan to institutionalize the work of measuring outcomes across the Girls Inc. network
• Design, develop, and implement strategies for evaluating the Girls Inc
• Experience as well as new and ongoing initiatives
• Initiate and manage publications to increase knowledge about girls and young women
• Manage the research and information functions, including sustaining the excellence of Affiliate Central and the development and reporting of any surveys of affiliates
• Work closely with the Program & Training Services Department, taking the lead in establishing the research base of programming, assuring the consistency of programs with girl-focused research and with the Girls Inc. goals and values, as well as providing the rationale/need statement logic model, evaluation tools, and resources for programs and initiatives
• When appropriate and feasible, initiate and implement strategy for getting Girls Inc. programs and programming recognized as best practice and model programs in public and private listings
• Work closely with the Development Department to conceptualize and develop major fundraising proposals and budgets with significant research and evaluation components that support the Girls Inc
• Strategic Direction
• Participate in organizational planning and decision-making
• Serve as a Girls Inc. spokesperson, advocate for girls and organizational representative; participate in public policy, visibility and public relations initiatives to increase understanding of girls’ issues and Girls Incorporated
• Seek and manage relationships with researchers in academic and independent institutions, youth development professionals, program developers, trainers, policy makers, evaluators and other individual and organizational experts on the strengths and needs of girls and young women
• Represent the organization in strategic alliances with organizations and institutions in these fields
• Serve as staff liaison to the Girls Inc
• National Board about research and information matters, including administering the Girls Inc
• Encourage a work environment in which racial, ethnic, gender and religious differences are valued and managed productively
• Conduct other duties as assigned by the President and Chief Operating Officer
• Supervisory Responsibilities
• Research and information staff includes two full time regular staff members: one Senior Research Associate and one Research Associate as well as a National Urban Fellow