Senior Researcher (Place-Based Evaluation)

TL;DR

Senior Researcher (Place-Based Evaluation): Designing and implementing applied evaluation and learning frameworks for place-based partnerships with an accent on community-level systems change and economic mobility. Focus on co-designing learning projects, translating research into actionable tools, and building sustainable evaluation systems in collaboration with national intermediaries.

Location: Must be based in the United States (Remote or hybrid in Arlington, VA; Chapel Hill, NC; Chicago, IL; Sacramento, CA; Austin, TX; Washington, DC; or New York, NY). Domestic travel up to 25% is required.

Salary: $126,000 - $154,000 USD

Company

A nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization conducting behavioral and social science research to address pressing challenges through data-driven solutions.

What you will do

• Partner with national intermediaries to design and operationalize evaluation frameworks aligned with place-based strategies.
• Lead the identification of metrics, data sources, and collection processes that balance rigor with feasibility.
• Develop evaluation work plans, timelines, and reporting cycles to support continuous improvement.
• Create tools, templates, and protocols to help partners sustain evaluation processes.
• Translate complex research findings into clear, actionable insights for practitioners and funders.
• Lead project components and coordinate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.

Requirements

• PhD with 3 years of experience or Master’s degree with 7 years of applied research/evaluation experience.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis; visa sponsorship is not available.
• Demonstrated experience designing applied evaluation frameworks in nonprofit, community, or public-sector settings.
• Strong qualitative or quantitative research skills with proficiency in tools like R, Stata, NVivo, or Atlas.ti.
• Experience supporting place-based partnerships, cradle-to-career initiatives, or systems-change work.
• Ability to travel domestically up to 25% of the time.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with place-based, systems-change, or multi-partner initiatives.
• Experience working with data systems like Salesforce.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive total rewards program designed to support staff.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment valuing diverse perspectives.
• Opportunity to contribute to high-impact social science research and technical assistance.
• Commitment to a drug-free work environment and child safeguarding principles.