Director, Research and Evaluation

EdVestors

Job Description

Position Summary
The Director of Research and Evaluation (the “Director”) is responsible for the organization’s efforts to use data and information about EdVestors’ programs to drive learning. The Director conducts, and/or oversees, data collection and analysis and program evaluation across multiple program areas and strategic initiatives, including Mathematics, Career Pathways, Arts, Racial Equity, and other emerging areas of work. The Director will manage the School on the Move Prize selection process and EdVestors’ effort to disseminate the learning about school improvement practices generated from Prize winners.  

Reporting to the Vice President of Programs, Strategy & Impact, this position plays a key role in ensuring EdVestors has and uses data and information to track program measures and inform ongoing decision-making about program improvement. The Director also plays an important role in maintaining a deep understanding of the local educational landscape and amplifying our influence by shaping key learnings for a diverse set of external audiences.

Responsibilities 
The Director will be responsible for the following key areas:

Track Progress and Support Learning for Improvement
  • Lead in-house curation of data related to strategic priority areas, and synthesize key findings for a range of internal and external audiences.
  • Working with the Coordinator, Data Use and Improvement, collect data for internally-conducted analyses of program data, and complete analyses using these existing data sources.
  • Partner with the Director of Development and relevant Operations colleagues to continue to refine shared processes for collecting and maintaining data needed to meet grant reporting requirements, and support reporting. 
  • Collaborate with Program Directors to develop and continually improve strategies for using program data to inform learning, planning and implementation, by conducting regular meetings that bring together cross-functional teams to better understand and support data needs within and across program areas.
  • Refine existing, and create new, instruments (e.g., surveys, interview protocols, observation tools) to collect data aimed at understanding programs’ progress and impact.
  • Work alongside external partners to evaluate EdVestors programs, serving as the primary point of contact, when relevant.
  • Work closely with the Vice President of Programs, Strategy & Impact to develop a system for tracking and reporting on the implementation of the strategic plan and the outcome measures for key goals.

Manage the School on the Move Prize Selection Process
  • Inform the design of the annual School on the Move Prize selection process with attention to equity and rigor, as well as incorporating learnings from prior Prize-recognized schools. 
  • Oversee the collection, organization, and presentation of all School on the Move school performance data (for the annual selection process).
  • Serve as a key contact for schools applying to the School on the Move selection process, and play a lead role in refining application materials.
  • Organize Prize panel reviews of applications, and plan the site visits to School on the Move finalist schools, providing background information as needed.
  • Identify key learnings from Prize-recognized schools’ improvement strategies and practices and align these with organizational priorities to drive School on the Move Prize learning and dissemination activities.

Advancing an Organization-wide Infrastructure and Culture of Evidence
  • Working with the Coordinator, Data Use and Improvement, oversee the maintenance of EdVestors’ school-level data warehouse and determine possible ways to expand use cases.
  • Serve as a primary architect for EdVestors data files and infrastructure, maintaining data hygiene protocols, overseeing the status of collections, leading the organization’s approach to using data to drive learning, and making recommendations for additional platforms, if/as needed, to enhance data use and/or visualization.
  • Lead organization-wide application of EdVestors’ Data Equity Statement.
  • Organize and/or conduct training related to data platforms and tools as needed.
  • Develop visual templates that explain findings to key internal and external stakeholders, including staff, governing board members, district- and school-based partners, students and families, funders, and others in partnership with EdVestors colleagues.
  • Stay abreast of changes to state and district accountability metrics and frameworks.
  • Attend education events and briefings related to data and evaluation as appropriate, and seek out opportunities to learn from peers in similar roles across the Boston education sector. 

Management and Organizational Development 
  • Initiate, organize, and participate in team and staff activities that contribute to organizational culture and align with organizational values.
  • Contribute to fundraising strategies and support development efforts, as appropriate.
  • Support programmatic aspects of EdVestors events several times per year.
  • Other program tasks and projects as needed/assigned.  

Qualifications
At EdVestors, our highest priority is finding the best candidate for this role. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications below or if you have a less traditional background.

