Director of Research, Evaluation, and Policy

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Director of Research, Evaluation, and Policy leads the design and implementation of research agendas and evaluation systems to measure program impact and inform strategic and policy advocacy decision-making. This position is responsible for building and managing relationships and partnerships with governmental, academic, and policy partners that support the identification and promotion of research and evidence-based practices related to child and youth well-being.

This position also oversees resource development, including but not limited to prospecting, acquisition, and execution of fee-for-service and grant-funded research and evaluation contracts. Strong analytical, statistical, written/oral communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills; expertise in research methodologies and data systems are required for this position.

• Works with the Executive Director to develop and implement the organizational learning, research, and evaluation agenda.
• Leads organizational learning, technical support, and research efforts and products.
• Builds and maintains positive partnerships with government agencies, academic institutions, and other policy-oriented institutions.
• In partnership with other units, is responsible for research, evaluation, policy, and learning product development (e.g., reports, score cards, practice manuals, and curriculum).
• Oversees management and coordination of primary prevention coalitions, including Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund Coalition (HCTF) and Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, which is the state’s chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America.

• Oversees the use, maintenance, and quality control of participant/membership databases (Nation Builder).
• Develops evaluative dashboards and reports to support staff use and understanding of HCAN participant, member, and donor data in organizational decisions.
• Oversees the development and execution of the unit s fundraising, grant writing, and fee-for-service contract plan.
• Coordinates and manages the development of grant proposals and reports, and manages related grants and contracts.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with local, state, and national funders, donors, and other appropriate collaborative partners, community networks, and collaterals.

• Supervises unit’s staff, including fellows, practicum students, and interns.
• Works with academic institutions to leverage human resources (e.g., fellows, practicum students, and interns) to support HCAN policy, evaluation, research, and organizational learning efforts.

• Supports HCAN Speaks! with special projects and member support.
• Provides technical support and testimony at the local, state, and federal levels.

The candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily to be successful in this position. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform this function successfully.

Required:

• Passion for the mission, vision, and values of Hawaii Children s Action Network, along with a strong commitment to equity and social justice.
• Master s Degree in a related field, plus a minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in public policy, program evaluation, and research.
• Extensive background in quantitative and qualitative action-oriented research and evaluation methods, analysis, and report writing with a focus on public policy.
• Ability to interpret and translate difficult research, evaluation, and policy concepts to make them accessible for policymakers and diverse community stakeholders.
• Mastery of descriptive and inferential statistics, and at least one statistical software application (e.g., R, SPSS, SAS).
• Strong self-motivation and ability to meet tight deadlines and balance multiple priorities.
• Experience supervising and managing staff or volunteers, with a strong track record of building teams and developing staff leadership.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, as well as statistical and research analysis software.

Preferred:

• Doctorate in a related field.
• Deep understanding of Hawaii policy environment, systems, structures, and community.