Research and Evaluation Manager

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The Department of Innovation and Technology is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager to join our growing Analytics Team and support the City of Boston's comprehensive efforts in evidence-based decision-making and rigorous policy evaluation. As part of a highly collaborative group using data to improve all aspects of city government, the Research and Evaluation Manager will build and maintain a diverse portfolio of research and evaluation projects, coordinate evaluation processes and methodologies, and support the implementation of the City’s overarching research and evaluation strategies.

Successful candidates will work closely with city leaders, develop research tools and best practices that can be implemented across the organization, and manage evaluation projects that inform performance management and policy decisions. This role embodies the department’s mission to enable better government for every constituent through innovation, technology, equity, effectiveness, and efficiency. The Citywide Analytics team is a diverse group of analysts, data scientists, project managers, developers, and engineers with a range of skills and backgrounds, working together to use data to improve life for those who live and work in Boston.

• Plans, implements, and maintains research and evaluation projects in support of partners throughout city government, with emphasis on rigorous impact assessments and policy evaluations.
• Manages and supports evaluation projects led by members of the Citywide Analytics Team and collaborating departments.
• Develops in-depth understanding of the workflows, challenges, and stakeholders of specific City departments and programs to successfully execute existing projects and identify future research opportunities.
• Coordinates evaluation timelines and deliverables to ensure research findings inform decision‑making and resource allocation.
• Provides expert guidance and assistance in training, mentoring, and hands‑on support to members of the Citywide Analytics Team on evaluation methodologies.

• Manages data collection, performs rigorous analyses, and develops visualizations as required to facilitate both internal and external evaluation projects.
• Applies experimental and quasi‑experimental research methods to assess program effectiveness and policy impacts.
• Collaborates with technical staff on projects requiring specialized research skills, including survey design, qualitative methods, and mixed‑methods approaches.
• Ensures ethical standards in research practices, data collection, and analysis, promoting best practices for data privacy and equity.
• Develops and maintains research protocols and methodologies that can be replicated across city departments.

• Supports the coordination of citywide research and evaluation activities, including annual collection and review of evaluation findings.
• Assists in developing research frameworks that strategically connect evaluation outcomes to performance measurement and resource allocation through the city’s budget process.
• Manages research databases and maintains documentation on evaluation methodologies, findings, and best practices.
• Coordinates the implementation of surveys and other data‑collection instruments for evaluation purposes.
• Identifies opportunities to leverage third‑party data sources to enhance evaluation capacity.

• Supports the Director of Research and Evaluation in the development and implementation of citywide research and evaluation strategies.
• Participates in the hiring and recruitment of Analytics Team members as requested by the Chief Data Officer.
• Coordinates collaborations with academic and non‑profit partners related to impact evaluations, policy analyses, and research methodologies.
• Assists in building evaluation capacity across city departments through training and technical assistance.
• Contributes to the development of reusable research resources, templates, and best practice guides.