Who: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
What: The Manager, Research and Evaluation is responsible for the development, planning, and production of policy reports and research briefs, including the annual Illinois KIDS COUNT data book, that focus on understanding women’s, children’s, and families’ needs across multiple and intersecting axes of difference. The Manager, Research and Evaluation will design and manage internal- and external-facing research projects; update the KIDS COUNT Data Center; support YWCA Metropolitan Chicago teams in maintaining logic models, reporting, and evaluation protocols; and present research findings and best practices to internal and external audiences. The Manager will help the organization achieve its objectives of data-driven policy advocacy and services that enable inclusive marketplace transformation.
Responsibilities:
Research Design and Implementation: Collect, track and analyze relevant data from national organizations, federal agencies, state agencies, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, and other sources to evaluate trends regarding the well-being of women, families, and children. Responsible for staying up-to-date on external research relevant to YWCA’s work, working with VP, Policy, Research, & Evaluation to identify opportunities for collaboration and innovative research projects. Analyze data and research reports with special attention to demographics, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, location, and other axes of identity. Disaggregate data as needed to understand trends and policies’ effects across these identities. Produce compelling and clear data visualizations and analyses for internal and external audiences as needed, using R, Tableau, and/or ArcGIS. Collaborate with the VP, Policy, Research, & Evaluation, and other YWCA teams to develop topic, argument, and plan for annual KIDS COUNT report production. Implement plan for producing KIDS COUNT report, regularly updating Strategic Engagement team on progress. (40%)
Strategic Communications: Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations to share research findings with internal and external audiences, including YWCA teams, partner organizations, coalitions, and policymakers. Tailor presentations to address specific concerns of audience. Produces and shares data resources and data visualizations to other YWCA teams and partners as needed. Write policy briefs, research reports, and blog posts presenting findings from these data analyses, explaining the importance of understanding this information for driving meaningful public policy change. Write concise, clear, and compelling narratives that explain research findings to non-expert and expert audiences alike. Serve as the staff liaison to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s national KIDS COUNT project. Represent YWCA in media (print, TV, radio, etc.) around publication of national and state KIDS COUNT reports. (30%)
Data Management: Update the KIDS COUNT Data Center regularly. Support education about database management and research best practices across YWCA, aiding in the maintenance of logic models and regular research and evaluation updates across the organization. (15%)
Organizational Data Analytics: Collaborate with the VP, Policy, Research, & Evaluation to design annual report for YWCA, as well as annual reports for YWCA service areas. Support review of internal and external data (qualitative and quantitative) to evaluate YWCA’s services’ effects on individuals, communities, and the marketplace. Contribute knowledge about data disaggregation best practices, as well as key systemic and policy contributors to inequities, to reporting and grant proposal development for Policy, Research, & Evaluation team and YWCA teams more broadly. (15%)
Qualifications:
Familiarity with US Census Bureau American Community Survey data and US Census Bureau Public Use Microdata Sample data. Experience using R, SPSS, STATA, Tableau, or other statistical analysis/data visualization software. A minimum of three to five years relevant work experience.
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is seeking a candidate who demonstrates proficiency or an ability to develop the following core competencies:
Accountability: Effectively manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of high-quality work
Collaboration: Helps colleagues as needed, views responsibilities as shared
Communication: Uses effective written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening
Expertise in Area of Focus: Has skills and expertise in area of technical or functional expertise
Adaptability: Adapts and responds to change effectively; proactively seeks opportunities to be supportive of change
Critical Thinking: Consistently identifies, gathers, and applies relevant information to work
Cultural Sensitivity: Demonstrates the values of diversity and inclusion; fosters environments that facilitate more diverse and inclusive spaces
Customer-Service Orientation: Recognizes needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service orientation, to ultimately maximize impact
Initiative: Proactively seeks opportunities to develop self and serve the organization
Mission Driven: Demonstrates commitment to the mission of the organization as a whole
Curiosity and Learning Orientation: Demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn; seeks to understand what is/isn't working and how to improve
Growth Mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required
Professionalism: Acts with a commitment to professionalism and models professionalism in interactions with staff, families, and other stakeholders
Workload Management: Breaks down a work task/project into process steps and executes them effectively, adjusting course as needed
Apply here.