Director Research and Evaluation

Drive organizational impact through research excellence and strategic leadership!

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) is a non-profit organization and one of the largest Hispanic Community Development Corporations in the United States. The organization began with a group of student and community activists in 1967, and was incorporated and received non-profit status in 1969. CPLC is committed to empowering individuals through health & human services, housing, education, and economic development.

HOW WILL YOU MAKE AN IMPACT IN THIS ROLE?

• You will provide operational and programmatic leadership for CPLC’s research portfolio, supporting the measurement and communication of organizational impact across enterprise, regional, and programmatic levels.
• You will oversee the day-to-day functions of the R&E department, including administration, technical assistance, project execution, and staff supervision, ensuring high-quality and timely delivery of research and evaluation activities.
• In partnership with executive leadership, you will support the implementation of the department’s vision, priorities, and strategic direction by translating organizational goals into actionable research and evaluation plans.
• You will develop and execute departmental objectives aligned with strategic direction established, guiding research design and methodology, and ensuring that findings generate meaningful insights to support program improvement, accountability, and community impact.
• You will lead and develop a team of research and evaluation professionals, fostering a culture of quality innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.
• You will be responsible for implementing annual research and evaluation priorities by aligning projects with organizational strategic goals and supporting programs in using data for decision-making and performance improvement
• You will support the advancement of organizational evaluation capacity by improving systems, tools, and processes, and by applying emerging technologies and best practices. Through this work, you will ensure that research and evaluation efforts are efficient, responsive, and aligned to support strategic decision-making and measurable outcomes.
  
  

This position operates with a high degree of independence while working under the general direction of the department Vice President.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Partner with the VP of the department to support hiring, training, and development of staff to ensure department capacity. develop, inspire, and manage staff to ensure that a qualified team exists to meet department objectives
• Oversee, prioritize, and direct team workflows, ensuring high-quality deliverables and execution of departmental objectives and deliverables.
  
  

SPECIALIZATIONS

• Lead advanced quantitative and mixed-methods analyses, developing high-quality reports, dashboards, and data visualizations using tools such as Tableau, Power BI, SPSS, R, or SQL to support organizational decision-making.
• Ability to apply, explain and present structural frameworks such as social determinants of health, economic mobility, homelessness CoC
• Direct evaluation and data analysis efforts to inform program improvement, performance measurement, and grant reporting, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and funder requirements.
• Apply advanced analytic techniques—including trend analysis, segmentation, and statistical modeling—to generate actionable insights and guide strategic and operational decisions.
• Oversee and manage multiple research and evaluation projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrate strong leadership in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and professional growth within the team.
• Guide the selection and implementation of evaluation methodologies, performance measures, and reporting frameworks in alignment with best practices and organizational goals.
• Interpret and translate complex data findings into clear, actionable insights and recommendations to support program improvement and executive decision-making.
• Lead evaluation components of grant development, renewal, and reporting, including defining outcome measures, assessing program performance, identifying gaps, and developing compelling evaluation narratives and plans.
  
  

Primary Duties And Essential Functions

• Strategic Leadership & Organization Alignment
• Research Design & Evaluation Expertise
• Grant & Funder Alignment
• People Leadership & Team Development
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
  
  

Minimum Qualifications And Competencies

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, public policy, or a social science discipline, or a related field required.
• Minimum of eight to ten (8-10) years of progressive experience in research and evaluation, including expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods, study design, and applied research. Demonstrated success in supporting program operations and engaging community and cross-sector partners. Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience, including managing staff, overseeing day-to-day operations, and ensuring effective execution of research and evaluation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic planning for a research and evaluation function, including aligning projects with organizational priorities and translating strategy into actionable work plans.
• Prior experience in nonprofit, social services, public health, or healthcare settings strongly preferred.
  
  

Benefits

We recognize that our success is driven by great talent, and that's why we provide a comprehensive and competitive suite of benefits to serve you and your family.

• Generous Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off & Paid Sick Days
• Medical, Dental, and Vision for Spouse/Domestic Partner & Children to age 26
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Recognition Program
• Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying degrees
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
• Free Preventative Services & Wellness Rewards
• Life Disability options
• Employee Assistance Program
• Telemedicine & Concierge Services
• Pet Care, Life Mart Purchase Discounts
• Mileage & Cell Reimbursement for qualifying roles
• Identity Theft Protection & Voluntary Benefits
  
  

Your next Leadership challenge starts here! Apply TODAY and turn insights into action and vision into measurable outcomes!

Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CPLC knows it takes variety of thought, culture, background, and perspective to create a truly impactful workforce. As CPLC grows, we are seeking talented employees with varying backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our innovation and creativity. CPLC commits to a continued focus on fair and just hiring, training, promotional practices, and policies. We work for real change and progress in equal opportunity recruitment, hiring, and advancement. Learn more by visiting https://www.eeoc.gov/poster

California Residents: Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc and its subsidiaries will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Right’s Department Fair Chance Act webpage.