  • At least five years of experience designing and implementing approaches to using and analyzing data designed to highlight program learnings. 
  • Demonstrated experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods and strong analysis skills.
  • Ability to support colleagues in the development and implementation of a program evaluation plan that draws on multiple types of data, and that supports learning with colleagues and partners.
  • A strong understanding of key issues, promising practices, and common metrics in data and evaluation practices in PreK-12 education, especially those used in large, complex, urban settings. 
  • Demonstrated commitment to supporting and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through research, data, and evaluation efforts, including identifying creative, rigorous, and equity-focused ways to measure success.
  • Expertise with Excel, Google Suite, and other web-based databases and analysis software, and an ability to determine the most appropriate tools for a given situation. Proficiency with Python and data visualization software, like PowerBI, preferred.
  • An ability to translate complex data into clear and digestible formats for a range of audiences.
  • Passion for developing systems and processes to organize and share data.
  • Outstanding project management and organizational skills, including an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks with careful attention to detail in the midst of uncertainty.
  • Collaborative mindset and experience working across multiple teams.
  • Strong relationship-building skills and a partner-focused orientation, with an ability to cultivate and navigate partnerships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
  • An ability to work independently and proactively identify needs, generating new ideas and putting them into action, while working in a fast-paced, team-focused work environment.
  • A deep commitment to EdVestors’ mission of advancing equitable, meaningful public education in Boston, alignment with EdVestors values, and a desire to be part of a team that is committed to growth and learning.
  • A sense of humor and optimism about the work.

Compensation
The expected starting salary for this position is $90,000 - $97,500 per year. EdVestors offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, life insurance and disability benefits, 401(k) plan contribution and match, professional development funds, and paid time off that includes three weeks of vacation, organization-wide recharge days, holidays, and sick time.

This is a Boston-based role. EdVestors has adopted a hybrid work structure of at least two days (16 hours) per week in the office and/or other in-person engagement. This role may require additional in-person presence to build and sustain relationships and implement programmatic work.

How to Apply
Please submit your application materials here. Applications will be reviewed as received, with priority given to those received by May 29, 2026.

EdVestors is an equal opportunity employer. At EdVestors, we strive to maintain an inclusive, flexible, and diverse work environment, and our team is strengthened by the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our staff. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

About EdVestors  
Founded in 2002 as a platform to connect Boston philanthropists with the city’s public schools by identifying, shaping, and matching donors with promising improvement efforts, EdVestors’ work has evolved to couple the mobilization of resources with implementation support and thought leadership. Throughout our evolution, our commitment to the city’s schools and students has remained constant. 

Our mission is to advance equitable, meaningful education that prepares every Boston student to activate their power and shape their future. We work at the classroom, school, and district level to drive change in Boston schools. We serve as a:
  • Connector that partners with the district, schools, community-based organizations, higher education, and philanthropy to advance efforts in issue areas that are a priority for schools and students.
  • Catalyst for systems change in Boston, creating pathways from classroom to career, ensuring access to arts education, improving math teaching and learning, and seeding racial equity efforts in schools.
  • Champion that shines a light on the teachers, leaders, and schools who create and continuously improve learning environments where all students can thrive.  
Working with key education, civic, and community partners, EdVestors leverages our relationships, our long-term leadership in the Boston education landscape, and our credibility to drive systems and policy change. At the core of our work are our five signature programs and initiatives: the School on the Move Prize, Boston Public Schools Arts  Expansion, Mathematics, Career Pathways, and Racial Equity.

Our values drive our efforts and shape our relationships with each other and our partners:  
  • Just - We aim to advance racial equity in our organization, schools, and communities, as we continue to learn about and interrogate white supremacy culture and systemic racism. We commit to thoughtfully assessing our role in upholding systems of oppression, to working in community toward mutual accountability, and to remaining optimistic as we pursue equity in education for our students. 
  • In Community - We care for our colleagues and community. We believe the greatest potential for impact comes from working together and that success flows from listening,  learning, and working in community. 
  • Thoughtful - We are reflective, critical, and responsive. We are sensitive to the needs and aspirations of those we work with and carefully consider the impact of our actions.  
  • Committed - We are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Boston students. We  invest in sustainable practices that create deep, meaningful, and long-lasting impact. 
  • Optimistic - We believe that an equitable future for our students and ourselves is possible.  We bring joy, hope, and a desire to be better to the circumstances that challenge us.