Vice President for Research and Evaluation

Position Purpose:

The Vice President for Research & Evaluation and staff develop, manage, and support all evaluation-related functions within the Foundation and are responsible for oversight and coordination of all internal evaluation-related activities and external technical assistance providers that implement evaluation-related functions. The ability of the Vice President to integrate evaluation functions with colleagues—programs, donor engagement, communications/outreach, etc.—to be a trusted and persuasive advocate of the strengths and limitations of evaluation, and to be an effective executive team contributor will determine his/her success in this position.

The position of Vice President for Research & Evaluation offers the right leader the opportunity to work closely with some of the most respected professionals in the field of community foundations, with a dedicated grantee community, a talented staff and executive team, and a governing board of distinguished community leaders. MCF is a knowledge-based change-making institution that values evidenced-based development of services, organizations, and management decision-making..

Functions of the Position:

The Vice President for Research & Evaluation will:

• Take the lead in articulating the principles underlying evaluation of program, philanthropic services, and organizational development in order to enhance the effectiveness of MCF, to inform its work, and to enhance MCF as both an accountable and responsible charitable change agent.
• Identify in every programmatic or organizational strategic initiative and community grant area indicators and metrics of success and develop with colleagues the processes for collection of data, interpretation of information, and evaluation of progress; define performance goals and benchmarks; evaluate outcomes; interpret measures of change; and support an informed decision-making process that promotes the use of ongoing evaluation to shape ongoing programming.
• Assess the needs of staff and grantees for successful partnership in the evaluation process and design support services, technical assistance, or training programs as necessary to build capacity and enable staff and grantees as evaluation partners.
• Where external consultants are engaged to assist MCF and its grantees in evaluation, develop research questions, scopes of work, requests for proposals, screenings of proposals, and contracts for work in collaboration with MCF colleagues and external participants, and then coordinate the work of external consultants, ensuring that all contracted work meets the standards appropriate to MCF and its goals and protects the privacy and rights of participants.
• Contribute to program and organizational learning practices of MCF.
• Facilitate grant monitoring and reporting processes in working closely with program, IT, and grants management staff.
• Respond to requests from MCF staff and from grantees to assist in the design and implementation of evaluation mechanisms for their work and provide support for their ongoing evaluations where feasible.
• Supervise internal evaluation staff (currently an evaluation officer).
• Attend meetings of the Board of Trustees as requested by the President & CEO.
• Publish evaluation results for the community and philanthropic sector as determined appropriate by the President & CEO.
• Remain informed by and involved with other evaluators in philanthropy, academia, and applied research; remain current with the professional literature; participate actively in evaluation networks in the field of philanthropy and nonprofit management; remain in constant pursuit of best practices and new learning that can enhance the work of MCF.
• Work effectively as a valuable and trusted team member within the department as an integral member of the Steering Committee and throughout MCF at every level.
• Be a positive ambassador for the work of the Foundation to all external stakeholders and the community at large.
• Undertake other duties as requested to meet the changing needs of MCF. 

Responsibility Level:

The Vice President for Research & Evaluation will report to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer of MCF—as do the Vice Presidents for Program, Finance, Philanthropic Services, Information Technology, and Marketing & Communications—and will be a member of the Steering Committee, the President’s executive team.

Qualifications:

Experience and Education:

Education and experience should be appropriate to a position of this complexity. Significant experience in evaluation planning, implementation and reporting with diverse stakeholders; management of multiple projects with third-party contractors; familiarity with various evaluation methods, including qualitative and quantitative techniques, mixed methods, and utilization-based evaluation; and the application of outcomes measurement to ongoing programs to enhance future performance based on past experience. Extensive nonprofit management experience is important; the equivalent of a research Ph.D. in the social sciences is preferred.

Skills:

• Highly-refined people skills, enabling him/her quickly to understand the logic of a program or proposal, to appreciate the interests and diverse perspectives of its stakeholders, to assess realistically the cost-benefits and burdens of evaluation components, and to collaborate and engage evaluation partners with ease, working toward support and consensus while not delaying difficult conversations inside MCF with staff colleagues at all levels and outside MCF with community partners.
• Ability to ask strategic questions and to have in-depth discussions on key program initiatives. Ability to identify the essence of what it is worth knowing, to go quickly to the nub of what is practical and important, and to understand how to allocate limited staff resources for greatest benefit. Ability to convey understanding and generate confidence and trust. Able to participate in constructive debate toward the realization of Foundation goals.
• Excellent data management skills, ease with technology, and the ability to simplify data collection and performance tracking processes to minimize the requirement of operating expertise while maximizing data recording, collection, analysis, and reporting. Ability to discuss in lay terms the importance, common sense, and usefulness of program evaluation to a wide range of stakeholders with various levels of understanding of and experience with evaluation.
• Extensive supervisory experience, setting an example by work ethic, productivity, and commitment, inspiring loyalty and trust; the ability to set goals and expectations, monitor outcomes, hold staff accountable, evaluate performance, and coach and mentor direct reports.
• Ability to manage a multitude of assignments concurrently, to manage budgets and deadlines, to establish and comply with priorities, and to engage others in effective support a smooth running MCF function.
• Exceptional communication skills and the confidence to be both a thoughtful, authentic listener and an assertive advocate.
• A genuine desire to be part of a dedicated team of colleagues committed to carrying out the mission of the Foundation.

Compensation:

Competitive and negotiable, based on salary history and experience, plus exceptional benefits.

Application Process:

This process will be conducted with complete confidentiality, protecting the interests of participants. Screening of candidates will commence immediately, with the goal of completing the selection process in late Winter 2012, with the appointment and transition to take effect as soon thereafter as practicable.

Inquiries, expressions of interest, nominations, and applications (with résumé) should be submitted in confidence to Robert M. Fisher/Michael Loscavio (Rusher Loscavio Executive Search) at: bfisher[at]rll[dot]com

MCF takes great pride in how its work is enhanced by the quality and diversity of its staff. All qualified leaders who will enjoy and enhance MCF’s rich mix of ethnicities, orientations, and backgrounds are encouraged to express their interest in this position.