Evidence and Evaluation Manager

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. Since Laura and John Arnold launched their foundation in 2008, the philanthropy has expanded, and AV’s focus areas include education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change. The Arnolds became signatories of the Giving Pledge in 2010.

Position Overview

AV believes deeply in the importance of rigorous evidence to help guide policy decisions, program investments, and public spending in the United States. The Evidence and Evaluation team at AV plays a critical role in fulfilling that aim. The team’s work centers on a pair of questions: how can we better understand what works to improve outcomes for children, families, and communities? And what can be done to accelerate the take-up of effective programs and policies to drive those outcomes as a team and as a philanthropy?

The Evidence and Evaluation team focuses specifically on a few core strategies: (i) funding rigorous evaluations to build the body of social programs with evidence of meaningful effects; (ii) exploring opportunities to accelerate local, state, and federal investments to scale effective programs and policies, as well as supporting research and evidence-based reforms more broadly; and (iii) supporting the research and evaluation efforts of other teams at AV.

AV seeks an Evidence and Evaluation Manager to join our team and advance our mission of promoting evidence-based policymaking at the local, state, and federal levels and driving meaningful change in key policy areas. The Manager will develop and manage high-impact projects across policy areas, as well as help develop and manage research agendas and research investments that advance policy reform. This position will be located in our Houston, TX office and will report to the Director of Evidence and Evaluation.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and manage investment opportunities to support evidence-based policy at the federal, state, and local levels
• Solicit and review grant proposals for rigorous, causal research of social policies and programs across a wide range of topic areas
• Manage approved grant investments, track their progress and impact, and draw lessons to inform strategic priorities and the development of future investments
• Support research partners, including working with grantees to develop pre-analysis plans, reviewing progress reports and interim findings, problem-solving project implementation challenges, and ensuring adherence to rigorous standards of quality and transparency
• Support technical assistance efforts, such as drafting legislative or regulatory language that outlines provisions to advance rigorous evaluations and the wider use of evidence-based programs and practices
• Collaborate with other AV teams on their research and evaluation efforts and identify opportunities for collaboration on potential projects, learning opportunities, and philanthropic investments
• Develop clear and concise written materials for internal and external audiences
• Actively contribute to team meetings regarding projects, suggesting ideas, and brainstorming areas for improvement

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree required or equivalent experience
• 3-5 years of work experience and/or academic training in social policy research and/or impact evaluations, with a solid grounding in causal research designs and methods
• Excellent quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience synthesizing and assessing information
• Knowledge of and demonstrated interest in the use of research to address social challenges and influence public policy
• Exceptional project management and organization skills
• Exceptional listening and communication skills, including the ability to absorb, analyze, and convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner verbally and in writing
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to complete tasks efficiently with minimal supervision

The salary range for this position will be $95,000-$130,000.

Benefits Overview

AV is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), a hybrid policy that includes four days in office and one flexible day for remote work, and a summer schedule with alternating Fridays off beginning on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance program. In addition, a relocation bonus is available for candidates who will move to one of AV’s three office locations for a position.

Our Culture and Core Values

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help AV achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Here are some examples of our core values and work culture in action.

• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity
• We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback
• We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects
• We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external partners, peers, and stakeholders

AV’s values are integral to our lived experience. They genuinely reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the AV team to make a difference.

• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication

AV is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive workplace. We are seeking applicants from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences and perspectives. Candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.