Director of Impact Measurement & Research

National Community Investment Fund (NCIF); Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

National Community Investment Fund (NCIF) is seeking a Director of Impact Measurement & Research to advance impact investing strategies through measurement, data analysis, and research. You will shape the impact framework, manage portfolio data, and contribute to AI-enabled analytics within a hybrid Chicago office.

The role requires 7+ years in research/data analysis, advanced methods, and strong writing skills to translate data into compelling stories for diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of research and data analysis experience in policy, economics or related social science field
• Energy, flexibility, and drive to work in an entrepreneurial organization pursuing growth and innovation
• Thorough understanding of advanced research methods and social impact measurement approaches
• Disciplined practitioner of project management methodologies and workflow documentation
• Hands-on experience with research databases (ACS, FDIC, Census, FFIEC, GIS)
• Exposure to financial and transactional data and understanding of financial statement analysis
• Knowledge of BI tools, such as Tableau, Quicksight or open-source visualization software e.g. Flask, Folium
• Proven writing skills, with an ability to translate data into a compelling story for various audiences
• Graduate or other Advanced Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Data Science or related fields

Responsibilities

• Strengthen and build on NCIF’s Impact Thesis and Theory of Change to guide NCIF lines of businesses
• Create internal benchmarks, score cards, evaluation frameworks and rubrics for analysis of investing and lending programs; Create impact indices like the City of Chicago Cumulative Impact Index or other social performance metrics (e.g., BankImpact)
• Research and communicate the impact of the NCIF business including feedback loops for growth
• Provide leadership in strengthening data infrastructure and integrity
• Support the development of an AI-based data analytics platform to democratize data availability in support of the CDFI/Impact Investing sector with structured and unstructured data
• Develop annual impact report, dashboards, indices, scorecards, grant applications, etc.
• Collaborate with industry partners to build the industry (like IMM, IRIS, SDG etc) with impact measurement techniques
• Write CDFI program, NMTC and other grant applications in partnership with coworkers
• Conduct webinars and other events to promote the NCIF brand/research in partnership with coworkers
• Comply with NCIF systems and policies
• Undertake additional duties and special projects as assigned by the CEO

Skills

Analytical mindset

Collaborative

Project management

Strong communication

Data storytelling

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Education

Advanced degree in Economics/Public Policy/Data Science

Tools

Tableau

Quicksight

Flask

Folium

GIS

Census data

FDIC data

ACS data

FFIEC data

Job description

Director of Impact Measurement & Research

Reports to: President and CEO

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid in-office); remote candidates will not be considered

About the Role

NCIF is seeking a Director of Impact to advance the organization’s impact investing strategy through impact measurement, data analysis, and research. This role will help develop NCIF’s impact framework and measurement tools, manage and analyze portfolio data across lending, equity, and NMTC activities, support the integration of AI-driven solutions, and generate insights that strengthen NCIF’s operations, enhance its brand, and contribute to the broader CDFI and impact investing community.

What You Will Do

• Strengthen and build on NCIF’s Impact Thesis and Theory of Change to guide NCIF lines of businesses;
• Create internal benchmarks, score cards, evaluation frameworks and rubrics for analysis of investing and lending programs; Create impact indices like the City of Chicago Cumulative Impact Index or other social performance metrics (e.g., BankImpact);
• Research and communicate the impact of the NCIF business including feedback loops for growth
• Provide leadership in strengthening data infrastructure and integrity;
• Support the development of an AI-based data analytics platform to democratize data availability in support of the CDFI/Impact Investing sector with structured and unstructured data.
• Develop annual impact report, dashboards, indices, scorecards, grant applications, etc.;
• Collaborate with industry partners to build the industry (like IMM, IRIS, SDG etc) with impact measurement techniques
• Write CDFI program, NMTC and other grant applications in partnership with coworkers;
• Conduct webinars and other events to promote the NCIF brand/research in partnership with coworkers.
• Comply with NCIF systems and policies;
• Undertake additional duties and special projects as assigned by the CEO.

Who You Are

• Intellectually curious, analytical, and thoughtful;
• A strong collaborator and project/program manager;
• Someone who can drive strategic, big-picture thinking and also manage and execute day-to-day deliverables;
• A hands-on coach/manager to guide research analyst in completing deliverables and reaching his/her potential;
• Focused on quality and innovation with strong personal ownership and follow-through;
• Able to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities without sacrificing quality or accuracy;
• Committed to NCIF’s mission and able to connect data to real-world impact.
• Strong communicator who can translate data for different audiences

What You Bring

Qualifications

• 7+ years of research and data analysis experience in policy, economics or related social social science field
• Energy, flexibility, and drive to work in an entrepreneurial organization pursuing growth and innovation
• Thorough understanding of advanced research methods and social impact measurement approaches
• Disciplined practitioner of project management methodologies and workflow documentation.
• Hands-on experience working with research databases (ACS, FDIC, Census, FFIEC, GIS)
• Exposure to financial and transactional data and understanding of financial statement analysis.
• Knowledge of BI tools, such as Tableau, Quicksight or open-source visualization software e.g. Flask, Folium
• Proven writing skills, with an ability to translate data into a compelling story for various audiences.
• Graduate or other Advanced Degree in Economics, Public Policy, Data Science or related fields

Preferred

• Interest in mission-oriented banking, community finance, and equity-focused economic development.
• Familiarity with CDFI and minority banking, or lending to /investing in CDFIs
• Familiarity with emerging tools and technologies for generative AI platforms

More About NCIF

National Community Investment Fund (NCIF) is a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to invest in social impact and economic opportunity in rural, small-town, and urban America.

Since its inception in 1996, NCIF has deployed over $560 million of impact capital, creating over 17,000 jobs in 34 states and territories. Total assets under management at NCIF are around $262 million, including a balance sheet of $77 million and a serviced loan and NMTC portfolio of $185 million.

NCIF has partnered, lent and invested with a network of over 50 mission-oriented financial institutions, banks, and non-bank organizations to expand the flow of capital into communities with limited access to financing. Through this network, NCIF helps catalyze investment, strengthen local institutions, and scale impact beyond its direct balance sheet.

NCIF is an entrepreneurial organization with a strategic plan that seeks to deploy over $1 billion in impact assets over the next 10 years, and to evolve using artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.

NCIF delivers its mission through four complementary business lines:

1. Equity Investing – Providing equity, debt, and deposit investments to mission-oriented financial institutions, including CDFI banks, minority depository institutions, and other aligned platforms.
2. Lending – Originating and syndicating loans that support small businesses, affordable housing, healthcare, education, and other community-focused sectors.
3. New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) – Deploying NMTC allocations into high-impact operating businesses and real estate projects that drive economic opportunity.
4. Impact Measurement and Data – Publishing Bank Impact and developing advanced data analytics tools, including AI-driven platforms, to measure performance and attract additional capital to the sector. NCIF pioneered the use of social performance metrics in community development banking, and impact measurement remains foundational to our mission.

By integrating capital, data, and partnerships, NCIF operates at the intersection of finance, impact, and innovation to strengthen community finance and expand economic opportunity.

Equal Opportunity Statement

NCIF is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal treatment and opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation except where such distinction is required by law. NCIF has a hybrid schedule with part remote/in-office work schedules.