DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & EVALUATION
About Citizen Schools
Citizen Schools partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for low-income children across the country. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and "apprenticeships"—hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. At Citizen Schools, students develop the skills, knowledge and beliefs they need to succeed in middle school, advance towards college, and become leaders in their careers and communities.
Citizen Schools’ approach is innovative, rigorous, and evidence-based. Recent research has reported that high attendance and academic success in middle school are critical indicators of high-school graduation and college completion. We work intensively with students to develop their academic and leadership skills, and forge strong partnerships with students’ families, classroom teachers, corporations, and community organizations to create a network of supportive adults in each student’s life. Citizen Schools offers an array of hands-on learning opportunities that make learning relevant, and introduces students to diverse colleges and careers through trips and projects that connect current learning with future opportunities.
Building on thirteen years of programming innovation and results, Citizen Schools is in the midst of a strategic growth plan to scale up its programs to serve almost 7,000 students. We currently operate 44 campuses in seven states (California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and Texas), serving approximately 4,400 students and engaging 3,400 Citizen Teachers.
Citizen Schools has been recognized as a national model program by the U.S. Department of Education, has been named a national winner of Fast CompanyMagazine’s Social Capitalist Award in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and has been chosen by the Skoll Foundation as a winner of the Skoll Social Entrepreneurship Award.
About the Role
Citizen Schools has developed a nationally respected approach to evaluation and the use of data to drive its program design and practice. We are seeking an experienced evaluator to lead our Resaearch & Evaluation function, with a focus on research design, data analysis , and systems development to support our expanding networks of sites. Successful candidates will possess a command of researcha dn evaluation principles, excellent managerial and communication skills and the capacity to coach and train staff in the use of data for continuous improvement. This role will be based at the Citizen Schools headquarters in Boston, and will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer.
Responsibilities Include:
External Evaluation
• Manage ongoing longitudinal external evaluation of Citizen Schools program and steward relationship with external evaluation firms
• Partner with external evaluation firm(s) to design new research study; manage data collection, collaboration with school districts, and support for annual report production
• Manage new initiative to collect, analyze and report on school- and district-level performance data
• Present data, analysis, conclusions, and represent the perspective of Citizen Schools leadership at meetings and events including external evaluators, current and prospective donors, Board members, and other key external constituents.
Internal Evaluation
• Manage the semi-annual process of data collection and analysis from several key sources (program data, student achievement data, staff surveys, other) to determine key metrics of program success (e.g. attendance, retention, school performance) and organizational success (e.g. staff satisfaction)
• Steward the organizational performance management system, including the Balanced Scorecard, Program Scorecard and monthly Dashboard reporting; manage data collection and reporting
• Execute high-level analytical syntheses of the findings (using MS Excel and SPSS); synthesize, interpret and share findings
• Generate special reports by request from other departments and organizational leaders
• Identify and organize analysis of deeper research questions for Citizen Schools regarding the achievement of our students and the efficacy of the program model and program innovations
• Lead the evolution of systems and procedures for data collection and analysis, including a streamlined approach to semi-annual data collection; manage program database
• Provide Citizen Schools program sites (campuses) with timely, actionable reports that drive program improvement
Organizational Leadership
• Manage National Evaluation Manager and Research Analyst/Data Manager in collecting timely and relevant data from partner sites
• Interpret and present findings compellingly for key Citizen Schools leadership and external constituents including, executive team, board and funders
• Design and lead trainings for staff on implementing evaluation programs and using data to improve outcomes
Qualifications:
All candidates should have demonstrated leadership skills and a passion for education and community – and have the capacity to work collaboratively in a fast moving, highly entrepreneurial organization. Other qualifications include:
Strong relationship management skills and ability to work effectively with multiple constituencies, externally and internally
Experience guiding staff and management in interpretation of results
Experience managing projects, systems and staff
Facility with SPSS (label variables appropriately, understand differences between variables (nominal, interval, ordinal, ratio/scale), code variables, and write syntax in SPSS that runs aggregate data analysis)
Resourcefulness, including the capacity to independently access external resources and training materials
Excellent presentation, verbal and written communication skills
Strong organizational skills and detail-orientation
Ability to model Citizen Schools’ core values: Pride, Joy, Respect, Courage, Teamwork, Perseverance, and Vision
Bachelor’s degree and relevant master’s degree from an accredited college or university required; doctoral degree preferred
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary will be commensurate with experience. Full benefits include health care, 403B, three weeks vacation, and professional development opportunities.
Next Steps:
Please complete an online application (including cover letter and resume) at www.citizenschools.org/careers. Candidates will be reviewed on an on-going basis.
Citizen Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status.
Learn more about our programs, our results, our plans to advance the after-school field, and how to get involved at www.citizenschools.org.
