Learning & Evaluation Strategist

The Barr Foundation - Boston, MA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Barr Foundation in Boston seeks a Learning Officer to advance its Learning & Evaluation and Sector Effectiveness programs. The role works with program teams to design evaluations, synthesize insights, and translate them into practice across the field.

As Learning Officer, you will lead grantmaking activities, manage partnerships with regional and national organizations, and help Barr develop evaluative thinking and knowledge-sharing practices across programs.

Qualifications

• At least five years of relevant experience including direct experience with evaluation or applied research projects, policy analysis, and/or research.
• Experience working across the social sector with foundations, nonprofits, and/or mission-driven organizations, as an external consultant or internally in a programmatic role with strategic responsibility.
• Knowledge of and experience applying nonprofit organizational assessment tools and capacity-building models.
• Experience generating/refining theories of change and logic models.
• Experience developing metrics and indicators for assessing portfolio or strategy goals.
• Ability to clearly analyze and communicate concepts, research findings, and data interpretations and their implications to diverse policy and practitioner audiences.
• Analytical rigor, with demonstrated ability to think systemically, strategically and critically, balanced with empathy and humility.
• Well-honed consultative and facilitation skills; ability to build strong relationships with staff and external partners.
• A self-starter able to work independently; highly organized with great attention to detail and strong project and time-management skills.
• Excellent listening, writing, and presentation skills, particularly in working with diverse constituencies.
• Commitment to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A collegial spirit in sharing ideas and receiving feedback.
• Demonstrated competence with the Microsoft Office suite, including the ability to manage, analyze, and visualize data and intermediate/advanced proficiency with Excel and Powerpoint; familiarity with Salesforce or similar database programs would be an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage nonprofit/philanthropic sector support and grantmaking.
• Serve as program officer for the nonprofit/philanthropic infrastructure grant portfolio, working with the President and Sector Effectiveness team to engage with and support a select number of regional and national organizations, currently approximately $1.5 million in grants per year.
• Evaluate and respond to inquiries, conduct site visits, actively assist organizations in developing proposals; and draft internal documents and analyses for Foundation leadership and trustee consideration.
• Manage active grants as assigned; assess grantee progress, analyze and act on financial and programmatic reports, and elevate key lessons and field developments that might inform Barr’s strategies and approaches to its work as well as others in the field.
• Manage relevant budgets and contracts.
• Collaborate with the Director of Evaluation and Learning and the Communications and Program teams to share Foundation learning with grantees and the broader field.
• Maintain a wide breadth and depth of knowledge about current trends, professional practices, and policies related to the nonprofit/philanthropic sector, learning, and evaluation.
• Work with the President, Director of Learning and Evaluation, and Sector Effectiveness team to organize meetings and convenings of field experts to share best practices, encourage collaboration, and explore strategies for greater impact.
• Learn and provide leadership in the professional field through speaking engagements, writing, and the use of social media.

Skills

Evaluation experience

Policy analysis

Research

Communication skills

Facilitation skills

Project management

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)

Salesforce (asset)

Job description

The Barr Foundation in Boston seeks a Learning Officer to advance its Learning & Evaluation and Sector Effectiveness programs. The role works with program teams to design evaluations, synthesize insights, and translate them into practice across the field.

As Learning Officer, you will lead grantmaking activities, manage partnerships with regional and national organizations, and help Barr develop evaluative thinking and knowledge-sharing practices across programs.