Research And Evaluation Manager

ABOUT KEECHA HARRIS AND ASSOCIATES

Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc (KHA), is a national consulting firm that is certified by the US Small Business Administration as an 8(a) and woman-owned business. KHA has staff all over the country and operates as a virtual firm. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, KHA leads organizational development, project management, and research and evaluation projects for publicly and privately funded efforts across a broad range of topics. KHA has engaged foundations representing more than $300 billion in US-based philanthropy assets.

The Opportunity

Under the leadership of the Director of Programs, the Strategy, Evaluation, and Learning (SEAL) Manager works as part of a cross-functioning team and contributes to the qualitative and quantitative social science capacities of the firm; this position has three direct reports with strong potential for additional hires. The SEAL Manager will work in collaboration with the Director of Strategy to contribute to the organization's short and long-term business development goals.

The SEAL Manager may undertake literature reviews, design research studies and evaluation methods, and collect and analyze data to support the design, facilitation, and evaluation of training and strategic development sessions with internal and external stakeholders. The SEAL Manager's approach must center the experience of those most impacted and proximate to an issue, develop trusting relationships with clients and design qualitative and quantitative tools and strategies that are custom to the context of each client.

The SEAL Manager must be organized, detail-oriented, and excel in client-facing work. They must have experience in diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and/or racial equity and justice (REJ) work and a strong ability to communicate research and evaluation results to clients, partners, and stakeholders. They must be adaptable and able to thrive in an innovative and dynamic environment.

Strategy and Project Design

• Initiate, direct and develop of scopes of work independently
• Lead and participate in web-based and in-person strategy and visioning sessions with clients
• Develop a deep understanding of clients' interests, needs, and capacities through desk reviews of information provided, observations, literature and web-based searches, site visits, and other sources of data
• Develop work plan design and implementation for organizational change processes and sector-facing efforts that are aimed at systems change
• Identify and define parameters for progress implementing strategy including quantitative metrics and qualitative indicators
• Guide evaluation planning and development, including theory of change processes with clients
• Lead and participate in web-based and in-person strategy and visioning sessions with clients
• Develop a deep understanding of clients' interests, needs, and capacities through desk reviews of information provided, observations, literature and web-based searches, site visits, and other sources of data
• Develop work plan design and implementation for organizational change processes and sector-facing efforts that are aimed at systems change
• Identify and define parameters for progress implementing strategy including quantitative metrics and qualitative indicators
• Guide evaluation planning and development, including theory of change processes with clients

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Provide leadership and guidance to clients to ensure robust and sound monitoring and evaluation approaches
• Build upon KHA's vast array of data collection protocols, tools, and reporting formats
• Produce high-quality dashboards and data visualizations including conceptual models and maps
• Create data collection tools, including survey, interview, and focus group protocols
• Monitor and manage data collection, including observations, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and document and literature reviews; conduct secondary data analyses when indicated
• Analyze data and incorporate into written reports and presentations
• Maintain human subjects research certification
• Conduct ongoing research and analysis to help inform promising practices and development of evaluation strategies and tools to be used internally and in support of clients.
• Optimize data quality control in the design and implementation of studies, assessments, and evaluations
• Create reports, including summative findings and recommendations

Learning

• Lead training sessions with levels of contribution commensurate with experience and project needs.
• Develop report outlines at the onset of projects and work with clients to fine-tune the anticipated deliverable(s) early in the process.
• Design, execute, and debrief webinars using pre-existing KHA protocols and guidelines for effective delivery
• Partner with the Communications Manager to plan and write project results reports and other impact findings that can coincide with marketing, development, and communications efforts
• Identify and suggest learning tools for field-facing impacts
• Maintain databases across assigned projects and deploy learning tools.
• Provide literature and research reviews to inform understanding of specific community issues and programmatic opportunities.
• Under the leadership of Director of Programs, contribute constructively and proactively to KHA's work environment and ethics, including facilitation of internal learning sessions.

Business Development

• In collaboration with the Director of Strategy, participate in overall KHA development activities and represent KHA in initial meetings with potential new clients and development opportunities
• Represent KHA with high-level strategic partners, including external stakeholders and clients.
• Manage relationships to leverage funding from philanthropic organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other key stakeholders in alignment with KHA core values and program interests.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Science or a related field with 7+ years of relevant experience in evaluation design, methodology, advanced quantitative methods, and leading project and/or program evaluations.
• A mission-driven passion for social and racial justice work in BIPOC communities
• Strong experience in community-based participatory engagement, polling and research
• Supervisory experience, with an emphasis on managing remote teams, ability to train, coach and mentor staff, and develop and support professional development plans
• Deep understanding and analysis of intersectionality and equity and how these play out with communities
• Extensive experience with monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.
• Certified in human subjects research
• Demonstrated experience with quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods analysis with least 3 years of experience leading mixed-methods research and evaluation projects
• Superior analytical, evaluative, quantitative and conceptual thinking skills related to strategic planning, intentional decision making, using information and research, and designing contingencies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to communicate evaluation concepts and findings to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to present complex information in a structured, clear and insightful way
• Strong interpersonal skills, receptivity to others, receptivity to ideas and an established history engaging in a collaborative approach
• Proven ability to manage multiple, complex projects and engage diverse stakeholders.

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to lead others in project planning.
• Ability to work both independently and with a team toward a common goal
• Experience facilitating large groups and providing technical assistance to a variety of audiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google, and project management systems (ex. Asana, Trello) applications.

• Flexibility and comfort with ambiguity

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD. in Social Science or a related field
• Broad base of evaluation experience to draw upon
• 10+ years of relevant experience in evaluation design, methodology, advanced quantitative methods, and leading project and/or program evaluations

HOW TO APPLY

Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc. is looking for qualified candidates who are committed to racial equity and justice and want to be a part of a Black woman-owned, majority BIPOC team.

All applicants will be prompted to respond to a series of questions, and to upload a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample. If the applicant is selected for an initial interview (conducted via Zoom), an invitation containing an applicant-specific link to a pre-employment assessment will be sent to the applicant's email of record. Scheduling of interviews is contingent upon completion of the pre-employment assessment.

This position is open until filled, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience. Applications will be screened against the criteria as listed in this profile. The position is fully remote and U.S. based.

All nominations, inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

KHA is an Equal Opportunity Employer