Associate Director, Research, Data & Learning

Organization Overview:

Sakhi for South Asian Survivors exists to represent the South Asian and Indo Caribbean diaspora in a survivor-led movement for gender-justice and to honor the collective and inherent power of all survivors of violence. Sakhi is committed to serving survivors through a combination of efforts including—but not limited to—direct services, advocacy and organizing, technical assistance, and community outreach.

Sakhi serves survivors from the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora who trace their backgrounds to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Africa. Members of our community come from diverse backgrounds including age range, gender, religion, ethnic origin, economic and educational background, language spoken, and immigration status. We work to represent, inform, actively engage, and mobilize the South Asian community in an intersectional, intergenerational survivor-led movement for gender justice.

At Sakhi we offer a unique work environment that is collaborative, fun, and committed to social justice. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, persons of color and bilingual/bicultural applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. At Sakhi, we have a clear vision: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. Sakhi is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

This is a full-time role that requires flexibility with schedule.

About the role

This new role will lead Sakhi’s overall research and program evaluation agenda, supporting the successful implementation of the organization's strategic plan. The Associate Director (AD) will lead two complementary areas of work: external research and field studies that fuel deeper investment, support, and behavior change across practitioners and funders alike, and internal program evaluation, data and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen Sakhi’s programs and services.

Within the external research portfolio, the AD will design and lead field studies and other research initiatives, developing high-integrity research questions and methodologies; overseeing rigorous, trauma-informed, and culturally conscious data collection and analysis; and interpreting findings. In partnership with the Executive Director, the AD will translate research into accessible knowledge and share insights that advance Sakhi’s research agenda and contribute to the broader movement.

For Sakhi’s programs and services, the AD will develop and implement a program evaluation data and measurement strategy in partnership with program leadership. This will include establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), developing program impact metrics, partnering with the program team to collect critical data in trauma-informed and culturally conscious ways, evaluating client outcomes and service utilization, and creating data-informed approaches to monitor performance and identify opportunities and recommendations for improvement.

This is a full-time position reporting directly to the Vice President/Associate Director of Finance & Operations. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of research expertise, strong analytical skills, program evaluation experience, strategic thinking, people leadership, and the ability to translate complex research and data into actionable insights.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

External Research & Field Studies

• Articulate and lead Sakhi’s external research agenda in alignment with the organization’s strategic priorities and mission.
• Design and lead field studies and other external research initiatives, including developing research questions, methodologies, data collection approaches, and analysis plans.
• Oversee research activities from data collection through dissemination, including analysis, interpretation, reports, publications, and presentation of findings to diverse audiences.
• Identify, hire, and manage short-term external sub-contractors as appropriate and feasible to support large national research projects.

Internal Program Evaluation & Learning

• Lead internal program evaluation initiatives in collaboration with program leadership and external evaluation partners, helping to shape evaluation priorities, methodologies, and approaches.
• Develop and refine program impact metrics and measurement frameworks to assess progress toward program goals.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of client feedback, including surveys and focus groups, and use findings alongside program data and evaluation results to identify opportunities for program and service improvement.
• Use evaluation findings to generate actionable recommendations that strengthen programs, services, and organizational learning.

Data Strategy, Performance & Insights

• Develop and implement Sakhi’s data and measurement strategy, including key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting frameworks, dashboards, and data visualizations.
• Conduct and oversee analysis of program and organizational data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that inform program planning, service delivery, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Translate complex research, evaluation, and program data into clear and actionable insights and communicate findings to program teams, management, senior leadership, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with grant compliance and finance teams to ensure institutional funder reports are accurate, supported by reliable data, and submitted in a timely manner.

Data Systems, Governance & Quality

• Oversee Sakhi’s organizational data systems and CRM infrastructure, including Salesforce data structures, workflows, reporting, and user onboarding, in partnership with internal teams and external consultants.
• Establish, monitor, and maintain data quality and integrity standards, including tools, protocols, and processes that promote accurate, complete, consistent, reliable, and secure data.
• Strengthen data infrastructure and workflows by evaluating and implementing software, tools, and integrations that improve data management, reporting, efficiency, and organizational learning.
• Identify, share, and promote the use of promising practices in data governance, privacy, and security, ensuring that data systems and practices protect client confidentiality and align with HIPAA and other applicable requirements.

Leadership, Collaboration & Capacity Building

• Serve as a member of Sakhi’s Leadership Team, collaborating with organizational leaders across functions to advance organizational strategy, priorities, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Supervise and develop the Senior Program Data Associate, providing strategic direction, mentorship, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Partner across program, administrative, finance, compliance, and leadership teams to align data, research, and evaluation activities with organizational priorities and program needs.
• Build organizational capacity to use data and evidence effectively by assessing training needs and developing and delivering training, technical assistance, user guides, and other resources related to data collection, analysis, reporting, interpretation, and data quality.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Ability to develop and advance a research, data, and learning agenda aligned with organizational strategy and priorities.
• Strong change management and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to build alignment, navigate competing priorities, and facilitate organizational learning.
• Ability to translate research, data, and evaluation findings into actionable insights that inform strategy, program improvement, and organizational decision-making through effective communication.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and deliverables effectively
• Fluency to structure and collect data, research, and learning work with a trauma-informed approach and a particular emphasis on gender based violence survivor interests and needs.
• Ability to tailor data, research, and learning work to incorporate culturally-conscious and linguistic approaches tailored, in particular to stakeholders from the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean diaspora

Research, Data & Analytical Expertise

• Strong research, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Knowledge of research and evaluation methodologies, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and performance measurement.
• Ability to interpret complex data, identify trends and patterns, and communicate meaningful findings to technical and non-technical audiences in a variety of formats.
• Strong understanding of data quality, integrity, confidentiality, privacy, and ethical data practices.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and demonstrated ability to learn and effectively use data management, analysis, visualization, reporting, and CRM systems.

People, Communication & Collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to hire, manage, mentor, and develop staff and foster a collaborative, safe, and supportive team environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex research and data findings clearly and effectively to program staff, leadership, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully across lines of difference with clients, communities, and external partners.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Organization & Work Environment

• Highly organized, proactive, self-directed, and dependable, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work in Sakhi’s New York City office at least six days per month.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education & Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Public Health, Data Science, Statistics, Biostatistics, Social Sciences, or a related discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in research, data analytics, program evaluation, performance measurement, organizational learning, or a related field.
• Experience working with program teams in a direct-service environment, preferably within a nonprofit, human services, public health, or community-based organization, with an understanding of client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally conscious data collection and outcomes measurement.

Leadership & Program Experience

• Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff.
• Experience managing projects and collaborating across multiple organizational functions.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or leading components of research, program evaluation, quality improvement, or performance measurement initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting research studies, field studies, or applied research projects, including developing research methodologies, managing data collection, and analyzing and communicating results to diverse audiences.

Data, Systems & Technology

• Knowledge of statistical analysis methods, data querying, data management, and data quality practices, with the ability to apply these skills to research, evaluation, and program performance measurement.
• Experience working with data management, CRM, reporting, and data visualization platforms. Experience with Salesforce, SQL, SPSS, Power BI, Tableau, Looker, or comparable tools is preferred.

Training & Capacity Building

• Experience developing and delivering training, technical assistance, user resources, or other capacity-building support related to data systems, analysis, reporting, or data-informed decision-making.
• Ability to support staff with varying levels of technical expertise in effectively using data and technology to inform their work.

Application Information

The salary range for this position is $100,000 - $110,000 commensurate with experience. Sakhi offers health and dental benefits, paid parental leave and all full-time team members have access to clinical supervision.