Job location: 3440 Market Street

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2021-06-16
Req: JR00034353
University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Assistant Director for Research & Evaluation, ImpactED

Job Profile Title

Manager Research Project A

Job Description Summary

Based in the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies, ImpactED is an evaluation and training center that equips social and public sector organizations with critical skills and data to accelerate social change.

We believe evaluation and training should be responsive to community needs and used to inform continuous improvement and learning. Our approach is designed in partnership with our clients and customized to meet their unique needs. We work to bridge the worlds of research and practice and have a proven track record in helping organizations identify and meet their goals.

ImpactED approaches all of our work with a commitment to our core values of collaboration, empathy, excellence, and continuous improvement. For more information on our work, please visit our website at www.impactedphl.com. To live into our values, we work to understand team members’ needs and priorities for work-life integration and value flexibility in how work gets done. ImpactED offers flexible work hours and supports creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours and locations.

The Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation is involved in all aspects of the design and execution of ImpactED’s research and evaluation projects. Primary responsibilities include evaluation project planning and management, evaluation strategy development and reporting, and data collection and analysis. In keeping with ImpactED’s values, the Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation is committed to constant inquiry and continuous learning to deepen understanding and better respond to the needs and goals of the clients and communities we serve.

Job Description

The Assistant Director reports directly to ImpactED’s Director of Research & Evaluation and graduate fellows to carry out position responsibilities. ImpactED takes a collaborative and team-oriented approach to our work. All staff are involved in organizational strategic planning and marketing efforts. As a core team member, the Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation will co-create annual strategic objectives for the organization, write posts for ImpactED’s blog, and represent ImpactED at events and conferences.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing research and evaluation project timelines and tasks
• Conducting background research and writing literature reviews to inform research and evaluation projects
• Developing customized evaluation strategy documents that can be used to inform ongoing evaluation and learning (e.g., logic models, theories of change, evaluation plans)
• Conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis (e.g., surveys, focus groups and interviews, administrative data)
• Writing research and evaluation reports that are actionable and responsive to client and community needs
• Supervising and training graduate research and evaluation fellows
• Coordinating client and internal team meetings (e.g., developing agendas, supporting with meeting facilitation, reviewing and sending meeting notes)
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in research and evaluation, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Master’s degree in statistics, social sciences, policy, education or other relevant field preferred.
• Proven project management skills, including the ability to manage shifting priorities on multiple projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complicated topics accessible and actionable for diverse stakeholders
• Solid quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills and fluency in a statistical software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, SAS, Stata, R)
• Ability to work independently and also as a member of a collaborative team, communicating effectively and proactively about deadlines and needed support
• Ability to learn and become proficient in online databases and platforms

Mindset Desired

• Articulated passion for working with mission-driven organizations
• Commitment to inquiry, reflective practice, and continuous improvement
• Desire to work with and learn from diverse stakeholders
• Ability to accept feedback and engage in candid and honest conversations
• Commitment to producing high quality work to help clients respond to the needs and goals of the community they serve

For more information on our commitment to equity, please visit https://impact-ed.sas.upenn.edu/about.

Please upload a current resume and robust cover letter that answers the questions below at a minimum.

• Why do you want to work for ImpactED?

• What makes you well qualified for this position?

• What excited you about this position?

• What do you value in a work environment?
  

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis starting immediately. The candidate consideration process will have multiple rounds and may include a phone screen, work-task completion and at least one interview.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$50,684.00 - $91,232.00

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay