Associate Director of Research and Evaluation

ABOUT US

Apex for Youth empowers underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-income families in NYC to unlock their potential and a world of possibility. Through programming focusing on health and well-being, education, and community engagement, Apex for Youth creates transformative social connections and celebrates cultural identity to build the confidence and self-efficacy of future generations.

Apex serves approximately 2,500 students annually from Kindergarten through their post-secondary years. We provide children and young adults with opportunities to develop strong relationships with adults who volunteer as consistent and caring mentors and role models.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Research and Evaluation will lead Apex’s overall research and evaluation strategy, ensuring Apex’s programs are running with maximum efficacy and impact. The Associate Director serves as the strategic leader on Apex’s approach to research and evaluation, manages the program evaluation process from start to end, and plays a key role in communicating Apex’s impact to both an internal and external audience. The Associate Director is a highly collaborative role, working with all major Apex stakeholders from youth and families to executive leadership. The ideal candidate is skilled in project management, highly collaborative, and excels in translating complex findings into actionable insights. They will also bring with them an excitement for supporting Apex’s growth and evolution in the next 3-5 years, as we begin the implementation of our strategic plan.

This position will report to the Director of Programs and work closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications, Director of Development, Data and IT Senior Administrator, and the program leadership team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership 30%

• Work closely with organizational leadership to develop and lead Apex’s research and evaluation agenda in alignment with organizational strategy and priorities.
• Support the organizational implementation of the strategic plan through data and research insights from both internal and external data sources
• Effectively communicate research and evaluation findings in order to build a deeper understanding of the needs, interventions, and outcomes of Apex’s work for both internal and external audiences
• Serve as a thought partner to organizational leadership and program staff

Evaluation and Research Design 30%

• Lead Apex’s evaluation strategy to measure progress and success, impact, and fidelity to the program model and theory of change, ensuring the strategy is ethical, culturally responsive, and methodologically sound
• Audit current program evaluation methods and instruments in order to identify gaps and areas of improvement, and create solutions to close these gaps
• Collaborate with the Data and IT Systems Senior Administrator to collect organizational data related to Apex programs in order to help staff and administrators understand program impact through accessible data dashboards and other tools for real-time learning
• Identify and build an external data library to strengthen and support Apex’s theory of change, program model, and support Apex’s strategic priorities around program codification and thought leadership
• Lead both quantitative and qualitative data analysis to inform organizational learning and strategic plan priorities.

Capacity Building 20%

• Lead quantitative and qualitative data analysis process to develop a culture of organizational learning and foster data-driven decision making within the organization
• Design and lead staff trainings and learning opportunities that allow for a deeper understanding of key performance indicators, evaluation outcomes, and how they relate to overall program performance and success

Collaboration 20%

• Collaborate with the Development department to support grant writing, proposal development, reporting, and/or donor communications
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications department on external reporting projects such as the Annual Report, website, case studies, and provide data to help with op-eds, talking points, and other content.
• Manage external consultants and contributors on evaluation projects as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s in education, public policy, public health, social sciences, or related field required.
• 5-7 years of experience in research, evaluation, and data systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with youth-serving, equity-focused, or community-based organizations.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS, R, Stata, NVivo, Tableau, Excel).
• Proficiency with Salesforce
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to equity and inclusive research practices.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and cover letter to yaya.yuan@apexforyouth.org. Please include “Associate Director of Research and Evaluation” in the subject line.

OVERVIEW OF BENEFITS

Paid time off: In the first year of employment, employees are eligible for approximately a combined 40 days of vacation, holiday, personal, and sick leave (10 vacation days, 12 paid holidays, org-wide closures for one week over the winter holidays and one week during the Fourth of July, 5 sick days per year, 3 personal days a year). Additional vacation days accrue according to years worked in the organization.

Medical and other benefits: Employees are eligible to participate in a range of medical, dental and vision insurance plans with Apex covering the majority of the cost for employees; 401K plan with employer matching; flexible spending account; commuter benefits; paid parental leave; and professional development stipend.

Hybrid workplace: Apex provides for a flexible remote work schedule on specific days of the week and requires employees to be on-site for other days of the week, and for special events and programs.

Organizational Culture: Apex is a highly collaborative, flexible, and employee-centered workplace. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity both within our organization and in how we collaborate with others. If you love to work with a team and have exciting ideas you would like to explore and grow, we encourage you to join Apex for Youth!