Attendance Works Director of Evaluation and Research; Remote

Attendance Works is a national nonprofit initiative and a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives in Oakland, California.

Operating virtually, the organization works to improve student success in school and beyond by reducing chronic absence across pre-K–12 education.

The organization serves as a leading resource on attendance policy and practice, providing research, tools, webinars, technical assistance, coaching, consultation and peer-learning opportunities to schools, districts and states.

Job Title: Director of Evaluation and Research
Job Location: Fully Remote, United States
Closing Date: Until filled
Contract: Full-time, salaried, exempt
Salary: $141,250–$168,000 per year
Employer: Attendance Works

The Director of Evaluation and Research will lead Attendance Works’ approach to impact measurement, evaluation and research.

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The role will work closely with the CEO, vice‑presidents, directors and associate directors to measure organizational impact, strengthen continuous improvement and turn evidence and research into practical action.

The successful candidate will help develop evaluation strategies aligned with Attendance Works’ strategic priorities and its goal of reducing chronic absence by 50%.

• Analyze national, state and district-level attendance data to identify trends, disparities and opportunities for impact.
• Develop credible approaches for assessing attribution, contribution and influence where direct causality is difficult to establish.
• Lead the development of an organization-wide impact evaluation plan.
• Establish standards for evidence claims used in communications, fundraising, board materials and thought leadership.
• Ensure impact statements are rigorous, defensible and transparent about limitations.

• Design and oversee formative, process, outcome and impact evaluations of programs, tools and technical assistance initiatives.
• Work with program teams to translate research findings into technical assistance and practical action.
• Recommend improvements to programs and strategies based on evaluation findings.
• Build an inclusive research culture that centers students and families most affected by chronic absence.
• Review findings with leadership, advisory bodies and staff.
• Integrate quantitative and qualitative evidence when assessing implementation quality, reach, fidelity, engagement and operational effectiveness.

• Partner with internal teams, external partners and vendors to develop and improve dashboards, reporting tools, data systems and data-collection instruments.
• Translate program and grant objectives into technical requirements.
• Manage vendors responsible for dashboards and data tools, including scopes of work, budgets, timelines and quality standards.
• Ensure data quality, usability, governance and reporting consistency.

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Funding Medical Research

• Support the implementation and enhancement of measurement systems.
• Assist with improvements to the District Attendance Tracking Tool (DATT) and School Attendance Tracking Tool (SATT).

• Develop and lead a multi-year research and learning agenda aligned with organizational priorities.
• Identify research gaps and develop external research partnerships.
• Facilitate research exchanges including the Chronic Absence and Attendance Research Exchange (CAARE) and Attendance Research Consortium (ARC).
• Review research for methodological rigor, evidence standards and practical relevance.
• Translate research findings into accessible guidance, publications, briefs, reports and tools.
• Work with communications teams to amplify research through digital channels and public engagement.
• Support states and districts in building capacity to adopt evidence-based practices.
• Represent Attendance Works at conferences and other professional convenings.
• Maintain accessible and organized digital research infrastructure.

• Manage research consultants, fellows and potential future…