Seattle’s Human Services Department (HSD) connects people with resources and solutions during times of need so we can all live, learn, work, and take part in strong, healthy communities.
HSD is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager with extensive program evaluation, data analytics, and research design experience to lead its evaluation and continuous quality improvement efforts. This seasoned professional will design the department’s evaluation strategy and foster a culture of using meaningful data and research to support strategic planning and decision-making.
The Research and Evaluation Manager will work with external evaluation consultants, internal subject matter experts, and other city departments, when necessary, to strengthen HSD’s six impact areas: 1) Preparing Youth for Success, 2) Supporting Affordability and Livability, 3) Supporting Safe Communities, 4) Addressing Homelessness, 5) Promoting Public Health, and 6) Promoting Healthy Aging.
Evaluations conducted and overseen by this position will inform decisions by HSD leadership and influence elected officials and community partners as part of HSD’s over $300 million investment in Seattle’s social safety net. Increased accountability and transparency will further ensure positive impacts and continuous process improvements. As part of HSD’s Business Operations, this leader will report to the Business Operations Director and will supervise the Data, Performance, and Evaluation Team (DPE).
Departmental lead on program evaluation, research design, and analytical interpretation
- Develop strategies, methods and advise HSD leaders on improving results for its human service investments and programs.
- Work with departmental program and policy subject matter experts (e.g., strategic advisors, planners, managers) to develop a connected and cohesive department Theory of Change linked to programmatic theories of change, and key short, medium, and long-term strategies. Ensure the departmental Theory of Change is in alignment with future investments, policy and legislative papers, and budget.
- Supervise HSD’s DPE Team comprised of one Manager II and nine analysts. This team currently is responsible for designing performance measures (quantity, quality, and impact), ensuring investments follow the Results Based Accountability framework, strengthening data systems/processes, providing reporting and data analysis, as well as providing strategic direction regarding how data is collected, used, managed, and shared.
- Create a learning environment and ensure policy and practices reinforce curiosity, analytical thinking, and problem-solving at all levels of the department.
Community-facing liaison on HSD’s evaluation strategies and Results-based Accountability Impacts
- Establish and advance partnerships with academic and research institutions and other partners (e.g., City Auditors Office, Mayor’s Office Innovation and Performance Team, etc.) to ensure HSD’s approaches are aligned with researched-backed best practices.
- Build relationships with school districts, King County agencies, and other regional municipalities to align and leverage evaluation for build greater community impact.
- Provide tracking, analysis, and evaluation recommendations based on national and local conditions, studies, promising practices, academic research, and proven strategies related to high-quality human services investments.
- Provide immediate evaluation and database guidance and leadership on city priorities such as community safety and public health.
Effectiveness in this will depend on your:
Research and Evaluation Leadership Experience: Demonstrable leadership and subject matter expertise in research design, data analysis, analytical interpretation, and program evaluation. Ability to think strategically and creatively around quantitative and qualitative data, including identifying new/emerging trends, gaps, and alternative analysis methods.
Commitment to Service: Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service and build positive, trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Adaptability: Demonstrated ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments and take on varied work as it arises. Ability to work effectively in a high volume, politically sensitive, and complex environment.
Communication Abilities: Excellent written and verbal skills in communicating complex subject matter and terminology through succinct, accessible information to government and community leaders and members of the public. Written materials may include reports, briefing memos, presentation material, data dashboards, and more.
Management and Leadership Skills: Lead 10 FTE professionals in the Data, Performance, and Evaluation Team (DPE) to apply well-reasoned research to further advance their work around data collection and visualization, performance metric development, and evaluation.
Project Management: Demonstrable skills in project management, research planning and design, data collection, analysis, report preparation, and graphic presentation of results. Ability to prioritize, organize, and delegate work to meet deadlines, and function effectively as a team in a high-pressure, outcome-driven environment with minimal supervision.
Equity Analysis: Apply racial equity framework to all work and engage in departmental efforts to eliminate racial disparities and advance equity in City government and broader community.
Relational Skills: Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with a multidisciplinary team and collaborators, including a wide array of partners from diverse backgrounds and in a hybrid work environment.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in the social sciences or another discipline that includes a heavy emphasis on statistical analysis, research methodology, information systems, decision science, data mining, and computer applications.
- Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in research, evaluation, and data analysis.
- Five or more years working in federal, state, local government, academic, or community-based settings.
- Five or more years as a people manager.
- Demonstrable and thorough knowledge of the techniques and treatment of data such as simple correlation methods, trend analysis, frequency distribution analysis, sampling technique.
OR: An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position duties.
Desired Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (MA, MS, MBA, MPA, Ed.D., Ph.D.) in the social sciences or another discipline that includes a heavy emphasis on statistical analysis, research methodology, information systems, decision science, data mining, and computer applications.
- Advanced experience with strategic planning, logic models, theories of change, and program evaluation.
- Proficiency in using programming languages like SQL, Python, etc.
- Familiarity with common research tools (ProQuest, Google News Alerts, etc.).
- Proficiency using statistical software like R.
- Experience developing, organizing, and maintaining relational databases and structured query languages.
- Experience with spatial analysis, including aggregation of demographic and point data to spatial units alongside data visualization.
- Experience conducting mixed-method research (quantitative and qualitative) and presenting information in public settings.
- Experience drafting legislation and legislative summaries.
To be successful in this role you will need:
- Ability to communicate complex issues to both technical audiences and the public.
- Experience with forecasting models.
- Mastery in use of Microsoft Office suite including PowerPivot and imported data/tables.
- Experience drafting research summaries and presenting as needed.
Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.
This opportunity is posted until filled. The first review of resumes will be on October 29, 2024.
The full salary range for this position is $57.45 - $86.16 per hour.
Hiring Process
Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:
- Completed NEOGOV online application.
- Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.
- Supplemental questionnaire responses.
Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including potential background check, pre-placement physical exam, and full driver's abstract.
Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans
Staff are required to be in the office/field a minimum of two days a week. Effective November 3, 2024 staff are required to be in the office/field a minimum of three days a week.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
